Pierre Gilles - The Antiquities of Constantinople

The Curious, who have always admir’d the Accuracy of this Work of Gyllius, have yet been highly concern’d, that it wanted the Advantage of Cuts, by which the Reader might have the agreeable Pleasure of surveying with the Eye, what my Author has so exactly describ’d with the Pen .

I have therefore endeavour’d to supply this Defect, by presenting to the View of the Reader a Collection of Figures, which do not only refer to such Curiosities as be will find mention’d in the several Parts of my Author, but such as have been describ’d by other later Travellers; and by this Means I hope I have given a compleat View of whatsoever is most remarkable in the Antiquities of Constantinople. The Catalogue and Order of the Cuts is as follows ;

I. The Thracian Bosporus, with the Situation of Constantinople, as antiently divided into Wards; from Du Fresne.

II. A Delineation of that City, as it stood in the Year 1422, before it was taken by the Turks; from the same .

III. The Ichnography, or Plan of the Church of Sancta Sophia; from the same .

IV. The whole View of the Church of Sancta Sophia; from the same .

V. The outside Prospect of that Church; from the same.

VI. The inside View of it; from the same.

VII. The Plan of the Church of the Apostles; from Sir George Wheler.

VIII. The antient Hippodrom, with the Thebæan Obelisk, and the Engines by which it was erected; from Spon and Wheler.

IX. The Three Pillars , viz. the Serpentine and Porphyry Pillars, standing in the Hippodrom, as described by Gyllius, with the Pillar of the Emperor Marcian, since discover’d by Spon and Wheler in a private Garden; from B. Randolph.

X. The Historical Pillar, described by Gyllius, and since by Tournefort; from Du Fresne.

XI. A View of the Seraglio Point, with a Representation of the present Imperial Palace, and the Church of Sancta Sophia; from B. Randolph.

When this Impression was almost finished, a learned Gentleman of the University of Oxon, to whom my best Acknowledgments are due, communicated to me a valuable Passage, relating to the Statues of Constantinople, demolished by the Romans, which he transcribed from the Second Book of Nicetas Choniat, a MS. in the Bodl. Lib. I have added a Translation of it by way of Appendix; and I presume that the Reader will look upon it as a curious and an agreeable Entertainment .

Constantinople is situated after such a Manner in a Peninsula , that ’tis scarce bounded by the Continent; for on three Sides ’tis inclosed by the Sea. Nor is it only well fortified by its natural Situation, but ’tis also well guarded by Forts, erected in large Fields, extending from the City at least a two Day’s Journey, and more than twenty Miles in Length. The Seas that bound the Peninsula are Pontus , or the Black Sea , the Bosporus , and the Propontis . The City is inclosed by a Wall formerly built by Anastasius . ’Tis upon this Account that being secured as it were by a double Peninsula , she entitles her self the Fortress of all Europe , and claims the Preheminence over all the Cities of the World, as hanging over the Straits both of Europe and Asia . For besides other immense Advantages peculiar to it, this is look’d upon as a principal Convenience of its Situation, that ’tis encompassed by a Sea abounding with the finest Harbours for Ships; on the South by the Propontis , on the East by the Bosporus , and on the North by a Bay full of Ports, which can not only be secured by a Boom, but even without such a Security, can greatly annoy the Enemy. For the Walls of Constantinople and Galata straitning its Latitude into less than half a Mile over, it has often destroy’d the Enemies Ships by liquid Fire, and other Instruments of War. I would remark farther, that were it secured according to the Improvements of modern Fortification, it would be the strongest Fortress in the World; viz. if the four ancient Ports, formerly inclosed within its Walls by Booms, were rebuilt; two of which (being not only the Ornament, but the Defence of old Byzantium ) held out a Siege against Severus for the Space of three Years; nor could it ever be obliged to a Surrender, but by Famine only. For besides the Profits and Advantages it receives from the Propontis and Ægean Sea, it holds an absolute Dominion over the Black Sea ; and by one Door only, namely by the Bosporus , shuts up its Communication with any other part of the World; for no Ship can pass this Sea, if the Port thinks fit to dispute their Passage. By which means it falls out, that all the Riches of the Black Sea , whether exported or imported, are at her Command. And indeed such considerable Exportations are made from hence of Hydes of all Kinds, of Honey, of Wax, of Slaves, and other Commodities, as supply a great Part of Europe , Asia and Africa ; and on the other hand, there are imported from those Places such extraordinary Quantities of Wine, Oil, Corn, and other Goods without Number, that Mysia , Dacia , Pannonia , Sarmatia , Mæotis , Colchis , Spain , Albania , Cappadocia , Armenia , Media , Parthia , and both Parts of Scythia , share in the great Abundance. ’Tis for this Reason, that not only all foreign Nations, if they would entitle themselves to any Property in the immense Wealth of the Black Sea , but also all Sea Port and Island Towns are obliged to court the Friendship of this City. Besides, ’tis impossible for any Ships to pass or repass, either from Asia or Europe , but at her Pleasure, she being as it were the Bridge and Port of both those Worlds; nay, I might call her the Continent that joins them, did not the Hellespont divide them. But this Sea is thought, in many Respects, to be inferior to that of Constantinople ; first, as it is much larger, and then, as not having a Bay as that has, by which its City might be made a Peninsula , and a commodious Port for Ships: And indeed if it had such a Bay, yet could it reap no Advantage of Commerce from the Black Sea , but by the Permission of the People of Constantinople . Constantine at first began to build a City upon Sigeum , a Promontory hanging over the Straits of the Hellespont ; but quitting that Situation, he afterwards pitch’d upon a Promontory of Byzantium . Troy , I acknowledge, is a magnificent City, but they were blind, who could not discover the Situation of Byzantium ; all stark blind, who founded Cities within View of it, either on the Coast of the Hellespont , or the Propontis ; which though they maintain’d their Grandeur for some Time, yet at present are quite in Ruins, or have only a few Streets remaining, and which, if they were all rebuilt, must be in Subjection to Constantinople , as being superior in Power to all of them. Wherefore we may justly entitle her the Key, not only of the Black Sea , but also of the Propontis and the Mediterranean Sea . Cyzicus