Chap. XIV Of the Church of Bacchus, the Court of Hormisda, and the House of Justinian
It is observable from the Situation of the Church of Bacchus and Sergius, now standing on the Plain between the Propontis and the Hippodrom, that the Imperial Palace, and the House Justinian lived in, before he was Emperor, stood near it. Procopius writes, that Justinian built a Church, and dedicated it to St. Peter and St. Paul. It stood near the Imperial Court, where formerly had stood a Palace built by Hormisda. This, Justinian made a Mansion-house for himself, that the Beauty and Elegancy of its Building might be an Ornament to the Palace.
After he had arrived to the Imperial Dignity, he built other fine Palaces about it, and near it built another Church in honour of two illustrious Saints, Sergius and Bacchus. These Churches which are both of them equally beautiful, stood on the same Compass of Ground, nor is there any material Difference between them. They shine alike with the most glossy Marble; both are curiously gilded, and adorn’d with the richest Offerings, nor is there any thing wherein they do not resemble each other, but that one is built lengthways, and the other in a semicircular manner. They are both wonderful in their kind, and are a great Ornament not only to the Palace, but to the whole City: Procopius adds a little farther, that Justinian chang’d the House, which was call’d the House of Hormisda, into a more magnificent Figure, and join’d it to the Palace. I am of Opinion, that this Hormisda, whom he dignifies with the Title of Prince, was the Son of a King of Persia, who, as Marcellinus reports, when Constans the Son of Constantine came to Rome, and glorying how far he would transcend Hormisda in his immoderate Schemes of Building, being unable to accomplish his Designs, he was content, he said, in an humble manner, only to have such another Horse made as stood in the Forum of Trajan. The Story coming afterwards to Hormisda’s Ear, he reply’d in a jocular manner, Let him try first, if he can build a Stable for him. Cedrinus explains more at large how near the House of Justinian was to the Church of Bacchus: Justinian, says he, built the Church of Sergius and Bacchus, which on the Sea-side of it, is near the Palace, and built also another Church by it, on the same piece of Ground, on which had stood his own House: In building these two Churches, and in founding a Monastery, which he fill’d with Men of sound Learning, and exemplary Conversation, he laid out his whole Estate, and all he was worth, till he arrived to the Imperial Dignity. There is nothing remaining at present of the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, but the Church of Sergius and Bacchus are yet standing. It goes still under its ancient Name, though the Turks have changed it into a Mosque. ’Tis covered at top with a Brick Roof, and bears upon eight Pilasters; between the Pilasters there are two Ranges of Pillars of the Ionick Order. In the lowest Range, there are sixteen Pillars which bear upon the Pavement: Six of these Pillars are of Green Marble, and ten of white streak’d with Red Veins. The upper Range consists of eighteen Pillars, eight of which are Green, ten White Marble, and are vein’d as the other. The Capitals of the lower are adorn’d with Ovolo’s at the Bottom of them. The upper part of them is cover’d with a Foliage. The Volutæ of the upper Range of Pillars project from the four Angles of the Capitals, but the Ovolo’s project from the Sides of them, which are also cover’d with a Foliage of fine Workmanship. The Architraves over the Capitals of the lower Range are finished with the nicest Art. There is a noble Piece of Sculpture in this Church. ’Twas done by Zoophorus, who has carved round the Church some Greek Verses, in the largest Characters. The Tops of the Pilasters are shaded with a Vineal Foliage, intermixed with cluster’d Grapes, which denote, that the Church was dedicated to Bacchus.