Chap. XXI Of the Chalcopratia
It is plain from what has been observed, that the Chalcopratia, or Places where they work’d their Brass, stood near the Basilica. Cedrinus reports, That Theodosius the Less built the Church of the Chalcopratia, and dedicated it to the Virgin Mary. Others say, that the Jews, who had lived there from the Time of Constantine the Great, had obliged Theodosius the Less to retire from thence, and built that Church; and that afterwards, when it had been shatter’d by an Earthquake, it was rebuilt by Justin Curopalatos, tho’ Zonaras is of another Opinion. Theodosius the Great, says he, marching into the Western Parts, the Jews took the Opportunity, and made Honoratus the Prefect of the City, their Friend, and obtain’d of him the Freedom to build a Synagogue in the Chalcopratia: The People being enraged at this, set it on fire, and burnt it down. When Theodosius was made acquainted with the Fact, he lay’d a Fine upon those who were concern’d in it, and gave them a fresh Licence to build another. St. Ambrose, who was then Bishop of Milan, being inform’d of the Matter, lay’d before Theodosius the Greatness of the Crime, in suffering the Jews to build a Synagogue in the very Centre of the Queen of Cities, upon which he remitted the Fine, and stopp’d their Proceedings. There are no Braziers Shops in this Place at present, they being removed into another part of the City, tho’ I was inform’d by some of the Inhabitants, that not many Years since they follow’d their Trade near the Chalcopratia. The unknown Author of the History of Constantinople, describing the Boundaries of Old Byzantium, tells us, That the Chalcopratia were not far from the Miliarium. Others say, that they were near the Church of St. Sophia. Strabo speaking of the Palace of Alexandria, relates, that in Conformity to this at Constantinople, it had a Library, a Portico, a Convocation-House, or Place of Assembly upon publick Affairs, and a large publick Foundation for the Encouragement of Persons of Literature and Science.