Chap. XXIII Of the Miliarium Aureum and Its Statues, and of the Fortune of the City, and Her Statue
THE Miliarium Aureum was a gilded Pillar, from whence they used to adjust the Mensuration of their Miles, and the Distances from the City. Pliny tells us, that it was set up at Rome in the highest Ground of the publick Forum; but whether the Miliarium at Constantinople was like that of Rome, the Greek Historians have been so far from declaring their Opinions concerning it, that in all their Writings they have not so much as mention’d the Name of it. Yet it seems very probable to me, that it was like it, and was also seated in the Forum, or near it. For the Ancient Description of the Wards places it in the Ward where the Forum Augusteum and the Basilica stood, to which it adjoin’d. They who have written the History of the Atchievements of Alexius Comnenus the Emperor, tell us, that at Break of Day, the Forces of Alexius, marching out of the great Palace, under the Command of Sabatius their General, enter’d the Church of St. John the Divine, and when they had got to the Top of the Church, they express’d themselves in a provoking manner, so that a Battle began about three in the Morning, and that many People in the Forum were wounded, who fought from the Roof of the Miliarium, and the Top of St. John’s Church. The Inhabitants say, that this was the Church where the Elephants of the Grand Seignor are now stabled. ’Tis near the Hippodrom, and the Forum Cupedinis, famous for Niceties, situate near the Church of St. Sophia, and was formerly called the Forum Augusteum. But to come closer to the Point: Suidas says, That in the Basilica, behind the Miliarium, were placed a gilded Statue of a Man, as also of an Elephant and his Keeper; others, with more Probability, say, that these Statues were erected behind the Basilica, near the Miliarium. Suidas adds, that the Statue of Theodosius was placed in the Miliarium, and that upon the setting it up, he distributed large Donations of Corn among the People. Upon the Equestrian Statue of Theodosius, not remaining at present, were inscrib’d these Verses.
Not the bright Sun, which gilds the Eastern Sky,
With greater Lustre shines, than Theodosius.
See how he sits aloft in radiant Arms,
And with mild Aspect views his loving People!
The fiery Steed, pleas’d with the Royal Burthen,
In warlike Posture seems to move, and live.
Suidas proceeds farther, and tells us, that the Statues of Sophia, the Consort of Justin the Thracian, of his Daughter Arabia, and his Niece Helena; as also the Equestrian Statues of Arcadius and Theodosius his Son, were placed in the Miliarium, near the Statue of Theodosius the Great. Cedrinus writes, that there stood two Statues above the Nich of the Miliarium, one of Constantine the Great, the other of his Mother Helena, with a Cross between them: Behind them was placed the Statue of Trajan on Horse-back, and that near him was placed the Statue of Ælius Hadrianus. Suidas adds, that the Cross which was placed between Constantine and Helena, had this Inscription; una sancta, & duo celeres Cursores. From whence it is evident, that the Forum, the Miliarium, and the Basilica stood so near together, that they are not only placed by different Authors in different Places, but sometimes by one and the same Historian. The same Writer says, that there was also in the Miliarium a great Piece of Antiquity, which was a Chariot drawn by four Fallow Horses, supported by two square Pillars, in the Place where Constantine was received by his Army with joyful Congratulations, after he had conquered Azotium; but originally, because Byzas, the Founder of Byzantium, had there been highly applauded by the People. The Chariot of the Sun was carried into the Hippodrom, in which was seated a small Statue, made by the Order of Constantine. This Statue was the Fortune of the City, which on great Festivals, and the Day of the Celebration of the Foundation of the City, was set up with a Cross on her Head, in the Senate-House. Julian the Apostate demolished it in the same Place, where Arius died in a miserable Manner, which was at a small Distance from the Senate-House. In the same Place, the pious Emperor Theodosius had ordered the Statues of Arius, Macedonius, Sabellius, and Eunomius, which were cut in Marble, to be placed in a sitting Posture on the Ground, to be polluted with the Excrements, and receive the Curses of the People, in Token of their flagrant Perfidiousness. Other Historians say, that the Statue of the Fortune of the City was brought from Rome by Constantine the Great, and placed in a Nich in the Palace. Zosimus writes, that Constantine placed the Fortune of Rome, on the Side of one of the four Portico’s that surrounded the great Forum. ’Tis very probable, that the People of Constantinople celebrated a Festival in Honour of her, as was customary at Old Rome, both by Natives and Foreigners, the same Day, in which the Palilia, (the Festivals of Pales) were celebrated. Socrates tells us, that Julian, when he was publickly sacrificing to the Fortune of Constantinople, in the Basilica, where her Statue was set up; Mares, the Bishop of Chalcedon, being led thither by the Hand, for he was blind with Age, sharply reprimanded him, and called him an Apostate from the Christian Religion. Julian in Return, called him a blind old Fellow, adding sarcastically this Question; Is your God, the Galilean, able to cure you? For thus, by Way of Contempt, he used to call our Saviour. Upon which the good old Bishop replied, I thank my God, who has taken my Sight from me, so that I cannot behold the Man who is fallen into so great an Apostacy; upon which Julian was silent. Zonaras, and some Historians who lived before him, have recorded, That in the Time of Anastasius, the Statue of Fortune, made in Brass, stood with one Foot in a brazen Ship, and was placed in some Part of the City; but that when this Ship began to decay with Age, or some Parts of it were stolen, or shattered by Treachery, it happened, that no Ships of Burthen came into the Port of Constantinople, but that upon their Arrival near the City, a Storm prevented their coming into Harbour; and if their Cargo was taken aboard the Long-boats, and brought into the City, they tell you it was soon consumed, by Reason of the Scarcity, which then prevailed. Upon this, the Curatores of the City were obliged to enquire into the Reason of it. When the Magistrates of the City, upon Information, began to suspect the Cause, they found, upon Enquiry, the Fragments of the Ship, which were fitted to their proper Places, when on a sudden, Navigation was open and free, and the Sea was constantly full of Vessels sailing into the Port. And that they might fully discover the real Cause of this Calamity, they repeated the Experiment, by stripping the Ship again of some Pieces of it, and the Ships coming into Harbour, were prevented as before; so they repaired the brazen Vessel she stood in, and took a particular Care of it. Eunapius, who wrote the History of the Lives of the Philosophers and wise Men, says, that in the Reign of Constantine, the Inhabitants attributed this Difficulty of coming into Harbour to another Cause. There was no entring the Port at Constantinople, says he, unless the Wind stood full South. When this had frequently happened, the People, oppressed with Famine, assembled in the Theatre, enraged at Constantine. The Chief of the Courtiers having conceived a Resentment against Sopatrus the Philosopher, brought him before the Emperor, and impeached him in the following Manner: This Sopatrus, Sir, who is so high in your Favour, has by his excessive Wisdom chained up the Winds, for which you so far admire him, as to admit him too near your Imperial Person. Constantine, believing the Allegations, ordered him to be beheaded.