A Description — Of the Wards of Constantinople
The First Region, or Ward
The first Ward contains in it, the House of Placidia Augusta; the House of the most illustrious Marina; the Bagnio’s of Arcadius; twenty nine Streets; an Hundred and eighteen large Houses; two Portico’s of a great Length; fifteen private Bagnio’s; four publick, and fifteen private Mills; and four Gradus. It was governed by one Curator, who had under his Charge, the whole Ward. There was also one Vernaculus, who was Messenger of the Ward, was also Assistant to him, and entirely at his Command. It had also twenty five Collegiati, chosen out of the several Bodies of Tradesmen, whose Office it was to direct and assist in Cases of Fire. There were also five Vico-Magistri, whose Business it was to watch the City by Night.
Thus far my Author. I shall here add a Remark made by Gyllius, it not being foreign to our Purpose, viz. That those whom P. Victor and S. Rufus, believed to have been called the Denunciatores in antient Rome, here in new Rome, he calls Vernaculi. Neither of them mention the Collegiati, tho’ all Historians take Notice of the Vico-Magistri, who with more Propriety of the Latin Tongue, should rather have been called Vicorum Magistri, as appears, he tells us, by an Inscription yet remaining in the Capitol of Old Rome, which is as follows.
IMP. CAESARI DIVI.
TRAIANI PARTHICI FIL.
DIVI NERVAE NEPOTI.
TRAIANO HADRIANO.
AVG. PONTIF. MAXIMO.
TRIBVNIC. POTESTAT. XX.
IMP. II. CON. III. P.
MAGISTRI VICORVM XIIII.
Notes
The first Ward.] ’Tis evident from Pliny, and also from Tacitus, in that Part of his History, where he mentions the Burning of the City by Nero, that antient Rome was divided into fourteen Regions, or Wards. Sex. Rufus, and P. Victor, who had pass’d the Consular Dignity, have given us some short Descriptions of them. As to the Wards of New Rome, they are here described as I found them placed before the Notitia Utriusque Imperii. Constantinople, which was a kind of Representation of Old Rome, was likewise after her Example, as Justinian observes in his 43ᵈ Novel, divided into fourteen Wards; and he calls them Regions or Wards. There were many Monuments of Antiquity carried thither from Old Rome, and many new ones made there, which I could by no Means pass by, as the Accounts of them may be necessary to the Knowledge of both Places. And therefore to explain and illustrate them the more, I have subjoined some Annotations of my own; and have also taken Notice, as they fell in my Way, of some Observations made in my Comments on the Notitia, &c. The Author of the Description observes this Method. The Churches, and other Matters which are most Material, he treats of in the first Place, then he mentions what is less Important, in the same Order, in every Ward; as the Streets, Houses, Bagnio’s, Mills, the Gradus, then the Curator, Vernaculus, the Collegiati, and last of all, the Vico-Magistri. In the thirteenth Ward, through a Mistake, the Streets are omitted, which Error I have taken Care to correct, as I have also another in the fourteenth Ward, where he has left out the Curator, the Vernaculus, the Collegiati, and the Vico-Magistri. He mentions only fourteen Churches, in seven Wards; whereas at Rome, there was not a Street without some Temple or other, and some had two. I shall make my Annotations upon every Monument of Antiquity, in the same Ward, and in the same Place, that I find it.
The House of Placidia Augusta.] This Lady was the Daughter of Theodosius the Great, and Sister of Arcadius and Honorius. When New Rome was taken by Alaric, King of the Goths and Vandals, he carried her away into Captivity, who afterward married his Kinsman and Successor Athaulfus. Upon his Death, she was restored to her Countrey, and being married again to Constantius, she had by him two Sons, Valentinian and Honoriades; as Eutropius, Zonaras, Cedrinus, and other Historians tell us.
The House of the most illustrious Marina.] Marina was the Daughter of Arcadius, who being honoured with the Title of the Most Illustrious, as Cedrinus writes, continued a Virgin. The Title of the Most Illustrious, is discovered by an antient Inscription to have been first given to Valerianus the Younger, about the Year of our Lord 260. Afterwards it was given to Severinus, and Maximinus Cæsar, and at Length it was ascribed to Ladies of the highest Birth. This sometimes entitled them to a Share in the Government; for whosoever was dignified with this Character, was allowed to wear a Purple Habit, laced round with Gold, and took Place of the Præfecti, (the Mayors or Chief Magistrates of the City) as Zosimus observes, who will have it, that this Honour was first instituted by Constantine; tho’ ’tis very evident, that this Dignity was conferred long before his Time.
The Bagnio’s of Arcadius.] They were so called, because they were built by him, as Procopius writes in his 1st Orat. concerning the Buildings of Justinian. As you sail, says he, out of the Propontis, to the Eastern Coast, you see a Publick Bagnio, call’d the Arcadian Bagnio, which is a great Ornament to the City. In this Place Justinian built a Court, which lies before the City, so near to the Sea, that they who walk upon the Shore, may hold a Discourse with any of the Ships Crew, as they sail by them. The Account I shall give of the Curiosities of this Court, is as follows. The Court it self is a very beautiful Building, and is fann’d with gentle Breezes. ’Tis paved with delicate Marble, and adorned with stately Pillars, which afford a delectable Prospect, even to a Brightness, which seems to rival a Meridian Sun-shine. There are also many other Curiosities which adorn this Court, some of which are Pieces of most elegant Workmanship, both in Brass and Stone. Thus far Procopius. The Bagnio’s here mentioned are probably the same with those which are called the Xerolophus, which Cedrinus tells us were built by Arcadius. The Xerolophus, says he, was built by Arcadius, the Pillars of which are all like that Pillar, which Theodosius erected in the Taurus. Socrates in his Seventh Book, Chap. 1. attests, that this Building stood in the Forum of Arcadius. For speaking of one Sabbatius a Heretick, he says, that the People rais’d a Tax to oppose Sesonnicus their Bishop, in a Place of the City which is called Ξηρόλοφος, in the Forum of Arcadius. Thus Socrates. This was certainly a Building which consisted of several Apartments, which induces me to believe it was the Bagnio’s here mentioned. For Nicephorus Gregoras, in his Seventh Book, Chap. 1. writes, That Athanasius, Patriarch of Constantinople, resided some Time in the Apartments of the Xerolophus. The Word Xerolophus, says Suidas, signifies a Dry Unction, and the Place was called so, because, when any Body was anointed there, they never used to bath, and adds; That this Place was formerly famous for Oracles, and that answers were given to Enquiries there made, from a Tripos. There were also in the same Place sixteen private Apartments, with Winding-Stairs. I have seen it in an antient Greek Author, that there were here twelve Buildings with Winding-Stairs, as also the Columns of Diana, Severus, Marcianus, and the Statues of Valentinian, and Theodosius the Less. Justinian also quotes an Inscription there, taken out of the Fifth Book of Xenophon’s Anabasis. Zonaras also writes, that when Leo Isaurus was Emperor of Constantinople, the Statue of Arcadius, placed upon a Pillar in the Xerolophus, was thrown down by an Earthquake. The Bagnio’s here mentioned were called Publick, or Imperial Bagnio’s; whereas those which were built by private Persons were called Thermæ, or Baths.
A Hundred and eighteen Houses.] I take the Word Houses in this Place, to signifie the Dwelling Houses of some of the principal Men of the City, as the Great Mens Houses at Rome were distinguished by standing by themselves, and having no other Houses adjoining to them.
Two Portico’s of a great Length.] These Portico’s, as at present, were not joined to Houses, so as to seem a Part of them, but were built separate from them, contrived for the Pleasure of Walking, and refreshing the Mind. Hence it is, that Strabo, Lib. V. de Geogra. where he is describing the Parts of Rome, calls the Portico of Livia the περίπατον, or Walk. Pliny is of the same Opinion in his Fourth Book, Chap. 1. Strabo tells us in another Place, that the Cumani of Æolis borrowed Money to build a Portico, and that when they failed, as to the Time of Payment, the Person, who gave them Credit, laid them under a Prohibition not to walk in it, but only when it rained; and when the Cryer called aloud to them to enter the Portico, it passed into a Proverb, That the Cumani dared not to enter their Portico without the Leave of the Cryer. These are the same Kind of Portico’s which Ulpian means, where he mentions the Portico’s, which had no Houses adjoining to them. Tacitus, Lib. XV. speaking of the Burning of Rome by Nero, takes Notice of these Ambulatory Portico’s, when he tells us, that the Portico’s which were dedicated to Pleasure, were most of them destroyed by Fire. There was a Portico of this Sort at Athens, Part of which, as Pliny records, Lib. XXXV. Cap. 3. was painted by Myco, who was paid for it; and the other Part was finished gratis by Polygnotus, an eminent Painter. It was for this Reason, that ’twas call’d Porticus varia, or ποικίλη. This is the same Portico in which Zeno taught, and for which he was called the Father of the Stoicks. Suidas says, that it was customary to adorn such Portico’s with Silver and Marble Statues, as appears by a Will mentioned by Marcellus, which runs thus, My Will and Pleasure is, that my Heir, at his own Expence, build in my native Countrey a Publick Portico, in which, I desire my Silver and Marble Statues may be reposited. I believe my Author understands in this Clause of the Will, the same Kind of Portico’s with those I now comment upon, which were of so considerable a Length, that they reached from the Imperial Palace, to the Forum of Constantine. For Procopius writes, in his First Orat. de Ædif. Justin. That in the Reign of Justinian, the Church of St. Sophia, and both the long Portico’s, stretching themselves as far as the Forum of Constantine, were burnt down. The same Fact is testified by Cedrinus, who says, that both these Portico’s were consumed by Fire, in the Reign of Basiliscus, altho’ after these Casualities, they were always rebuilt. I would observe, that every Ward at Constantinople had in it some Portico’s, though some Wards at Rome had none.
Four Gradus.] The Word, which is here called Gradus, signifies a Tribunal, which was ascended by Marble Steps, to receive the Bread which was to be distributed among the common People, and which, was therefore called, Panis Gradilis. Valentinian tells us, that the carrying the Panis Gradilis from one Tribunal to another, is strictly forbidden. He also commands in Cod. Theod. that every one receive the Panis Gradilis from the Tribunal. From which Passages it is plain, that this Gradus was a famous Tribunal, from whence they used to distribute Bread. For Constantine, as Metaphrastes writes, bestowed every Day upon the Poor, eighty Thousand Loaves. Socrates, Lib. II. Cap. 13. says expressly, that he gave Daily eighty Thousand Bushels of Corn to the Poor; besides, as Suidas adds, Wine, and Flesh, and Oil. These were therefore Gradus, or Tribunals, erected in this Ward for that Purpose.
It was governed by one Curator, who had under his Charge the whole Ward.] The Curators (who seem something like our Aldermen) were first instituted by Augustus, and by Suetonius, Cap. XXX. are called Magistratus. He divided, says he, meaning Augustus, the City into Streets and Wards, and commanded that the Wards should be governed by a Magistrate, chosen by Lot yearly, and that the Streets should be governed by a Master elected out of the common People. Afterwards, in the Room of these, Alexander Augustus appointed fourteen Curators. Lampridius tells us, that Rome chose fourteen Curators, out of the most eminent Citizens, and obliged them to assist the Prefect of the City, so that all, or most of them attended, when any Thing was transacted for the good of the Publick. It was a principal Part of their Business to decide Causes, and to take Care of Orphans, and the Poor.
There was also one Vernaculus who was Messenger of the Ward, he assisted the Curator, and was entirely at his Command.] The Business of this Officer was to be subservient to the Curator, and give Notice to, and summon the Citizens to meet in all Matters, which more immediately related to the Ward. Their Office was the same, mentioned by S. Rufus, and P. Victor, who give them at Old Rome, the Name of Denunciatores. Two of which were appointed to assist in every Ward.
It had also twenty five Collegiati, chosen out of the several Bodies of Tradesmen, whose Business it was, to direct and assist in Cases of Fire.] At Rome the Præfectus Vigilum commanded in Chief the seven Companies of Freemen appointed for a constant Watch to the City. This Office was instituted by Augustus, who placed a single Company over two Wards, as is observed by Suetonius, and Dion. Lib. LV. and by Paullus, Lib. de Offi. præ. Vigil. These Men were chosen out of the several Bodies of the Tradesmen, whose Business was the same with those at Rome; and were called Collegiati. The Number of them was always stated, and unalterable so that when one of them died, the Prefect of the City filled up the Vacancy with one of his own Body. Honorius and Theodosius, in their Letters Mandatory to Æstius Prefect of the City, will and command, That the Number of five hundred sixty three be the standing Number of them, and that no Person presume by any Authority whatsoever, to alter that Number; so that it shall be lawful to you only, in the Presence of the Body Corporate, when any Person is deceased, or otherways removed, to elect, and nominate one to succeed him out of the same Body Corporate of which he was a Member: These Collegiati are chosen out of thirty five Corporations of Tradesmen, which are particularly specified in a Letter sent by Constantine to Maximus, and are discharged upon their Election from all other Offices whatsoever. In this first Ward, there were only twenty five of them, in others more or less, who made up the Number a Hundred and sixty, or a Hundred and sixty three. To complete the Number of which, as appears from the first Book of Zeno de Collegiat. Thirty seven or forty, are wanting in the last Ward. The Word Collegiati, in other Places, sometimes signifies the Deacons who buried the Dead; and sometimes it is taken for Freemen, as in Lib. XLI. Co. Theod. de Op. Pub.
There were also five Vico-Magistri, whose Business it was to watch the City by Night.] These were originally instituted by Augustus. Suetonius, in the Life of Augustus, Chap. XXX. writes, that the City was divided into Streets and Wards, and adds, that Augustus commanded, that the Magistrates of the Wards should be annually chosen by Lot. The Streets were governed by the Vico-Magistri, who were elected out of the Commons, in the Neighbourhood of the Streets, over which they presided; so that as those who governed the Wards were called Curatores, so they who governed the Streets were called Vico-Magistri. ’Tis very probable, that these Magistrates had some Soldiers under their Command to prevent Robberies, and other Outrages committed in the Night, as Old Rome had its Vigils, or Watchmen, who were all Soldiers. There were two, three, or four Vico-Magistri appointed over every Street at Rome: At Constantinople every Ward had but five, so that the whole Number of them is Seventy; although my Author in his Summary View of the City, which follows hereafter, reckons no more than sixty five.