The Fifth Ward
The fifth Ward, a great Part of it is full of Windings, and Turnings, and is lengthen’d by an adjoining Plain. There are many useful Buildings in this Ward, which contains the Bagnio’s of Honorius; the Cistern of Theodosius; the Prytaneum; the Bagnio’s of Eudocia; the Strategium, in which stands the Forum of Theodosius, and the Thebean Obelisk; the Store-houses for Oil; a Nympheum; the Granaries of Troas; the Granaries of Valens, and Constantius: It contains also the Prosphorian Port; the Stairs of Chalcedon; twenty three Streets; a hundred and eighty four great Houses; seven large Portico’s; eleven private Baths; seven publick, and two private Mills; nine Gradus, and two Flesh-Markets: It had one Curator, one Vernaculus, forty Collegiati, and five Vice-Magistri.
Notes
The Cistern of Theodosius.] This Cistern was a subterraneous Cavern, arched at top, which was supply’d, not with Spring, but with Rain Water only. Petrus Gyllius in his Antiquities of Constantinople, tells us, that when he resided at that City, he discover’d a subterraneous Cistern there; which he shewed to the Proprietors of the Land where it was, who, before, were intirely ignorant of it. It was, says he, 336 Foot in length, 182 Foot broad, and 224 in compass. The Roof of it was supported with Marble Pillars, placed at twelve Foot distance from each other. Every Pillar was near nine Foot high. They stand, lengthways, in twelve Ranges; broad-ways, in twenty eight. In Winter-time, when the Aque-duct pours itself with more Violence into it, it fills up to the Middle of the Capitals of the Columns. It has sometimes Fish in it, which the Master, who overlooks it, skiffing about in a small Boat, kills with a Spear.
A Prytaneum.] There was at Athens a Tower call’d the Prytaneum, where their Senators, and wise Men met upon publick Affairs, and where Persons, who deserv’d well of the Commonwealth, were maintain’d at the Publick Charge, as ’tis observ’d by Cicero, Lib. primo de Orat. In Conformity to Athens, there was also at Constantinople a spacious Building, near the Imperial Cistern, where a Person, eminent in Wisdom and Learning, instructed twelve young Men in such Arts and Sciences, as might qualify them to be serviceable to the Publick. Cedrinus in his History of Leo Isaurus, writes, that, near the Royal Cistern, there was a venerable Pyle of Building, over which there presided a Master, who had under him, according to ancient Custom, twelve Scholars, of sober Life, and a good Share of Learning. These, when they had run through the whole Compass of human Literature, apply’d themselves very diligently to the Study of Divinity, and were had in so high Estimation, that the Emperors themselves look’d upon it as an Injury to their Character, to transact any thing of Importance, without their Advice. This Institution was afterwards suppress’d by Leo. Zonaras is more express, and large upon this Occasion; there was, says he, a House in the Basilica, near the Forum Ærarium, large enough for a Palace, in which were reported many ancient Manuscripts of Human, and Divine Learning, and where a sufficient Maintenance was allow’d for a Person of distinguish’d Knowledge whom they call’d the Oecumenical Doctor. He had under him twelve Fellows, who lived at the publick Cost, and instructed such as desired to be their Pupils. The Emperors also, concludes he, consulted them in the most arduous Affairs of State. But Leo the Emperor, when he could not prevail with them to declare themselves the same profess’d Enemies to Images, in Church-worship, with himself, destroy’d them, and their Library, in the Night by Fire. As therefore it was customary in other Nations to maintain at the common Charge Persons who might prove useful to the Publick, so was it here; and therefore, I conceive, that as the Prytaneum at Constantinople took its Name from that of Athens, so was it originally instituted for Purposes, much of the same Nature.
The Bagnio’s of Eudocia.] These Bagnio’s were so call’d, because they were built by Eudocia the Wife of Theodosius the Less. Before she was converted to the Christian Faith, she was called Athenais. Zonaras, Nicephorus, and others have wrote much concerning her. She had some Houses in the tenth Ward; where I shall speak more of her.
The Strategium.] This, I look upon, to be the Place, where the General’s Troops liv’d, and pitch’d their Tents. Here was the Forum of Theodosius, and the Thebean Obelisk which was brought from Thebes in Ægypt to Constantinople, and there squat’d.
The Granaries of Troas.] These Granaries contain’d the Corn, and other Commodities which were brought from Troas; as those Granaries were call’d the Granaries of Alexandria, in which the Corn was laid up, that was brought from Alexandria. Troas is a Countrey of Phrygia, situate near the Hellespont, not far from Constantinople.
The Granary of Valens.] This was built by Valens. It is probably the same Granary, in which was placed the Statue of Manaim, who march’d his Army against the Scythians. There was kept here a brazen Bushel, which was the common Standard, by which Corn was bought, and sold. Valens commanded that twelve Bushels of Wheat should be sold at the Price of an Aureus, (in English Coin 17s. 1d. ob. qua.) and commanded a Sailor’s Hand to be cut off, who had eluded the Force of that Law by Tricks, and Evasions, and in Memory of the Fact, order’d a Brazen Hand to be hung up in the Granary.
They had also at Constantinople Store-houses where they reposited their Gold, and Silver, and Jewels. For Paulus a Lawyer informs us, that ’twas customary to lay up in Store-houses the most valuable Part of their Estates. Lampridius also mentions some Store-houses built by Alexander, where private Persons, who had no Conveniency in their own Houses, used to lay up their Gold, their Silver, their Jewels, and their Corn, and that the Masters of the Store-houses were obliged to keep them safe at their Peril.
The Prosphorian Port.] Here they used to unlade all kinds of Provisions; for the Word προσφορὸν in the Greek signifies any thing that is brought to Market.
The Stairs of Chalcedon.] These were a convenient Descent by Steps, where they went on Board, when they sail’d for Chalcedon, which lay over against Constantinople.
Two Flesh-Markets.] All kind of Provisions were sold here.