Some Account of the Suburbs as They Are Mention’d in the Codes and Law-Books
Procopius tells us, in his first Book de Ædif. Justin. that the Hepdomum was one Part of the Suburbs of Constantinople. Justinian, says he, built another Church dedicate to St. Theodora in a Place call’d the Hepdomum, which in the Greek signifies the Seventh. Zonaras, in the Life of Phocas, mentions the same Thing, as does also Cedrinus in the Life of Arcadius and Justin, with many others. In this Place were many Laws enacted; and Zonaras writes, that Theodosius the Great built a Church there, in Honour of St. John Baptist. Gyllius says, that ’tis at present enclos’d within the Walls of the City, that it stands upon the sixth Hill, and that ’tis call’d Hepdomum, or Seventh, as denoting the Number of the Suburbs of the City.
The Blachernæ.] This is another Part of the Suburbs, mention’d by Justinian in his 151ˢᵗ Nov. where he says, that Hierius bequeath’d by Will to his Son Anthemius the Suburbs in the Blachernæ. Zonaras writes, that Pulcheria, the Sister of Theodosius the Less, built a Church to the Blessed Virgin in this Place, which, as Procopius tells us, was repair’d by Justinian. Cedrinus observes, that the Emperor Justin, Nephew of Justinian, enlarg’d it with two Arches. Suidas reports, that Anastasius the Emperor built there a large Triclinium and Tiberius a Bagnio, as Zonaras writes. It took its Name of the Blachernæ, as Gyllius believes, upon the Authority of Dionysius a Byzantian Writer, from some Person, who was formerly a kind of a petty King there. It was situate near the Sea, in the Place, as Nicephorus observes in his 15ᵗʰ Book Chap. 25ᵗʰ of his Eccl. Hist. where Leo the Great built a Church to the Virgin Mary.
The Monastery of Studius was another Part of the Suburbs of Constantinople, in which, as Justinian observes, in his 6ᵗʰ Chap. Novel 59ᵗʰ. was kept a large Bier, for the Burial of the Dead. The following Account is given of Studius by Nicephorus, in his 15ᵗʰ Book, Chap. 25ᵗʰ of his Eccles. Hist. An eminent Citizen of Rome, says he, nam’d Studius, came from thence to Constantinople, where he built a Church to the Memory of St. John Baptist, and that divine Service might be celebrated there with more Decency and Solemnity, he took some Monks out of the Monastery of the Ἀκοίμητοι, who were so call’d, because some of them were always waking to attend divine Worship. The heavenly-minded Marcellinus built them a Monastery, in which they continually sang Hymns to God, their Society being divided into three Tribes for that Purpose. Thus far Nicephorus. Upon this Occasion Studius was made Consul, as appears by an Inscription over the Gate of his own Monastery, which runs thus:
This Pyle was rais’d by Studius’ bounteous Hand:
Great Actions greatest Honours should command.
In just Acknowledgment, the grateful Town,
Repay’d the Founder with a Consul’s Gown.
This happen’d in the Reign of Leo the Emperor.
The Coparia, as is plain from the 159ᵗʰ Nov. of Justinian, was another Part of the Suburbs, and was bequeath’d, as appears by the Codicil of Hierius’s Will to his Niece.
There was also another Part of the Suburbs in the Promontory of the Creek of Sosthenium, which was formerly in the Possession of Ardaburus, General of the Army to Theodosius the Less. The Right of it afterwards came to Hierius, who was Præfectus Prætorio, or General of the Life-Guard to the Emperor Zeno. Nicephorus in the 50ᵗʰ Chap. of his 7ᵗʰ Book of Eccl. Hist. gives this Reason why it was call’d Sosthenium, ’Tis recorded, says he, that the Argonauts of Greece, when they arriv’d here, began to plunder the Countrey, but were defeated by Amycus, who was then Governor of the Place, and being dispers’d, they wander’d about till they came to a woody unhospitable Place, where they took shelter in a large Thicket of Trees; that in this Calamity Virtue came down to them from Heaven in a human Shape, having Wings like an Eagle, and by her Oracle foretold, that if they would venture another Battle, they should conquer Amycus. Directed by this Advice, they engag’d them again, obtain’d an entire Victory over them, slew him, and all his Forces; and that to express their Gratitude to the Vision, they built a Temple, and erected a Statue to her, in the Shape she appear’d to them, which gave the Place the Name of Sosthenium, because they secur’d themselves by the second Battle.
Bytharium, or Philotheum.] This was also another Part of the Suburbs, and is mention’d as such in 159ᵗʰ Nov. of Justinian.
The Porta Veneta is mentioned by Procopius in his History of the Persian War; who, speaking of some military Officer, tells us, that when he came to the Porta Veneta, which stands on the Right Hand of the Palace, he halted and determin’d to march to Hypalium. This Gate seems to take its Name from the Suburbs call’d in Venetis, probably because the Venetian Faction, a Company of Chariot-Racers dress’d in Sky-colour’d Cloths, dwelt there.
Procopius also takes Notice of the Pontichium by the Ferry, and also of the Rusiniana, as two other Parts of the Suburbs. These Places he mentions in his 1ˢᵗ Book of the Persian War; as does also Sozomen in the 21ˢᵗ Chap. Book the 8ᵗʰ.