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-The Project Gutenberg eBook of Of the Buildings of Justinian, by Procopius
-
-This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
-most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
-whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
-of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
-www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you
-will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before
-using this eBook.
-
-Title: Of the Buildings of Justinian
-
-Author: Procopius
-
-Translator: Aubrey Stewart
-
-Annotator: C. W. Wilson
- Hayter Lewis
-
-Release Date: May 22, 2021 [eBook #65404]
-
-Language: English
-
-Character set encoding: UTF-8
-
-Produced by: Turgut Dincer, Les Galloway and the Online Distributed
- Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was
- produced from images generously made available by The Internet
- Archive)
-
-*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OF THE BUILDINGS OF JUSTINIAN ***
- Transcriber’s Notes
-
-
-Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. Variations
-in hyphenation, spelling and punctuation remain unchanged.
-
-The table of contents was added by the transcriber.
-
-Italics are represented thus _italic_ and superscripts thus y^{en}.
-
-Footnotes are at the end of the Book.
-
-
-[Illustration:
-MAP TO ILLUSTRATE PROCOPIUS ON THE BUILDINGS OF JUSTINIAN Drawn by
-George Armstrong FOR THE Palestine Pilgrims Text Society.
- _Outline from D^r. Smith’s Atlas._]
-
-
-
-
- Palestine Pilgrims’ Text Society.
-
- OF THE
-
- BUILDINGS OF JUSTINIAN.
-
- BY
-
- PROCOPIUS
-
- (CIRC. 560 A.D.).
-
-
- Translated by
- AUBREY STEWART, M.A.,
- LATE FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE,
-
- AND ANNOTATED BY
- COL. SIR C. W. WILSON, R.E., K.C.M.G., F.R.S.,
-
- AND
- PROF. HAYTER LEWIS, F.S.A.
-
- [Illustration]
-
- LONDON:
- 1. ADAM STREET, ADELPHI.
- 1888.
-
-
-
-
- CONTENTS.
-
-
- PREFACE.
- LIST OF PLATES.
- INTRODUCTION.
- BOOK I.
- BOOK II.
- BOOK III.
- BOOK IV.
- BOOK V.
- BOOK VI.
- APPENDIX I.
- APPENDIX II.
- INDEX.
-
-
-
-
- PREFACE.
-
-
-Procopius was born at Cæsarea in Palestine, early in the sixth or
-at the end of the fifth century. He made his way, an adventurer,
-to Constantinople, where he began as an advocate and Professor of
-Rhetoric. He had the good fortune to be recommended to Belisarius,
-who appointed him one of his secretaries. In that capacity Procopius
-accompanied the general in his expedition to the East, A.D. 528, and
-in that against the Vandals, A.D. 533. The successful prosecution of
-the war enriched Belisarius to such an extent that he was enabled to
-maintain a retinue of 7000 men, of whom Procopius seems to have been
-one of the most trusted, since we find him appointed Commissary General
-in the Italian war. On his return to Constantinople, he was decorated
-with one of the innumerable titles of the Byzantine Court, and entered
-into the Senate. In the year 562 he was made Prefect of Constantinople,
-and is supposed to have died in 565—the same year as his former patron
-Belisarius.
-
-His works are (1) the Histories (ἱστορίαι) in eight books,
-namely, two on the Persian War (408-553), two on the War with the
-Vandals (395-545), and four on the Wars with the Goths, bringing the
-History down to the year 553. (2) The six books on the Buildings of
-Justinian, and (3) the _Anecdota_, or Secret History—a work which has
-always been attributed to him.
-
-The ‘Histories’ appeared first in Latin, 1470, the translator being
-Leonardo Bruni d’Arezzo (Leonardo Aretino), who, believing his own MS.
-to be the only one in existence, gave himself out for the author. They
-were first published in Greek, at Augsburg, 1607: but the ‘Buildings’
-had already appeared at Basle, 1531.
-
-The ‘Secret History’ was first published, with a translation into
-Latin, at Lyons in 1623. The ‘Histories’ and the ‘Anecdota’ have been
-translated into French. An English translation of the ‘Secret History’
-was published in 1674. No other part of Procopius has, until now, been
-translated.
-
-The following version of the ‘De Ædificiis’ has been specially made for
-the Pilgrims’ Text Society, by Aubrey Stewart (late Fellow of Trinity,
-Cambridge), who has added the valuable notes marked (S.). The notes
-marked (L.), chiefly archæological, have been supplied by Professor
-Hayter Lewis, and those marked (W.), chiefly topographical, by Colonel
-Sir C. W. Wilson, the Director of the Society.
-
-The illustrations of St. Sophia are taken from the magnificent work by
-Salzenberg, published at Berlin.
-
-Those from Texier and Pullan are taken by the kind permission of Mr.
-Pullan from their work on ‘Byzantine Architecture.’
-
-In the investigation of the antiquities of Palestine, the name of
-Justinian, as associated with them, comes forward as often as that of
-Constantine or Herod.
-
-From Bethlehem to Damascus—from the sea-coast to far beyond the
-Jordan—there are few places of note in which some remains, dating from
-his era, do not exist, or in which, at the least, some records of his
-works are not left in the history of his time. To him Mount Sinai owes
-the Church of the Holy Virgin.
-
-At Bethlehem he is said to have enlarged, if not rebuilt, the great
-Basilica.
-
-At Gerizim the mountain still bears on its summit the remains of the
-church which he there constructed, and Tiberias is still surrounded, in
-part, by the walls raised by him.
-
-He is known to have constructed a large church to the Virgin on the
-Mount of Olives, and several other churches in and about Jerusalem, the
-grandest of which is described to have been an architectural gem, was
-in the Harem area itself.
-
-Besides these, which are definitely recorded to have been his work, he
-is supposed by some of the best authorities to have erected the Golden
-Gate and the Double Gate; and of late years it has been contended that
-the Sakhrah itself was constructed by him as it now exists.
-
-But there is scarcely one of these edifices, where remains of them
-exist or are supposed so to do, which has not been the subject
-of controversy, the authorship of the Sakhrah (taking that as an
-instance) having been assigned, by various persons who would usually
-be considered as authorities on the subject, to the Romans under
-Constantine, to the Byzantines under Justinian, and to the Arabs under
-Abd-el-Melek.
-
-It becomes, therefore, important to have a clear record as to what
-Justinian did, not only in Palestine but in other countries, so as to
-be able to judge to some extent, by well-authenticated examples, of the
-founders of those edifices whose history is involved in doubt.
-
-Of the writers who can give us this record, none has such authority
-as Procopius, or gives so much detailed information; and he has, for
-that reason, been largely quoted by Gibbon and by well-nigh every other
-writer on Byzantine history; and he gives such definite information as
-to the dates of many of Justinian’s buildings which remain to us, as to
-form a standard by which to recognise the general characteristics in
-outline and detail adopted by his architects in his greatest works, and
-which characterize the style now well known as Byzantine.
-
-Its first and greatest example is St. Sofia at Constantinople, which
-is, perhaps, the boldest instance of a sudden change in almost every
-respect, whether of plan, elevation, or detail, which is known in
-architecture.
-
-Before its construction, the ground-plan of well-nigh every building
-known to Western architects had defined the plan of all above it.
-
-The columns in the apse of the Basilica, or church, carried galleries
-or other erections above it, of varied design, but in the same straight
-or curved lines as those beneath them.
-
-The lines of the dome (except in slightly exceptional cases, such as
-the ruin known as the Temple of Minerva Medica at Rome, or the Temple
-of the Winds at Athens) were carried up on the distinct lines of the
-lower walls.
-
-The capitals of the columns in the works of the ancient Greeks or
-Romans were in each building carved on the same design; and however
-beautiful each might be, the eye would see but one form of the Doric,
-Ionic, or Corinthian, through the whole range of a colonnade.
-
-The Byzantines changed all that.
-
-The great dome of St. Sophia (the boldest piece of novel construction
-ever, perhaps, attempted) forms the crown of a building quite original
-in plan; and this dome is placed, not as that of the Roman Pantheon,
-low down on thick walls of its own form, but suspended high above all
-the roof around it, on four arches, which spring from detached piers,
-the keystone alone of each arch giving a direct support to the dome; in
-every other part it overhangs the void in the boldest manner.
-
-The circular work between these arches is carried in a manner which is
-comparatively easy to imitate now; but the rude and often picturesque
-results of attempts at imitation in mediæval times, more especially in
-the South of France, show how difficult the work was found to be at the
-outset.
-
-Earthquake and faults of construction occasioned the rebuilding of
-the great dome; but it still crowns, after a trial of more than 1,300
-years, one of the most beautiful buildings in existence.
-
-Then the capitals of the columns, whose general outlines bear few
-traces of the ancient orders, were often carved each in a different
-manner, and, though harmonizing with each other in general outline,
-could bear separate scrutiny, and show each a special motive and design.
-
-The carving of these capitals, and of the other beautiful scroll-work
-and foliage which decorate the walls of St. Sophia, has come down to us
-through the Normans, and is quite peculiar.
-
-It had none of the soft, round forms which the Romans loved, but is cut
-in a sharp, crisp, and somewhat stiff style, casting distinctly marked
-and sharp shadows, and the eyes of the foliage and other well-marked
-parts are emphasized by being deeply drilled in. Many of the Byzantine
-characteristics had been, to a large extent, foreshadowed in Eastern
-buildings, even at so early a time as the Assyrian bas-reliefs; but
-it is to Byzantine architects, under the fostering care of Justinian,
-that we owe the picturesque changes and details of that style, the
-Byzantine, which takes its name from his capital and is, to a large
-extent, identified with himself.
-
-All the drawings have been made for this volume by Mr. George
-Armstrong, formerly on the Survey Party under Captain Conder and
-Captain Kitchener.
-
- (L.)
-
-
-
-
- LIST OF PLATES.
-
-
- PAGE
-
- MAP ILLUSTRATING PROCOPIUS _Frontispiece_
-
- PLAN OF CONSTANTINOPLE 1
-
- CHURCH OF ST. SOPHIA 5
-
- DETAILS OF CAPITALS, ETC., OF ST. SOPHIA 7
-
- SECTION OF ST. SOPHIA 9
-
- SS. SERGIUS AND BACCHUS, CHURCH OF 19
-
- FORTIFICATIONS AT DARA 42
-
- CASTLE AND COLUMNS OF EDESSA 60
-
- CISTERN OF IMBAHER OR BATHS OF ANTONINUS 132
-
- BRIDGE ACROSS THE RIVER SANGARIS 133
-
- ES SAKHRA (DOME OF THE ROCK) 139
-
- EL AKSA 140
-
- CHURCH ON MOUNT GERIZIM 144
-
- CHURCH AT BETHLEHEM 148
-
- CHURCH OF MAGNE KAHIREH 160
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: CONSTANTINOPLE.
- _Outline from D^r. Smith’s Atlas, C.A._]
-
-
-
-
- THE
-
- SIX BOOKS OF PROCOPIUS OF CÆSAREA,
-
- ON THE
-
- _BUILDINGS OF THE LORD JUSTINIAN_.
-
-
-
-
- INTRODUCTION.
-
-
-I have not begun this work through any desire to make a display of
-my own virtue, or trusting to my powers of language, or wishing
-to gain credit by my knowledge of the places described, for I had
-nothing to encourage me to undertake so bold a project. But I have
-often reflected on the great blessings which countries derive from
-history, which transmits to posterity the remembrance of our ancestors,
-and opposes the efforts of time to cover them with oblivion; which
-always encourages virtue in its readers by its praise, and deters
-them from vice by its blame, and in this way destroys its power.
-All we need study then is to make clear what has been done, and by
-whom of mankind it was done; and this, I imagine, is not impossible
-even for the weakest and feeblest writer; besides this, the writing
-of history enables subjects who have been kindly treated by their
-rulers, to express their gratitude, and to make a more than adequate
-return, seeing that they only for a time enjoy the goodness of their
-princes, while they render their virtues immortal in the memory of
-their descendants, many of whom in this very way have been led by the
-glory of their ancestors to a love of virtue, and have been probably
-preserved from a dissolute course of life by the dread of disgrace. I
-will shortly explain my object in making these prefatory remarks.
-
-The Emperor Justinian was born in our time,[1] and succeeding to the
-throne when the state was decayed, added greatly to its extent and
-glory by driving out from it the barbarians, who for so long a time had
-forced their way into it, as I have briefly narrated in my ‘History
-of the Wars.’ They say that Themistocles, the son of Neocles, prided
-himself on his power of making a small state great, but our Emperor
-has the power of adding other states to his own, for he has annexed
-to the Roman Empire many other states which at his accession were
-independent, and has founded innumerable cities which had no previous
-existence. As for religion, which he found uncertain and torn by
-various heresies, he destroyed everything which could lead to error,
-and securely established the true faith upon one solid foundation.
-Moreover, finding the laws obscure through their unnecessary multitude,
-and confused by their conflict with one another, he firmly established
-them by reducing the number of those which were unnecessary, and in the
-case of those that were contradictory, by confirming the better ones.
-He forgave of his own accord those who plotted against him, and, by
-loading with wealth those who were in want, and relieving them from the
-misfortunes which had afflicted them, he rendered the empire stable and
-its members happy. By increasing his armies he strengthened the Roman
-Empire, which lay everywhere exposed to the attacks of barbarians,
-and fortified its entire frontier by building strong places. Of his
-other acts the greater part have been described by me in other works,
-but his great achievements in building are set forth in this book. We
-learn from tradition that Cyrus the Persian was a great king, and the
-chief founder of the empire of his countrymen; but whether he had any
-resemblance to that Cyrus who is described by Xenophon the Athenian
-in his Cyropædia, I have no means of telling, for possibly the art of
-the writer has given some embellishments to his achievements; while
-as for our present Emperor Justinian (whom I think one may rightly
-call a king by nature, since, as Homer says, he is as gentle as a
-father), if one accurately considers his empire, one will regard that
-of Cyrus as mere child’s play.[2] The proof of this will be that the
-empire, as I just now said, has been more than doubled by him, both
-in extent and in power; whilst his royal clemency is proved by the
-fact that those who wickedly plotted against his life, although they
-were clearly convicted, not only are alive and in possession of their
-property at the present day, but even command Roman armies, and have
-been promoted to the consular dignity. Now, as I said before, we must
-turn our attention to the buildings of this monarch, lest posterity,
-beholding the enormous size and number of them, should deny their being
-the work of one man; for the works of many men of former times, not
-being confirmed by history, have been disbelieved through their own
-excessive greatness. As is natural, the foundation of all my account
-will be the buildings in Byzantium, for, as the old proverb has it,
-when we begin a work we ought to put a brilliant frontispiece to it.
-
-
-
-
- BOOK I.
-
-
-I. The lowest dregs of the people in Byzantium once assailed the
-Emperor Justinian in the rebellion called Nika, which I have clearly
-described in my ‘History of the Wars.’ To prove that it was not merely
-against the Emperor, but no less against God that they took up arms,
-they ventured to burn the church of the Christians. (This church the
-people of Byzantium call Sophia, _i.e._, Σοφία—_Wisdom_; a name most
-worthy of God.) God permitted them to effect this crime, knowing how
-great the beauty of this church would be when restored. Thus the church
-was entirely reduced to ashes; but the Emperor Justinian not long
-afterwards adorned it in such a fashion, that if anyone had asked the
-Christians in former times if they wished their church to be destroyed
-and thus restored, showing them the appearance of the church which we
-now see, I think it probable that they would have prayed that they
-might as soon as possible behold their church destroyed, in order that
-it might be turned into its present form. The Emperor, regardless
-of expense of all kinds, pressed on its restoration, and collected
-together all the workmen from every land, Anthemius of Tralles,[3]
-by far the most celebrated architect, not only of his own but of all
-former times, carried out the King’s zealous intentions, organized the
-labours of the workmen, and prepared models of the future construction.
-Associated with him was another architect named Isidorus, a Milesian
-by birth, a man of intelligence, and worthy to carry out the plans of
-the Emperor Justinian. It is, indeed, a proof of the esteem with which
-God regarded the Emperor, that He furnished him with men who would be
-so useful in effecting his designs, and we are compelled to admire the
-intelligence of the Emperor, in being able to choose the most suitable
-of mankind to carry out the noblest of his works.
-
-[Illustration: CHURCH OF S^T SOPHIA.
-DETAILS OF ORNAMENTAL WORK]
-
-[Illustration: 3 Specimens of Details of
-Capitals &c. of S^t. Sophia
-_From Salzenburg_]
-
-The church consequently presented a most glorious spectacle,
-extraordinary to those who beheld it, and altogether incredible to
-those who are told of it. In height it rises to the very heavens, and
-overtops the neighbouring buildings like a ship anchored among them:
-it rises above the rest of the city, which it adorns, while it forms
-a part of it, and it is one of its beauties that being a part of the
-city, and growing out of it, it stands so high above it, that from
-it the whole city can be beheld as from a watch-tower. Its length
-and breadth are so judiciously arranged that it appears to be both
-long and wide without being disproportioned. It is distinguished by
-indescribable beauty, for it excels both in its size and in the harmony
-of its proportion, having no part excessive and none deficient; being
-more magnificent than ordinary buildings, and much more elegant than
-those which are out of proportion. It is singularly full of light and
-sunshine; you would declare that the place is not lighted by the sun
-from without, but that the rays are produced within itself, such an
-abundance of light is poured into this church. Now the front of the
-church (that is to say the part towards the rising sun, where the
-sacred mysteries are performed in honour of God) is built as follows.
-The building rises from the ground, not in a straight line, but set
-back somewhat obliquely, and retreating in the middle into the form
-of a half-circle, a form which those who are learned in these matters
-call semi-cylindrical, rising perpendicularly. The upper part of
-this work ends in the fourth part of a sphere, and above it another
-crescent-shaped structure is raised upon the adjacent parts of the
-building, admirable for its beauty, but causing terror by the apparent
-weakness of its construction; for it appears not to rest upon a secure
-foundation, but to hang dangerously over the heads of those within,
-although it is really supported with especial firmness and safety. On
-each side of these there are columns standing upon the floor, which
-themselves also are not placed in a straight line, but arranged with
-an inward curve of semicircular shape, one beyond another, like the
-dancers in a chorus. These columns support above them a crescent-shaped
-structure. Opposite this east wall is built another wall containing
-the entrances, and upon either side of it also stand columns with
-stonework above them in a half-circle exactly like those previously
-described. In the midst of the church are four masses of stone called
-piers, two on the north and two on the south side, opposite and equal
-to one another, having four columns in the central space between
-each. These piers are composed of large stones fitted together, the
-stones being carefully selected and cleverly jointed into one another
-by the masons, reaching to a great height. Looking at them you would
-compare them to perpendicular cliffs. Upon these four arches rise in a
-quadrilateral form. The extremities of these arches join one another in
-pairs, and rest at their ends upon these piers, while the other part
-of them rise to a great height, and are suspended in the air. Two of
-these arches, that is, those towards the rising and the setting sun,
-are constructed over the empty air, but the remainder have under them
-some stonework, with small columns. Now above these arches is raised a
-circular building of a spherical form through which the light of day
-first shines; for the building, I imagine, overtops the whole country,
-and has small openings left on purpose, so that the places where these
-intervals in the construction occur may serve for conductors of light.
-Thus far I imagine the building is not incapable of being described,
-even by a weak and feeble tongue. As the arches are arranged in a
-quadrangular figure, the stonework between them takes the shape of
-a triangle; the lower angle of each triangle, being compressed
-between the shoulders of the arches, is slender, while the upper part
-becomes wider as it rises in the space between them, and ends against
-the circle which rises from thence, forming there its remaining angles.
-A spherical-shaped dome standing upon this circle makes it exceedingly
-beautiful; from the lightness of the building it does not appear to
-rest upon a solid foundation, but to cover the place beneath as though
-it were suspended from heaven by the fabled golden chain. All these
-parts surprisingly joined to one another in the air, suspended one from
-another, and resting only on that which is next to them, form the work
-into one admirably harmonious whole, which spectators do not care to
-dwell upon for long in the mass, as each individual part attracts the
-eye and turns it to itself. The sight causes men to constantly change
-their point of view, and the spectator can nowhere point to any part
-which he admires more than the rest, but having viewed the art which
-appears everywhere, men contract their eyebrows as they look at each
-point, and are unable to comprehend such workmanship, but always depart
-thence stupified through their incapacity to comprehend it. So much for
-this.
-
-[Illustration: CHURCH OF S^T. SOPHIA.
-HALF SECTION THROUGH GREAT DOME AND TRANSEPT
- Vincent Brooks Day & Son]
-
-[Illustration: CHURCH OF S^T. SOPHIA.
- HALF PLAN ON LEVEL OF GROUND FLOOR.
- HALF PLAN ON LEVEL OF GALLERIES]
-
-The Emperor Justinian and the architects Anthemius and Isidorus used
-many devices to construct so lofty a church with security. One alone
-of these I will at this present time explain, by which a man may form
-some opinion of the strength of the whole work; as for the others, I am
-not able to discover them all, and find it impossible to explain them
-in words. It is as follows:—The piers[4] of which I just now spoke
-are not constructed in the same manner as the rest of the building, but
-in this fashion: they consist of quadrangular courses of stones, rough
-by nature, but made smooth by art; of these stones, those which make
-the projecting angles of the pier are cut angularly, while those which
-go in the middle parts of the sides are cut square. They are fastened
-together not with what is called unslaked lime, not with bitumen, the
-boast of Semiramis at Babylon, nor anything of the kind, but with lead,
-which is poured between the interstices, and which, pervading the whole
-structure, has sunk into the joints of the stones, and binds them
-together; this is how they are built. Let us now proceed to describe
-the remaining parts of the church. The entire ceiling is covered with
-pure gold, which adds glory to its beauty, though the rays of light
-reflected upon the gold from the marble surpass it in beauty; there
-are two porticos on each side, which do not in any way dwarf the size
-of the church, but add to its width. In length they reach quite to the
-ends, but in height they fall short of it; these also have a domed
-ceiling and are adorned with gold. Of these two porticos, the one is
-set apart for male, and the other for female worshippers; there is no
-variety in them, nor do they differ in any respect from one another,
-but their very equality and similarity add to the beauty of the church.
-Who could describe the galleries[5] of the portion set apart for
-women, or the numerous porticos and cloistered courts with which the
-church is surrounded? who could tell of the beauty of the columns and
-marbles with which the church is adorned? one would think that one
-had come upon a meadow full of flowers in bloom: who would not admire
-the purple tints of some and the green of others, the glowing red and
-glittering white, and those, too, which nature, like a painter, has
-marked with the strongest contrasts of colour? Whoever enters there
-to worship perceives at once that it is not by any human strength or
-skill, but by the favour of God that this work has been perfected;
-his mind rises sublime to commune with God, feeling that He cannot be
-far off, but must especially love to dwell in the place which He has
-chosen; and this takes place not only when a man sees it for the first
-time, but it always makes the same impression upon him, as though he
-had never beheld it before. No one ever became weary of this spectacle,
-but those who are in the Church delight in what they see, and, when
-they leave it, magnify it in their talk about it; moreover, it is
-impossible accurately to describe the treasure of gold and silver plate
-and gems, which the Emperor Justinian has presented to it; but by the
-description of one of them, I leave the rest to be inferred. That part
-of the church which is especially sacred, and where the priests alone
-are allowed to enter, which is called the Sanctuary, contains forty
-thousand pounds’ weight of silver!
-
-The above is an account, written in the most abridged and cursory
-manner, describing in the fewest possible words the most admirable
-structure of the church at Constantinople which is called the Great
-Church, built by the Emperor Justinian, who did not merely supply the
-funds for it, but assisted it by the labour and powers of his mind, as
-I will now explain. Of the two arches which I lately mentioned (the
-architects call them ‘lori’[6]), that one which stands towards the east
-had been built up on each side, but had not altogether been completed
-in the middle, where it was still imperfect; now the piers upon which
-the building rested, unable to support the weight which was put upon
-them, somehow all at once split open, and seemed as though before long
-they would fall to pieces. Upon this Anthemius and Isidorus, terrified
-at what had taken place, referred the matter to the Emperor, losing all
-confidence in their own skill. He at once, I know not by what impulse,
-but probably inspired by heaven, for he is not an architect, ordered
-them to carry round this arch; for it, said he, resting upon itself,
-will no longer need the piers below. Now if this story were unsupported
-by witnesses, I am well assured that it would seem to be written in
-order to flatter, and to be quite incredible; but as there are many
-witnesses now alive of what then took place, I shall not hesitate to
-finish it. The workmen performed his bidding, the arch was safely
-suspended, and proved by experiment the truth of his conception. So
-much then for this part of the building; now with regard to the other
-arches, those looking to the south and to the north, the following
-incidents took place. When the arches called ‘lori’ were raised aloft
-during the building of the church, everything below them laboured under
-their weight, and the columns which are placed there shed little
-scales, as though they had been planed. Alarmed at this, the architects
-again referred the matter to the Emperor, who devised the following
-plan. He ordered the upper part of the work that was giving way, where
-it touched the arches, to be taken down for the present, and to be
-replaced long afterwards when the damp had thoroughly left the fabric.
-This was done, and the building has stood safely afterwards, so that
-the structure as it were bears witness to the Emperor.
-
-II. In front of the Senate House there is an open place which the
-people of Constantinople call the Augustæum: in it there are not less
-than seven courses of stone in a quadrangular form, arranged like
-steps, each one so much less in extent than that which is below, that
-each one of the stones projects sufficiently for the men who frequent
-that place to sit upon them as upon steps. From the topmost course a
-column rises to a great height—not a monolith, but composed of stones
-of a considerable periphery, which are cut square, and are fitted into
-one another by the skill of the masons. The finest brass, cast into
-panels and garlands, surrounds these stones on every side, binding
-them firmly together, while it covers them with ornament, and in all
-parts, especially at the capital and the base, imitates the form of
-the column. This brass is in colour paler than unalloyed gold; and its
-value is not much short of its own weight in silver. On the summit of
-the column there stands an enormous horse, with his face turned towards
-the east—a noble sight. He appears to be walking, and proceeding
-swiftly forwards; he raises his left fore-foot as though to tread upon
-the earth before him, while the other rests upon the stone beneath
-it, as though it would make the next step, while he places his hind
-feet together, so that they may be ready when he bids them move. Upon
-this horse sits a colossal brass figure of the Emperor, habited as
-Achilles, for so his costume is called; he wears hunting-shoes, and
-his ankles are not covered by his greaves. He wears a corslet like an
-ancient hero, his head is covered by a helmet which seems to nod, and a
-plume glitters upon it. A poet would say that it was that ‘star of the
-dog-days’ mentioned in Homer.[7] He looks towards the east, directing
-his course, I imagine, against the Persians; in his left hand he holds
-a globe, by which the sculptor signifies that all lands and seas are
-subject to him. He holds no sword or spear, or any other weapon, but a
-cross stands upon the globe, through which he has obtained his empire
-and victory in war; he stretches forward his right hand towards the
-east, and spreading out his fingers seems to bid the barbarians in that
-quarter to remain at home and come no further. This is the appearance
-of the statue.
-
-The Church of Irene,[8] which was next to the great church, and was
-burnt down together with it, was rebuilt on a large scale by the
-Emperor Justinian—a church scarcely second to any in Byzantium except
-that of Sophia. There was between these two churches a hospice for the
-relief of destitute persons and those in the last extremity of disease,
-suffering in body as well as in fortune, which was built in former
-times by a God-fearing man named Sampson. This also did not remain
-unscathed by the insurgents, but perished in the fire, together with
-the two neighbouring churches. The Emperor Justinian rebuilt it in a
-more magnificent fashion, and with a much greater number of rooms,
-and he has also endowed it with a great annual revenue, in order that
-the sufferings of more unfortunate men may be relieved in it for the
-future. Insatiate as he was in his love for God, he built two other
-hospices opposite to this, in what are called the houses of Isidorus
-and Arcadius, being assisted in these pious works by the Empress
-Theodora. As for all the other churches which this Emperor raised in
-honour of Christ, they are so many in number and so great in size that
-it is impossible to describe them in detail, for no power of words nor
-one’s whole life would suffice to collect and to recite the list of
-their several names: let this much suffice.
-
-III. We must begin with the churches of the Virgin Mary, for it is
-understood that this is the wish of the Emperor himself, and the true
-method of description distinctly points out that from God we ought
-to proceed to the Mother of God. The Emperor Justinian built in all
-parts of the Roman empire many churches dedicated to the Virgin, so
-magnificent and large, and constructed with such a lavish expenditure
-of money, that a person beholding any one of them singly would imagine
-it to have been his only work, and that he had spent the whole period
-of his reign in adorning it alone. For the present, as I said before,
-I shall describe the churches in Byzantium. One of the churches of
-the Virgin[9] was built by him outside the walls, in a place named
-Blachernæ (for he must be credited with the pious foundations of
-Justin, his uncle, since he administered his kingdom at his own
-discretion). This church is near the sea-shore, of great sanctity and
-magnificence; it is long, yet its width is well proportioned to its
-length, and above and below it is supported and rests on nothing less
-than sections of Parian marble which stand in the form of columns.
-These columns are arranged in a straight line in all parts of the
-church except in the middle, where they are set back. Those who enter
-this church especially admire its lofty and at the same time secure
-construction, and its splendid yet not meretricious beauty.
-
-He built another church in her honour in the place which is called
-the Fountain, where there is a thick grove of cypress trees, a meadow
-whose rich earth blooms with flowers, a garden abounding in fruit, a
-fountain which noiselessly pours forth a quiet and sweet stream of
-water, in short where all the surroundings beseem a sacred place. Such
-is the country around the church; but as for the church itself, it is
-not easy to describe it in fitting words, to form an idea of it in the
-mind, or to express it in language; let it suffice for me to say thus
-much of it, that in beauty and size it surpasses most other churches.
-Both these churches are built outside the city walls, the one at the
-place where the wall starts from the sea-shore, the latter close
-to what is called the Golden Gate, which is near the further end of
-the fortifications, in order that both of them might form impregnable
-defences for the city walls. Besides these, in the temple of Hera, now
-called the Hiereum, he erected a church in honour of the Virgin, which
-cannot easily be described.
-
-In that part of the city which is called Deuteron[10] he built a noble
-and admirable church in honour of St. Anne, whom some think to have
-been the mother of the Virgin, and the grandmother of Christ; for God,
-in choosing to become man, subjected Himself to having grand-parents
-and a genealogy on His mother’s side like a man. Not very far from this
-church, in the last street of the city, there is a fine church built in
-honour of the martyr Zoe.
-
-He found the church of the Archangel Michael[11] at Byzantium small,
-very dark, and quite unworthy of being dedicated to the archangel,
-having been built by one Senator, a patrician in former times, and
-in shape very like a small bedroom in a poor man’s house. Wherefore
-he razed it entirely to the ground, that no part of its former
-unseemliness might be left, and rebuilding it of a goodly size, in
-the manner which we now see, changed it into a building of wonderful
-beauty. This church is of a quadrangular form, its length apparently
-not greatly exceeding its width; of its sides, that which looks towards
-the east has at its extremities a thick wall constructed of a great
-mass of stones, but in the middle is set back, forming a recess, on
-each side of which the roof is supported by columns of variegated
-stone. The opposite wall, that towards the west, is pierced with doors
-opening into the church.
-
-[Illustration: PLAN OF CHURCH OF SS. SERGIUS AND BACCHUS.]
-
-IV. His faith in the Apostles of Christ is testified in the following
-manner: In the first place he built the Church to SS. Peter and
-Paul, which did not exist before in Byzantium, close to the King’s
-palace, which was formerly called by the name of Hormisdas.[12] This
-was once his own private house; and when he became Emperor of the
-Romans, he made it look worthy of a palace by the magnificence of its
-buildings, and joined it to the other imperial apartments. Here also
-he built another church dedicated to the glorious saints Sergius and
-Bacchus,[13] and afterwards another church standing obliquely to
-it. These two churches stand, not facing one another, but obliquely
-towards one another, joined together, and vying one with another. They
-have a common entrance, are equal to one another in all respects,
-are surrounded by a boundary wall, and neither of them exceeds the
-other or falls short of it, either in beauty, size, or any other
-respect; for each alike reflects the rays of the sun from its polished
-marble, and is alike covered with lavish gilding and adorned with
-offerings; in one respect alone they differ, that the length of one is
-straight, whereas the columns of the other for the most part stand in a
-semicircle. They both have one portico at their vestibule, which from
-its great length is called Narthex.[14] The whole vestibule, the court,
-the inner doors from the court and the neighbourhood of the palace are
-alike common to both, and both these churches are so admirable that
-they form a great ornament to the entire city, and especially to the
-palace.
-
-After this, out of his exceeding great reverence for all the
-Apostles,[15] he did as follows. In ancient times there was one
-church at Byzantium dedicated to all the Apostles, but through length
-of time it had become ruinous, and seemed not likely to stand much
-longer. Justinian took this entirely down, and was careful not only to
-rebuild it, but to render it more admirable both in size and beauty;
-he carried out his intention in the following manner. Two lines were
-drawn in the form of a cross, joining one another in the middle, the
-upright one pointing to the rising and setting sun, and the other
-cross line towards the north and the south wind. These were surrounded
-by a circuit of walls, and within by columns placed both above and
-below; at the crossing of the two straight lines, that is, about the
-middle point of them, there is a place set apart, which may not be
-entered except by the priests, and which is consequently termed the
-Sanctuary. The transepts which lie on each side of this, about the
-cross line, are of equal length; but that part of the upright line
-towards the setting sun is built so much longer than the other part
-as to form the figure of the cross. That part of the roof which is
-above the Sanctuary is constructed like the middle part of the Church
-of Sophia, except that it yields to it in size; for the four arches
-are suspended and connected with one another in the same fashion, the
-circular building standing above them is pierced with windows, and the
-spherical dome which overarches it seems to be suspended in the air,
-and not to stand upon a firm base, although it is perfectly secure. In
-this manner the middle part of the roof is built: now the roof over the
-four limbs of the church is constructed of the same size as that which
-I have described over the middle, with this one exception, that the
-wall underneath the spherical part is not pierced with windows. When
-he had completed the building of this Sanctuary, the Apostles made it
-evident to all that they were pleased and thoroughly delighted with
-the honour paid them by the Emperor; for the bodies of the Apostles
-Andrew, Luke, and Timothy, which had before this been invisible and
-altogether unknown, were then made manifest to all men, signifying,
-I imagine, that they did not reject the faith of the Emperor, but
-permitted him openly to behold them, to approach and to touch them,
-that he might gain from them assistance and security for his life. This
-was discovered in the following manner.
-
-The Emperor Constantine built this church in the name and in honour of
-the Apostles, making a decree that there should be a sepulchre there
-for himself, and for those who should rule after him, women as well as
-men; which is observed even to the present day. Here also the body of
-the father of Constantine was laid; but he did not in any way hint that
-the bodies of the Apostles were there, nor did there appear to be any
-place set apart for the bodies of saints. When, however, the Emperor
-Justinian was rebuilding this church, the workmen dug up the whole
-foundation, lest any unseemly thing should be left in it. They saw
-there three neglected wooden coffins, which declared by inscriptions
-upon them that they contained the bodies of the Apostles Andrew, Luke,
-and Timothy, which the Emperor and all Christian men beheld with the
-greatest delight. A solemn procession and public festival was ordered,
-and, after the customary rites had been performed in their honour, the
-coffins were covered up, and again placed in the ground. The place was
-not left unmarked or uncared for, but was reverently dedicated to the
-bodies of the Apostles. In return for the respect paid them by the
-Emperor, the Apostles, as I said before, made themselves manifest to
-all men; for, under a religious prince, the host of heaven do not hold
-themselves aloof from the affairs of men, but love to mingle with them,
-and rejoice in intercourse with mankind.
-
-Who could be silent about the Church of Acacius,[16] which, being
-ruinous, he pulled down and built up again from its very foundations,
-adding wonderfully to its size? It rests on all sides upon
-brilliantly white columns, and its floor is covered with similar
-marble, from which so bright a light is reflected as to make one
-imagine that the whole church is covered with snow. Two porticos stand
-in front of it, the one supported on columns, and the other looking
-towards the forum. I was within a little of omitting to mention the
-church which was dedicated to St. Plato the Martyr,[17] a truly worthy
-and noble building, not far from the forum, which is named after the
-Emperor Constantine; and likewise the church dedicated to the Martyr
-Mocius,[18] which is the largest of all these churches. Besides this,
-there is the Church of the Martyr Thyssus, and the Church of St.
-Theodorus,[19] standing outside the city in the place which is called
-Rhesias, and the Church of the Martyr Thecla, which is near the harbour
-named after Julian, and that of St. Theodota in the suburb which is
-called Hebdomon. All these were built from their foundations by this
-Emperor during the reign of his uncle Justin, and are not easy to
-describe in words, while it is impossible to admire them sufficiently
-when beholding them. My narrative is now attracted to the Church of
-St. Agathonicus,[20] and I am forced to mention it, though I have no
-longer voice nor words befitting such a work: let it be sufficient for
-me to have said thus much of it; I will leave the description of its
-beauty and sumptuousness in all respects to others to whom the subject
-is fresh, and who are not wearied out by their labours.
-
-V. Finding other churches in what is called the Anaplus, and along the
-coast of the opposite continent, which were not worthy to be dedicated
-to any of the saints, as also round the gulf which the natives call
-Ceras,[21] after the name of Ceroessa, the mother of Byzans, who was
-the founder of the city, he showed a royal munificence in all of them,
-as I will presently prove, having first said a few words about the
-glory which the sea adds to Byzantium.
-
-The prosperity of Byzantium is increased by the sea which enfolds
-it, contracting itself into straits, and connecting itself with the
-ocean, thus rendering the city remarkably beautiful, and affording a
-safe protection in its harbours to seafarers, so as to cause it to be
-well supplied with provisions and abounding with all necessaries; for
-the two seas which are on either side of it, that is to say the Ægean
-and that which is called the Euxine, which meet at the east part of
-the city and dash together as they mingle their waves, separate the
-continent by their currents, and add to the beauty of the city while
-they surround it. It is, therefore, encompassed by three straits
-connected with one another, arranged so as to minister both to its
-elegance and its convenience, all of them most charming for sailing
-on, lovely to look at, and exceedingly safe for anchorage. The middle
-one of them, which leads from the Euxine Sea, makes straight for the
-city as though to adorn it. Upon either side of it lie the several
-continents, between whose shores it is confined, and seems to foam
-proudly with its waves because it passes over both Asia and Europe
-in order to reach the city; you would think that you beheld a river
-flowing towards you with a gentle current. That which is on the left
-hand of it rests on either side upon widely extended shores, and
-displays the groves, the lovely meadows, and all the other charms of
-the opposite continent in full view of the city. As it makes its way
-onward towards the south, receding as far as possible from Asia, it
-becomes wider; but even then its waves continue to encircle the city
-as far as the setting of the sun. The third arm of the sea joins the
-first one upon the right hand, starting from the place called Sycæ,[22]
-and washes the greater part of the northern shore of the city, ending
-in a bay. Thus the sea encircles the city like a crown, the interval
-consisting of the land lying between it in sufficient quantity to
-form a clasp for the crown of waters. This gulf is always calm, and
-never crested into waves, as though a barrier were placed there to the
-billows, and all storms were shut out from thence, through reverence
-for the city. Whenever strong winds and gales fall upon these seas and
-this strait, ships, when they once reach the entrance of this gulf,
-run the rest of their voyage unguided, and make the shore at random;
-for the gulf extends for a distance of more than forty stadia in
-circumference, and the whole of it is a harbour, so that when a ship is
-moored there the stern rests on the sea and the bows on the land, as
-though the two elements contended with one another to see which of them
-could be of the greatest service to the city.
-
-VI. Such is the appearance of this gulf; but the Emperor Justinian
-rendered it more lovely by the beauty of the buildings with which
-he surrounded it; for on the left side of it, he, to speak briefly,
-altered the Church of St. Laurentius the Martyr, which formerly was
-without windows and very dark,[23] into the appearance which it now
-presents; and in front of it he built the Church of the Virgin, in the
-place which is called Blachernæ, as I described a little above. Behind
-it he built a new church to SS. Priscus and Nicolaus, renewing the
-whole building. This is an especially favourite resort of the people
-of Byzantium, partly from their respect and reverence for the saints,
-which were their countrymen, and partly to enjoy the beauty of the
-situation of the church; for the Emperor drove back the waves of the
-sea, and laid the foundations as far among the billows as possible.
-At the upper part of the gulf, in a very steep and precipitous place,
-there was an ancient Church of SS. Cosmas and Damianus; where once
-these saints appeared on a sudden to the Emperor as he lay grievously
-sick and apparently at the point of death, given up by his physicians,
-and already reckoned as dead, and miraculously made him whole. In order
-to repay their goodness, as far as a mortal man may do, he entirely
-altered and renewed the former building, which was unseemly and humble,
-and not worthy to be dedicated to such great saints, adorned the new
-church with beauty and size and brilliant light, and gave it many other
-things which it did not formerly possess. When men are suffering from
-diseases beyond the reach of physicians, and despair of human aid, they
-resort to the only hope which is left to them, and sail through this
-gulf in boats to this church. As soon as they begin their voyage they
-see this church standing as though on a lofty citadel, made beautiful
-by the gratitude of the Emperor, and affording them hope that they too
-may partake of the benefits which flow from thence.
-
-On the opposite side of the gulf the Emperor built a church which did
-not exist before, quite close to the shore of the gulf, and dedicated
-it to the Martyr Anthimus. The base of this temple, laved by the gentle
-wash of the sea, is most picturesque; for no lofty billows dash against
-its stones, nor does the wave resound like that of the open sea, or
-burst into masses of foam, but gently glides up to the land, silently
-laps against it, and quietly retreats. Beyond this is a level and very
-smooth court, adorned all round with marble columns, and rendered
-beautiful by its view of the sea. Next to this is a portico, beyond
-which rises the church, of a quadrangular form, adorned with beautiful
-marble and gildings. Its length only exceeds its breadth far enough
-to give room for the sanctuary, in which the sacred mysteries are
-performed, on the side which is turned towards the rising sun; such is
-the description of it.
-
-VII. Beyond this, at the very mouth of the gulf, stands the Church
-of the Martyr Irene,[24] which the Emperor has so magnificently
-constructed that I could not competently describe it; for, contending
-with the sea in his desire to beautify the gulf, he has built these
-churches as though he were placing gems upon a necklace; however, since
-I have mentioned this Church of Irene, it will not be foreign to my
-purpose to describe what took place there. Here, from ancient times,
-rested the remains of no fewer than forty saints, who were Roman
-soldiers, and were enrolled in the twelfth legion, which formerly was
-stationed in the city of Melitene, in Armenia; now, when the masons
-dug in the place which I just spoke of, they found a chest with an
-inscription stating that it contained the remains of these men. This
-chest, which had been forgotten, was at that time purposely brought
-to light by God, both with the object of proving to all men with how
-great joy He received the gifts of the Emperor, and also in order to
-reward his good works by the bestowal of a still greater favour; for
-the Emperor Justinian was in ill-health, and a large collection of
-humours in his knee caused him great pain. His illness arose from his
-own fault; for during all the days which precede the Paschal Feast,
-and are called fast-days, he practised a severe abstinence, unfit not
-only for a prince, but even for a man who took no part in political
-matters. He used to pass two days entirely without food, and that, too,
-although he rose from his bed at early dawn to watch over the State,
-whose business he ever transacted, both by actions and words, early
-in the morning, at midday, and at night with equal zeal; for though
-he would retire to rest late at night, he would almost immediately
-arise, as though disliking his bed. Whenever he did take nourishment,
-he refrained from wine, bread, and all other food, eating only herbs,
-and those wild ones which had been for a long time pickled in salt and
-vinegar, whilst water was his only drink. Yet he never ate to repletion
-even of these; but whenever he dined, he would merely taste this food,
-and then push it away, never eating sufficient. From this regimen his
-disease gathered strength, defying the efforts of physicians, and for
-a long time the Emperor suffered from these pains. During this time,
-hearing of the discovery of the relics, he disregarded human art, and
-commended himself to them, deriving health from his faith in them, and
-finding healing in his bitterest need from his true faith; for as soon
-as the priests placed the paten upon his knee, the disease at once
-vanished—forced out of a body dedicated to God. Not wishing that this
-matter should be disputed, God displayed a great sign as a testimony
-to this miracle. Oil suddenly poured forth from the holy relics,
-overflowed the chest, and besprinkled the feet and the purple garment
-of the Emperor. Wherefore his tunic, thus saturated, is preserved in
-the palace as a testimony of what then took place, and for the healing
-of those who in future time may suffer from incurable disorders.
-
-VIII. Thus did the Emperor Justinian adorn the gulf which is called
-the Horn; he also added great beauty to the shores of the other two
-straits, of which I lately made mention, in the following manner. There
-were two churches dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, opposite
-to one another, on either side of the strait, the one in the place
-called Anaplus[25] on the left hand as one sails into the Euxine Sea,
-and the other on the opposite shore. This place was called Pröochthus
-by the ancients—I suppose because it projects a long way from that
-shore—and is now called Brochi, the ignorance of the inhabitants
-having in process of time corrupted the name. The priests of these two
-churches, perceiving that they were dilapidated by age, and fearing
-that they might presently fall down upon them, besought the Emperor
-to restore them both to their former condition; for in his reign it
-was not possible for a church either to be built, or to be restored
-when ruined, except from the royal treasury, and that not only in
-Byzantium, but also everywhere throughout the Roman Empire. The
-Emperor, as soon as he obtained this opportunity, demolished both
-of them to the foundation, that no part of their former unseemliness
-might be left. He rebuilt the one in Anaplus[26] in the following
-manner. He formed the shore into a curve within a mole of stone, which
-he erected as a protection to the harbour, and changed the sea-beach
-into the appearance of a market; for the sea, which is there very
-smooth, exchanges its produce with the land, and sea-faring merchants,
-mooring their barques alongside the mole, exchange the merchandise
-from their decks for the produce of the country. Beyond this sea-side
-market stands forth the vestibule of the church, whose marble vies in
-colour with ripe fruit and snow. Those who take their walks in this
-quarter are charmed with the beauty of the stone, are delighted with
-the view of the sea, and are refreshed with the breezes from the water
-and the hills which rise upon the land. A circular portico surrounds
-the church on all sides except the east. In the midst of it stands the
-church, adorned with marble of various colours. Above it is suspended
-a domed roof. Who, after viewing it, could speak worthily of the lofty
-porticoes, of the buildings within, of the grace of the marble with
-which the walls and foundations are everywhere encrusted? In addition
-to all this, a great quantity of gold is everywhere spread over the
-church, as though it grew upon it. In describing this, I have also
-described the Church of St. John the Baptist,[27] which the Emperor
-Justinian lately erected in his honour in the place called Hebdomon;
-for both the two churches are very like each other, except only that
-the Church of the Baptist does not happen to stand by the sea-shore.
-The Church of the Archangel, in the place called Anaplus, is built
-in the above manner; now upon the opposite shore there is a place
-at a little distance from the sea, which is level, and raised high
-upon a mass of stones. Here has been built a church in honour of the
-Archangel, of exceeding beauty, of the largest size, and in costliness
-worthy of being dedicated to the Archangel Michael by the Emperor
-Justinian. Not far from this church, he restored a church of the
-Virgin, which had fallen into ruins long before, whose magnificence
-it would take long to examine and to express in words; but here a
-long-expected part of our history finds its place.
-
-IX. Upon this shore there stood from ancient times a beautiful palace:
-the whole of this the Emperor Justinian dedicated to God, exchanging
-present enjoyment for the reward of his piety hereafter, in the
-following manner. There were at Byzantium a number of women who were
-prostituted in a brothel, not willingly, but compelled to exercise
-their profession; for under pressure of poverty they were compelled
-by the procurer who kept them to act in this manner, and to offer
-themselves to unknown and casual passers-by. There was here from
-ancient times a guild of brothel-keepers, who not only carried on their
-profession in this building, but publicly bought their victims in the
-market, and forced them into an unchaste life. However, the Emperor
-Justinian and the Empress Theodora, who performed all their works of
-piety in common, devised the following scheme. They cleansed the State
-from the pollution of these brothels, drove out the procurers, and set
-free these women who had been driven to evil courses by their poverty,
-providing them with a sufficient maintenance, and enabling them to live
-chaste as well as free. This was arranged in the following manner: they
-changed the palace, which stood on the right hand as one sails into the
-Euxine Sea, into a magnificent convent, to serve as a refuge for women
-who had repented of their former life, in order that there spending
-their lives in devotion to God, and in continual works of piety, they
-might wash away the sins of their former life of shame; wherefore this
-dwelling of these women is called from their work by the name of the
-Penitentiary. The princes endowed this convent with large revenues,
-and furnished it with many buildings of exceeding great beauty and
-costliness for the comfort of these women, so that none of them might
-be forced by any circumstances to relax their practice of chastity. So
-much then for this part of the subject.
-
-As one sails from this place towards the Euxine Sea, there is a lofty
-promontory jutting out from the shore of the strait, upon which stood a
-Church of the Martyr St. Pantelëemon,[28] which, having been originally
-carelessly built, and having been much ruined by lapse of time, was
-taken down by the Emperor Justinian, who built the church which now
-stands there with the greatest magnificence, and both preserved the
-honour due to the martyr and added beauty to the strait by building
-on each side of it the churches which I have mentioned. Beyond this
-church, in a place which is called Argyronium, there was, in old
-times, a hospital for poor men afflicted with incurable diseases,
-which having in the course of time fallen into the last stage of
-decay, he most zealously restored, to serve as a refuge for those
-who were thus afflicted. Near this place there is a district by the
-sea-side called Mochadius, which is also called Hieron. Here he built
-a temple in honour of the Archangel of remarkable splendour, and in
-no respect inferior to those Churches of the Archangel, of which I
-spoke just now. He also built a church dedicated to St. Tryphon the
-Martyr, decorated with much labour and time to an indescribable pitch
-of beauty, in that street of the city which is called by the name of
-‘The Stork.’ Furthermore, he built a church in the Hebdomon, in honour
-of the martyrs Menas[29] and Menæsus; and finding that the Church of
-St. Ias the Martyr, which is on the left hand as one enters the Golden
-Gate, was in ruins, he restored it with a lavish expenditure. This is
-what was done by the Emperor Justinian in connection with the churches
-in Byzantium; but to describe all his works throughout the entire
-Roman Empire in detail, is a difficult task, and altogether impossible
-to express in words, but, whenever I shall have to make mention of
-the name of any city or district, I shall take the opportunity of
-describing the churches in it.
-
-X. The above were the works of the Emperor Justinian upon the
-churches of Constantinople and its suburbs; but as to the other
-buildings constructed by him, it would not be easy to mention them all.
-However, to sum up matters, he rebuilt and much improved in beauty
-the largest and most considerable part both of the city and of the
-palace, which had been burned down and levelled with the ground. It
-appears unnecessary for me to enter into particulars on this subject
-at present, since it has all been minutely described in my ‘History
-of the Wars.’ For the present I shall only say this much, that the
-vestibule of the palace and that which is called Chalce, as far as what
-is known as the House of Ares, and outside the palace the public baths
-of Zeuxippus,[30] and the great porticoes and all the buildings on
-either hand, as far as the forum of Constantine, are the works of this
-Emperor. In addition to these, he restored and added great magnificence
-to the house named after Hormisdas, which stands close to the palace,
-rendering it worthy of the palace, to which he joined it, and thereby
-rendered it much more roomy and worthy of admiration on that side.
-
-In front of the palace there is a forum surrounded with columns. The
-Byzantines call this forum the Augustæum. I mentioned it in a former
-part of this work, when, after describing the Church of St. Sophia, I
-spoke of the brazen statue of the Emperor, which stands upon a very
-lofty column of stones as a memorial of that work. On the eastern side
-of this forum stands the Senate House, which baffles description by
-its costliness and entire arrangement, and which was the work of the
-Emperor Justinian. Here at the beginning of every year the Roman Senate
-holds an annual festival, according to the custom of the State.
-Six columns stand in front of it, two of them having between them that
-wall of the Senate House which looks towards the west, while the four
-others stand a little beyond it. These columns are all white in colour,
-and in size, I imagine, are the largest columns in the whole world.
-They form a portico covered by a circular dome-shaped roof. The upper
-parts of this portico are all adorned with marble equal in beauty to
-that of the columns, and are wonderfully ornamented with a number of
-statues standing on the roof.
-
-Not far from this forum stands the Emperor’s palace, which, as I have
-said before, was almost entirely rebuilt by the Emperor Justinian. To
-describe it all in words is impossible, but it will suffice for future
-generations to know that it was all the work of this Emperor. As,
-according to the proverb, we know the lion by his claw, so my readers
-will learn the magnificence of this palace from the entrance-hall. This
-entrance-hall is the building called Chalce; its four walls stand in a
-quadrangular form, and are very lofty; they are equal to one another
-in all respects, except that those on the north and south sides are a
-little shorter than the others. In each angle of them stands a pier
-of very well-wrought stone, reaching from the floor to the summit of
-the wall, quadrangular in form and joining the wall on one of its
-sides: they do not in any way destroy the beauty of the place, but even
-add ornament to it by the symmetry of their position. Above them are
-suspended eight arches, four of which support the roof, which rises
-above the whole work in a spherical form, whilst the others, two of
-which rest on the neighbouring wall towards the south and two towards
-the north, support the arched roof which is suspended over those
-spaces. The entire ceiling is decorated with paintings, not formed of
-melted wax poured upon it, but composed of tiny stones adorned with
-all manner of colours, imitating human figures and everything else
-in nature. I will now describe the subjects of these paintings. Upon
-either side are wars and battles, and the capture of numberless cities,
-some in Italy, and some in Libya. Here the Emperor Justinian conquers
-by his General Belisarius; and here the General returns to the Emperor,
-bringing with him his entire army unscathed, and offers to him the
-spoils of victory, kings, and kingdoms, and all that is most valued
-among men. In the midst stand the Emperor and the Empress Theodora,
-both of them seeming to rejoice and hold high festival in honour of
-their victory over the kings of the Vandals and the Goths, who approach
-them as prisoners of war led in triumph. Around them stands the Senate
-of Rome, all in festal array, which is shown in the mosaic by the joy
-which appears on their countenances; they swell with pride and smile
-upon the Emperor, offering him honours as though to a demi-god, after
-his magnificent achievements. The whole interior, not only the upright
-parts, but also the floor itself, is encrusted with beautiful marbles,
-reaching up to the mosaics of the ceiling. Of these marbles, some are
-of a Spartan stone equal to emerald, while some resemble a flame of
-fire; the greater part of them are white, yet not a plain white, but
-ornamented with wavy lines of dark blue.[31] So much for this building.
-
-XI. As one sails from the Propontis towards the eastern part of the
-city, there is a public bath on the left hand which is called the
-Baths of Arcadius, and which forms an ornament to the city of
-Constantinople, great as it is. Here our Emperor constructed a court
-standing outside the city, intended as a promenade for the inhabitants,
-and a mooring-place for those who sail past it. This court is lighted
-by the sun when rising, but is conveniently shaded when he proceeds
-towards the west. Round it the sea flows quietly with a gentle stream,
-coming like a river from the main sea, so that those who are taking
-their walks in it are able to converse with those who are sailing;
-for the sea reaches up to the basement of the court with great depth,
-navigable for ships, and by its remarkable calm enables those on the
-water and on the land to converse with one another. Such is the side of
-the court which looks upon the sea, adorned with the view over it, and
-refreshed with the gentle breezes from it. Its basement, its columns,
-and its entablature are all covered with marble of great beauty, whose
-colour is of a most brilliant white, which glitters magnificently in
-the rays of the sun; moreover, many statues adorn it, some of brass
-and some of marble, composing a sight well worth mention; one would
-conjecture that they were the work of Phidias the Athenian, of Lysippus
-of Sicyon, or of Praxiteles. Here also is a statue of the Empress
-Theodora on a column, which was erected in her honour by the city
-as an offering of gratitude for this court. The face of the statue
-is beautiful, but falls short of the beauty of the Empress, since
-it is utterly impossible for any mere human workmen to express her
-loveliness, or to imitate it in a statue; the column is of porphyry,
-and clearly shows by its magnificent appearance that it carries the
-Empress, before one sees the statue.
-
-I will now explain the Emperor’s works to afford an abundant supply of
-water to the city. In summer-time the imperial city used for the most
-part to suffer from scarcity of water, although at other seasons it
-had sufficient; for at that time, in consequence of the drought, the
-fountains flowed less plenteously than at other seasons, and supplied
-the aqueducts of the city very sparingly. Wherefore the Emperor
-devised the following plan. In the Portico of the Emperor, where the
-advocates, and magistrates, and other persons connected with the law
-transact business, there is a very lofty court of great length and
-width, quadrangular in shape, and surrounded with columns, which is not
-constructed upon an earthen foundation, but upon the rock itself. Four
-porticos surround this court, one upon each side of it. The Emperor
-Justinian excavated one of these porticos, that upon the south side, to
-a great depth, and stored up there the superfluity of water from the
-other seasons for use in summer. These cisterns receive the overflow
-from the aqueducts, when they are too full of water, giving them a
-place to overflow into, and afford a supply in time of need when water
-becomes scarce. Thus did the Emperor Justinian arrange that the people
-of Byzantium should not want for sweet water.
-
-He also built new palaces elsewhere, one in the Heræum,[32] which is
-now called the Hiereum, and in the place called Jucundiana. I am unable
-to describe either the magnificence or exquisite workmanship, or the
-size of these palaces in a manner worthy of the subject. Suffice it to
-say that these palaces stand there, and were built in the presence and
-according to the plans of Justinian, who disregarded nothing except
-expense, which was so large that the mind is unable to grasp it. Here
-also he constructed a sheltered harbour, which did not exist before.
-Finding that the shore was exposed on both sides to the winds and the
-violence of the waves, he arranged a place of refuge for mariners
-in the following manner: he constructed what are called chests, of
-countless number and of great size, flung them into the sea on each
-side of the beach in an oblique direction, and by continually placing
-fresh layers in order upon the others, formed two walls in the sea
-opposite to one another, reaching from the depths below to the surface
-of the water on which the ships sail; upon this he flung rough stones,
-which when struck by the waves break their force, so that when a strong
-wind blows in the winter season, everything between these walls remains
-calm, an interval being left between them to serve as an entrance
-for ships into the harbour. Here also he built the churches which I
-formerly mentioned, and also porticos, market-places, public baths,
-and everything else of that sort; so that this palace in no respect
-falls short of that within the city. He also built another harbour on
-the opposite continent, in the place which is called after the name of
-Eutropius, not very far from the Heræum, constructed in the same manner
-as that which I mentioned above.
-
-The above are, described as briefly as possible, the works of the
-Emperor Justinian in the imperial city. I will now describe the only
-thing which remains. Since the Emperor dwells here, a multitude of men
-of all nations comes into the city from all the world, in consequence
-of the vast extent of the empire, each one of them led thither either
-by business, by hope, or by chance, many of whom, whose affairs at home
-have fallen into disorder, come with the intention of offering some
-petition to the Emperor. These persons, forced to dwell in the city on
-account of some present or threatened misfortune, in addition to their
-other trouble are also in want of lodging, being unable to pay for a
-dwelling-place during their stay in the city. This source of misery was
-removed from them by the Emperor Justinian and the Empress Theodora,
-who built very large hospices as places of refuge in time of need for
-such unfortunate persons as these, close to the sea, in the place which
-is called the Stadium, I suppose because in former times it was used
-for public games.
-
- NOTE.—For the interesting church of the Chora, see Appendix.
-
-
-
-
- BOOK II.
-
-
-I. The new churches which the Emperor Justinian built in Constantinople
-and its suburbs, the churches which were ruinous through age, and
-which he restored, and all the other buildings which he erected there,
-are described in my previous book; it remains that we should proceed
-to the fortresses with which he encircled the frontier of the Roman
-territory. This subject requires great labour, and indeed is almost
-impossible to describe; we are not about to describe the Pyramids, that
-celebrated work of the Kings of Egypt, in which labour was wasted on a
-useless freak, but all the strong places by means of which our Emperor
-preserved the empire, and so fortified it as to render vain any attempt
-of the barbarians against the Romans. I think I should do well to start
-from the Median frontier.
-
-When the Medes retired from the country of the Romans, restoring to
-them the city of Amida,[33] as has been narrated in my ‘History of the
-Wars,’ the Emperor Anastasius took great pains to build a wall round
-an, at that time, unimportant village named Dara, which he observed was
-situated near the Persian frontier, and to form it into a
-city which would act as a bulwark against the enemy. Since, however, by
-the terms of the treaty formerly made by the Emperor Theodosius with
-the Persians, it was forbidden that either party should build any new
-fortress on their own ground in the neighbourhood of the frontier, the
-Persians urged that this was forbidden by the articles of the peace,
-and hindered the work with all their power, although their attention
-was diverted from it by their war with the Huns. The Romans, perceiving
-that on account of this war they were unprepared, pushed on their
-building all the more vigorously, being eager to finish the work before
-the enemy should bring their war against the Huns to a close and march
-against themselves. Being alarmed through their suspicions of the
-enemy, and constantly expecting an attack, they did not construct their
-building carefully, but the quickness of building into which they were
-forced by their excessive hurry prevented their work being secure;
-for speed and safety are never wont to go together, nor is swiftness
-often accompanied by accuracy. They therefore built the city-walls in
-this hurried fashion, not making a wall which would defy the enemy,
-but raising it barely to the necessary height; nor did they even place
-the stones in their right positions or arrange them in due order, or
-fill the interstices with mortar. In a short time, therefore, since the
-towers, through their insecure construction, were far from being able
-to withstand snow and hot sun, most of them fell into ruins. Thus was
-the first wall built round the city of Dara.[34]
-
-[Illustration: FORTIFICATIONS AT DARA.
-_From Texier & Pullan’s Byzantine Architecture_]
-
-It occurred to the Emperor Justinian that the Persians would not,
-as far as lay in their power, permit this Roman fortress to stand
-threatening them, but that they would march against it with their
-entire force, and use every device to assault its walls on equal
-terms; and that a number of elephants would accompany them, bearing
-wooden towers upon their backs, which towers instead of foundations
-would rest upon the elephants, who—and this was the worst of all—could
-manœuvre round the city at the pleasure of the enemy, and carry a wall
-which could be moved whithersoever its masters might think fit; and
-the enemy, mounted upon these towers, would shoot down upon the heads
-of the Romans within the walls, and assail them from above; they would
-also pile up mounds of earth against the walls, and bring up to them
-all the machines used in sieges; while if any misfortune should befall
-the city of Dara, which was an outwork of the entire Roman Empire and a
-standing menace to the enemy’s country, the evil would not rest there,
-but the whole state would be endangered to a great extent. Moved by
-these considerations he determined to fortify the place in a manner
-worthy of its value.
-
-In the first place,[35] therefore, since the wall was, as I have
-described, very low, and therefore easily assailable, he rendered it
-inaccessible and altogether impregnable. He placed stones which so
-contracted the original battlements as only to leave small traces of
-them, like windows, allowing just so much opening to them as a hand
-could be passed through, so that passages were left through which
-arrows could be shot against the assailants. Above these he built a
-wall to a height of about thirty feet, not making the wall of the
-same thickness all the way to the top, lest the foundations should be
-over-weighted by the mass above, and the whole work be ruined; but he
-surrounded the upper part with a course of stones, and built a portico
-extending round the entire circuit of the walls, above which he
-placed the battlements, so that the wall was throughout constructed of
-two stories, and the towers of three stories, which could be manned by
-the defenders to repel the attacks of the enemy; for over the middle
-of the towers he constructed a vaulted roof, and again built new
-battlements above it, thus making them into a fortification consisting
-of three stories.
-
-After this, though he saw, as I have said before, that many of the
-towers had after a short time fallen into ruin, yet he was not able to
-take them down, because the enemy were always close at hand, watching
-their opportunity, and always trying to find some unprotected part
-of the fortifications. He therefore devised the following plan: he
-left these towers where they were, and outside of each of them he
-constructed another building with great skill, in a quadrangular form,
-well and securely built. In the same manner he securely protected
-the ruinous parts of the walls with a second wall. One of these
-towers, which was called the Watchtower, he seized an opportunity of
-demolishing, rebuilt it securely, and everywhere removed all fear of
-want of strength from the walls. He wisely built the outside part of
-the wall to a sufficient height, in due proportion; outside of it he
-dug a ditch, not in the way in which men usually make one, but in a
-small space, and in a different fashion. With what object he did this,
-I will now explain.
-
-The greater part of the walls are inaccessible to besiegers, because
-they do not stand upon level ground, nor in such a manner as would
-favour an attack, but upon high precipitous rocks where it would not be
-possible to undermine them, or to make any assault upon them; but upon
-the side turned towards the south, the ground, which is soft and earthy
-and easily dug, renders the city assailable. Here, therefore, he dug a
-crescent-shaped ditch, deep and wide, and reaching to a considerable
-distance. Each end of this ditch joined the city wall, and by filling
-it with water he rendered it altogether impassable to the enemy. On the
-inner side of it he built a second wall, upon which during a siege the
-Roman soldiers keep guard, without fear for the walls themselves and
-for the other outwork which stands before the city. Between the city
-wall and this outwork, opposite the gate which leads towards Ammodius,
-there was a great mound, from which the enemy were able to drive mines
-towards the city unperceived. This he entirely removed, and levelled
-the spot, so as to put it out of the enemy’s power to assault the place
-from thence.
-
-II. Thus did Justinian fortify this stronghold;[36] he also constructed
-reservoirs of water between the city walls and the outwork, and very
-close to the Church of St. Bartholomew the Apostle, on the west side. A
-river runs from the suburb called Corde, distant about two miles from
-the city. Upon either side of it rise two exceedingly rugged
-mountains. Between the slopes of these mountains the river runs as
-far as the city, and since it flows at the foot of them, it is not
-possible for an enemy to divert or meddle with its stream, for they
-cannot force it out of the hollow ground. It is directed into the city
-in the following manner. The inhabitants have built a great channel
-leading to the walls, the mouth of which is closed with numerous thick
-bars of iron, some upright and some placed crosswise, so as to enable
-the water to enter the city, without injury to the strength of its
-fortifications. Thus the river enters the city, and after having filled
-these reservoirs, and been led hither and thither at the pleasure of
-the inhabitants, passes into another part of the city, where there
-is an outfall constructed for it in the same way as its entrance.
-The river in its progress through the flat country made the city in
-former times easy to be besieged, for it was not difficult for an enemy
-to encamp there, because water was plentiful. The Emperor Justinian
-considered this state of things, and tried to find some remedy for it;
-God, however, assisted him in his difficulty, took the matter into His
-own hands, and without delay ensured the safety of the city. This took
-place in the following manner.
-
-One of the garrison of the city, either in consequence of a dream or
-led of his own accord to it, collected together a great number of the
-workmen engaged in building the fortifications, and ordered them to
-dig a long trench in a certain place, which he pointed out to them, a
-considerable distance within the city wall, declaring that they would
-there find sweet water flowing out of the ground. He dug this trench
-in a circular form, making the depth of it for the most part about
-fifteen feet. This work proved the saving of the city, not through any
-foresight of the workmen, yet, by means of this trench, what would
-have been a misfortune was turned into a great advantage to the Romans;
-for, as during this time very heavy rain fell, the river, of which
-I just spoke, raged outside the fortifications and rose to a great
-height, being unable to proceed, because when it was swollen to such
-a size neither the channel nor the entrances in the wall were large
-enough to contain it, as they had been before. It consequently piled
-up its waters against the wall, rising to a great height and depth,
-and in some places was stagnant, and in others rough and violent. It
-at once overthrew the outwork, swept away a great part of the city
-wall, forced its way through the city gates, and, running with a great
-body of water, occupied almost the whole city, invading both the
-market-place, the narrower streets, and the houses themselves, swept
-off from them a great mass of furniture, wooden vessels, and such
-like things, and then, falling into this trench, disappeared under
-ground. Not many days afterwards it reappeared near to the city of
-Theodosiopolis, at a place about forty miles distant from the city of
-Dara, where it was recognised by the things which it had swept away out
-of the houses at Dara, for there the whole mass of them reappeared.
-Since that period, in time of peace and quiet, the river flows through
-the midst of the city, fills the reservoirs with water, and passes out
-of the city through the outfall especially constructed for it by the
-builders of the city, which I described above, and, as it supplies
-that region with water, becomes a great boon to the inhabitants of the
-neighbourhood. When, however, a hostile army advances to besiege the
-city, they close the passages through the iron gratings with what are
-called sluice-doors, and at once force the river to change its course
-and to flow into the trench and the subterranean gulf beyond, so that
-the enemy suffer from want of water and are at once obliged to raise
-the siege. Indeed Mirrhanes, the Persian general, in the reign of
-Cabades, came thither to besiege the city, and was compelled by all
-these difficulties to retire baffled after a short time; and a long
-while afterwards, Chosroes himself advanced with the same intentions,
-and attacked the city with a numerous army; but being driven to great
-straits through want of water, and perceiving the height of the walls,
-he imagined the place to be entirely impregnable, gave up his project,
-and straightway retired into Persia, being out-generalled by the
-foresight of the Roman Emperor.
-
-III. Such were the works of the Emperor Justinian in the city of
-Dara. I shall now describe what he arranged to prevent any second
-misfortune happening to the city from the river, in which matter his
-wishes were manifestly assisted by Heaven. There was one Chryses of
-Alexandria, a clever engineer, who served the Emperor as an architect,
-and constructed most of the works both in the city of Dara and in the
-rest of the country. This Chryses was absent when the misfortune from
-the river befell the city of Dara; when he heard of it, he retired to
-bed in great grief, and dreamed the following dream: A figure of more
-than human stature appeared to him, and showed and explained to him a
-device which would protect the city from any dangerous inundation of
-the river. He, conceiving this idea to be divinely inspired, at once
-wrote an account of the device and of the vision, and sent it to the
-Emperor, giving a sketch of what he had been taught in his dream. It
-happened that not long before this a message reached the Emperor from
-the city of Dara, giving him an account of what had happened with
-the river. Thereupon the Emperor, disturbed and alarmed at what had
-taken place, straightway summoned those most celebrated architects,
-Anthemius and Isidorus, whom I have mentioned before. He informed them
-of what had happened, and inquired what arrangement could be devised
-to prevent this mischief befalling the city a second time. Each of them
-described what he considered to be a suitable plan for this purpose;
-but the Emperor, evidently acting under a divine impulse, although
-he had not yet seen the letter of Chryses, miraculously invented
-and sketched out of his own mind the plan suggested by the dream.
-The interview terminated without the adoption of any distinct plan,
-and without their deciding upon what was to be done; but three days
-afterwards came a messenger to the Emperor, who brought the letter
-from Chryses, and who explained the form of the arrangement which he
-had seen in his dream. The Emperor now again sent for the architects,
-and ordered them to recall to mind their former ideas of what ought
-to be done. They repeated everything in order, both their own devices
-and the spontaneous inventions of the Emperor; after which the Emperor
-brought forward the messenger sent from Chryses, and showing them the
-letter and the sketch of what he had seen in his dream, caused them to
-wonder greatly, when they perceived how Heaven had assisted our Emperor
-in everything for the advantage of the Empire. The plan of the Emperor
-accordingly won the day, and triumphed over the art and learning of the
-architects. Chryses returned to the city of Dara, with orders from the
-Emperor to carry out the work which he had described with all speed,
-according to the plan revealed in the dream. He carried out his orders
-in the following manner.
-
-In a place about forty feet distant from the outwork of the city,
-across the valley in which the river runs between the two mountains,
-he constructed a barrier of considerable height and width, joining
-each end of it to the mountain on either side, in such a manner that
-the water of the river in its strongest flood could never force its
-way through it. This work is called by those who are learned in such
-matters a dam, or sluice, or whatever else they please. He did not
-build this barrier in a straight line, but in the form of a crescent,
-in order that its arch, which was turned against the stream of the
-water, might be better able to resist its violence. The upper and lower
-parts of this barrier are pierced with apertures, so that, when the
-river suddenly rises in flood, it is forced to stop there and to flow
-no further with the entire weight of its stream, but passing in small
-quantities through these apertures it gradually diminishes in violence
-and power, and the wall is never damaged by it; for the flow of water,
-collecting in the place which, as I have said before, is about forty
-feet in length, lying between the barrier and the outwork, is never
-unmanageable, but runs gently to its usual entrance, and thence is
-received in the artificial channel. As for the gate, which the fury
-of the river broke open in former times, he removed it from thence,
-and blocked up its site with enormous stones, because this gate, being
-situated on flat ground, was easily reached by the river when in flood;
-but he placed the gate not far off, in a lofty place in the most
-precipitous part of the circuit of the walls, which it was impossible
-for the river to reach. Thus did the Emperor arrange these matters.
-
-The inhabitants of this city suffered greatly from the want of water,
-for there was no fountain springing out of the ground, nor was any
-water carried about the streets in an aqueduct, or stored up in
-cisterns; but those who lived in the streets through which the river
-passed could draw drinking-water from it without trouble, while those
-who dwelt at a distance from the course of the river had either to
-fetch their drinking-water with great trouble or to perish with
-thirst; however, the Emperor Justinian constructed a great aqueduct,
-by which he brought the water to every part of the city, and relieved
-the distress of the inhabitants. He also built two churches, that
-which is called the Great Church, and the Church of St. Bartholomew
-the Apostle.[37] Moreover, he built very spacious barracks for the
-soldiers, that they might not inconvenience the inhabitants.
-
-Not long after this he restored the wall and outworks of the city of
-Amida, which had been built in former times, and were thought likely to
-fall into ruins; thus ensuring the safety of that city. I am now about
-to speak of his buildings in the forts which stand on the frontier of
-the territory of these cities.
-
-IV. As one goes from the city of Dara towards the land of Persia,
-there lies on the left a tract entirely impassable for carriages or
-horses, extending to the distance of about two days’ journey for a
-lightly-equipped traveller, ending in an abrupt and precipitous place
-called Rhabdium.[38] The land on each side of this road to Rhabdium
-belongs for a great distance to Persia. When I first saw this I was
-surprised at it, and inquired of the people of the country how it was
-that a road and tract belonging to the Romans should have enemy’s land
-on each side of it. They answered, that this country once belonged to
-the Persians, but that at the request of the King of Persia one of the
-Roman Emperors gave a village abounding in vines near Martyropolis,[39]
-and received this region in exchange for it. The city of Rhabdium
-stands upon precipitous and wild rocks, which there rise to a wondrous
-height; below it is a region which they call ‘the field of the Romans,’
-out of wonder, I suppose, at its belonging to the Romans, though it
-lies in the midst of the Persian country. This Roman field lies on flat
-ground, and is fruitful in all kinds of crops; one might conjecture
-this from the fact that the Persian frontier surrounds it on every side.
-
-There is a very celebrated fort in Persia, named Sisauranum, which
-the Emperor Justinian once captured and razed to the ground; taking
-prisoners a great number of Persian cavalry, together with their
-leader Bleschanes. This place lies at a distance of two days’ journey
-from Dara for a lightly-equipped traveller, and is about three miles
-distant from Rhabdium. It was formerly unguarded, and altogether
-neglected by the Romans, so that it never received from them any
-garrison, fortification, or any other benefit, wherefore the peasants
-who tilled this country, of which I just spoke, besides the ordinary
-taxes, paid an annual tribute of fifty gold pieces to the Persians, in
-order that they might possess their lands and enjoy the produce of them
-in security. All this was altered for them by the Emperor Justinian,
-who enclosed Rhabdium with fortifications, which he built upon the
-summit of the mountain which rises there, and, taking advantage of
-the position of the ground, rendered it impossible for the enemy to
-approach it. As those who dwelt in it were in want of water, there
-being no springs on the top of the cliff, he constructed two cisterns,
-and by digging into the rocks in many places made large reservoirs of
-water, so that the rain-water might collect, and the garrison might use
-it freely, and not be liable to capture through distress for want of
-water.
-
-He also rebuilt solidly, and gave their present beauty and strength
-to all the other mountain forts, which reach from this point and from
-the city of Dara to Amida; namely, Ciphæ, Sauræ, Smargdis, Lurnes,
-Hieriphthon, Atachæ, Siphris, Rhipalthæ, Banasymeon, and also Sinæ,
-Rhasius, Dabanæ, and all the others which were built there in ancient
-times, and which before this were constructed in a contemptible
-fashion, but which he made into an impregnable line of outposts along
-the Roman frontier. In this region there stands a very lofty mountain,
-precipitous, and altogether inaccessible; the plain below it is rich
-and free from rocks, suitable both for arable and pasture land, for
-it abounds in grass. There are many villages at the foot of this
-mountain, whose inhabitants are rich in the produce of the country,
-but lie exposed to the attacks of the enemy. This was remedied by the
-Emperor Justinian, who built a fort upon the summit of the mountain, in
-which they might place their most valued possessions, and themselves
-take refuge at the approach of the enemy. This is named the Fort of
-the Emperors. Moreover, he carefully rebuilt and safely fortified the
-forts in the neighbourhood of the city of Amida, which before were only
-surrounded by mud walls, and were incapable of defence. Among these
-were Apadnæ and the little fort of Byrthum: for it is not easy to set
-down all their names in detail, but, speaking generally, he found them
-all exposed to attack, and has now rendered them impregnable; and since
-his time Mesopotamia has become quite protected against the Persian
-nation.
-
-Nor must I pass over in silence what he devised at the fort of Bara,
-of which I just now spoke. The interior of this fort was entirely
-without water, and Bara is built upon the precipitous summit of a lofty
-mountain. Outside its walls, at a great distance, at the bottom of
-the hill, there was a fountain which it was not thought advisable to
-include within the fortification, lest the part which was situated
-upon the low ground should be open to attack. He therefore devised the
-following plan. He ordered them to dig within the walls until they
-reached the level of the plain. When this was done in accordance with
-the Emperor’s order, to their surprise they found the water of the
-fountain flowing there; thus the fort was both constructed securely and
-conveniently situated with regard to water supply.
-
-V. In the same manner, since the walls of Theodosiopolis,[40] the
-bulwark of the Roman Empire on the river Aborrhas, had become so
-decayed by age that the inhabitants derived no confidence from their
-strength, but rather terror, as they feared that before long they would
-fall down, the Emperor rebuilt them for the most part, so that they
-were able to check the invasions of the Persians into Mesopotamia. It
-is worth describing what he did at Constantina. The original wall of
-Constantina was so low that a ladder would easily reach the top, and in
-its construction was greatly exposed to attack, and seemed hardly to
-have been built in earnest; for the towers were of such a distance from
-one another, that if the assailants attacked the space between them,
-the garrison of the towers would be too far off to drive them back;
-moreover, the greater part of it was so ruinous from age that it seemed
-likely soon to fall. In addition to this, the city had an outwork which
-was more like a siege-work to enable the enemy to attack it; for it was
-not more than three feet in thickness, cemented with mud, the lower
-part of it built of rock fit for making mill-stones, but the
-upper part of what is called white-stone, which is not to be trusted
-and is very soft, so that the whole work might easily be captured.
-However, the Emperor Justinian rebuilt the decayed part of the walls,
-more especially on the west and north sides; between every two
-towers of the wall he placed the third, so that since his time all
-the towers for the defence of the wall stand close together. He also
-greatly raised the height of the wall and of all the towers, so as to
-render the place impregnable to an enemy. Moreover, he built covered
-approaches to the towers, each of which towers contained three stories
-of vaulted stone, so that each one of them was called and really was
-a castle in itself, for what the Greeks call ‘phrourion’ is called a
-‘castle’ in the Latin tongue. Besides this, Constantina used formerly
-to be reduced to great straits for want of water; there are indeed
-wells of good water outside the walls at the distance of a mile,
-round which grows a large wood of very lofty trees; within the walls,
-however, since the streets are not built upon level but upon sloping
-ground, the city in ancient times was waterless, and its inhabitants
-suffered much from thirst and the difficulty of obtaining water; but
-the Emperor Justinian brought the water within the walls by means of an
-aqueduct, adorned the city with overflowing fountains, and may justly
-be termed its founder. These were the works of the Emperor Justinian in
-these cities.
-
-VI. The Romans had a fort by the side of the river Euphrates on
-the extreme frontier of Mesopotamia, at the place where the river
-Aborrhas[41] effects its junction with the Euphrates. This fort was
-named Circesium,[42] and had been built in former times by the Emperor
-Diocletian; however, our present Emperor Justinian, finding that it had
-become ruinous through lapse of time, and was neglected and not in a
-posture of defence, altered it into a strong fortification, and made it
-into a city of eminent size and beauty. When Diocletian built the fort
-he did not completely surround it with a wall, but brought each end of
-the walls down to the river Euphrates, built a tower at each end of
-them, and left the side between them entirely unfortified, imagining, I
-suppose, that the waters of the river would suffice to defend the fort
-on that side. In the course of time, however, the stream of the river,
-continually eating away the bank, undermined the tower on the south
-side, and it became evident that unless prompt measures were taken it
-would shortly fall. Now appeared the Emperor Justinian, entrusted by
-Heaven with the glory of watching over, and, as far as one man can do,
-of restoring the Roman Empire. He not only saved the undermined tower,
-which he rebuilt of a hard stone, but also enclosed all the unprotected
-side of the fort with a very strong wall, thus doubling its security
-by adding the strength which it derived from the wall to that afforded
-by the river. Besides this, he also built a powerful outwork round
-the city, especially at the spot where the junction of the two rivers
-forms a triangular space, and thus left no place exposed to the attacks
-of the enemy. Moreover, he appointed a general who had the title of
-Duke, and who always resided there with a garrison of picked soldiers,
-thus rendering the place a sufficient bulwark for the frontier of
-the empire. He also rebuilt in its present splendour the public bath
-which is used by the inhabitants, which had become quite ruinous and
-useless by the incursions of the river; for he found all that part of
-it which is suspended above the solid foundation for the convenience
-of bathers, underneath which the fire is placed, and which is called
-the hypocaust, exposed to the influx of the river, by which the bath
-was rendered useless; he therefore strengthened with stonework, as I
-have said, the part which formerly had been hollow, and built another
-hypocaust above it, which the river could not reach, thus restoring the
-enjoyment of the bath to the garrison. In this manner did our Emperor
-restore the buildings of Circesium.
-
-Beyond Circesium there is an ancient fort named Annucas, whose wall
-the Emperor Justinian found a mere ruin, and which he rebuilt in so
-magnificent a fashion that its defences vie with those of the most
-celebrated cities; and in the same manner he rendered formidable, and
-altogether unapproachable by an enemy, those forts situated near the
-city of Theodosiopolis, which before his time were either without
-walls, or only walled with mud and absurd heaps of stones. These
-are Magdalathum, with two others on either side of it, and the two
-forts, the Great and Little Thannurium, Bismideon, Themeres, Bidamas,
-Dausaron, Thiolla, Philæ, Zamarthas, and, one may say, all the rest.
-There was an extensive position near Thannurium, which could easily be
-occupied by our enemies the Saracens, by crossing the river Aborrhas,
-from which point they were able to penetrate in small parties into the
-thick and extensive forest and the mountain which is situated in that
-region, and make inroads upon the Roman inhabitants of that country;
-now, however, the Emperor Justinian has built a tower of hard stone in
-that place, manned it with a considerable garrison, and has altogether
-repressed the incursions of the enemy by the establishment of this
-bulwark against them.
-
-VII. The above are the works of the Emperor Justinian in this part of
-Mesopotamia; I must speak in this place of Edessa, Carrhæ, Callinicum,
-and all the other strong places which are in that country, since they
-lie between the two rivers. Edessa[43] stands on the banks of a small
-stream called Scirtus, which collects its waters from many places, and
-runs through the midst of the city: from thence it passes onwards,
-after having supplied the wants of the city, effecting its entrance
-and exit through by a channel constructed by former generations, which
-passes through the city walls. This river once, after much rain, rose
-to a great height, and seemed as though it would destroy the city; it
-tore down a large part of the outworks and of the walls, inundated
-almost the whole city, and did much damage, suddenly destroying the
-finest buildings, and drowning a third part of the inhabitants. The
-Emperor Justinian not only at once restored all the buildings of the
-city which were overthrown, among which were the church of the
-Christians and a building called Antiphorus, but also arranged with
-great care that no such disaster should ever again occur, for he made
-a new channel for the river, outside the city walls, which he arranged
-in the following manner. The ground on the right bank of the river was
-formerly flat and low-lying, while that on the left was a precipitous
-mountain, which did not allow the river to turn aside from its
-accustomed course, but forced it to flow into the city, because when
-flowing towards the city it met with no obstacle on its right bank.
-He therefore dug away the whole of this mountain, making a channel on
-the left bank of the river deeper than its former bed, and built on
-the right bank an enormous wall of stones, as large as a waggon could
-carry, so that if the river ran as usual with a moderate volume the
-city would not be deprived of the convenience of its water; but if it
-should be swollen into a flood a moderate stream would run as usual
-throughout the city, but the excess of water would be forced into this
-channel constructed by Justinian, and thus extraordinarily conquered
-by human art and skill might run round the back of the race-course,
-which is situated not far off. Moreover he forced the river within
-the city to run in a straight course, by building a wall above it on
-either side, so that it could not turn out of a straight path; by which
-means he both preserved the use of it for the city, and removed all
-fear of it for the future. The wall and outwork of Edessa, like those
-of the other places, had for the most part fallen into ruins through
-age; wherefore the Emperor restored them both, making them new and
-much stronger than they were before. Part of the wall of Edessa is
-occupied by a fort, outside of which rises a hill very close to the
-city and overhanging it; this hill was in ancient times occupied by
-the inhabitants, and included in their walls by an outwork, that it
-might not form a weak point to the city. Their work, however, made the
-city much more open to assault in that quarter; for their outwork was
-very low, built on an exposed site, and could be taken even by children
-playing at sieges. Justinian therefore took it down and built another
-wall on the top of the hill, which is in no danger of an assault from
-higher ground in any quarter, and which follows the slope of the hill
-down to the level ground on both sides, and joins the city wall.[44]
-
-[Illustration: EDESSA.
-_From Texier & Pullan’s Byzantine Architecture_
-COLUMNS ON A TERRACE OF THE CASTLE.]
-
-Also at the cities of Carrhæ[45] and Callinicum[46] he destroyed the
-walls and outworks, which were much impaired by age, and rendered
-them impregnable by building the present complete fortifications; he
-also built a strong wall round the unprotected and neglected fort at
-Batnæ,[47] and gave it the fine appearance which it now presents.
-
-VIII. These, as I have said before, were the works of the Emperor
-Justinian in Mesopotamia and Osrhoene. I will now describe what was
-done on the right bank of the river Euphrates. In all other parts the
-Roman and Persian frontiers border upon one another, and each nation
-proceeds from its own country to make war and peace with the other,
-as all men of different habits and empires do when they have a common
-frontier; but in the province which was formerly called Commagene,
-which is now called Euphratesia, they dwell nowhere near to one
-another, for the Roman and Persian frontiers are widely parted by a
-country which is quite desert and devoid of life, and possesses nothing
-worth fighting for. Yet each nation, though not regarding it as a work
-of much importance, has built a chain of forts of unbaked brick where
-the desert borders upon their inhabited country. None of these forts
-have ever been assaulted by their neighbours, but the two nations dwell
-there without any ill-feeling, since there is nothing for either of
-them to covet; however, the Emperor Diocletian built three of these
-forts in this desert, one of which, named Mambri, had fallen into ruin
-through age, and was restored by the Emperor Justinian.
-
-About five miles from this fort, as you go towards the Roman country,
-Zenobia, the wife of Odenathus, the chief of the Saracens in those
-parts, built a small city in former times and gave it her own name,
-calling it Zenobia.[48] Since then, long lapse of time brought its
-walls to ruin, and as the Romans did not think it worth caring for, it
-became entirely uninhabited. Thus the Persians, whenever they chose,
-were able to place themselves in the midst of the Romans before any
-news had been heard of their coming; however, the Emperor Justinian
-rebuilt the whole of Zenobia, filled it with numerous inhabitants,
-placed in it a commander with a garrison of regular soldiers, and
-thus formed a powerful fortress, a bulwark of the Roman Empire and a
-check upon the Persians. He did not merely restore it to its former
-appearance, but made it far stronger than it was before. The place is
-closely surrounded by high cliffs, from which the enemy were formerly
-able to shoot down upon the heads of the defenders of the wall; being
-desirous to avoid this, he constructed a building upon the walls, on
-the side nearest these cliffs, which might always act as a protection
-to the defenders. This building is called a ‘wing,’ because it appears
-to hang upon the wall. Indeed, it is not possible to describe all that
-our Emperor built at Zenobia: for as the city is situated far away in
-the desert, and for this reason is always exposed to peril, and cannot
-derive any succour from the Romans, who dwell at a distance, he took
-the greatest pains to render it secure. I will now relate some few of
-his works there.
-
-Zenobia stands beside the river Euphrates, which flows close to its
-walls on the eastern side. This river, surrounded by high mountains,
-has no space in which to extend itself, but its stream is confined
-among the neighbouring mountains and between its rugged banks. Whenever
-it is swollen by rain into a flood, it pours against the city wall
-and washes not merely against its foundations but as high as its very
-battlements. The courses of stone in the walls, drenched by this
-stream, became disarranged, and the whole construction was endangered;
-he, however, constructed a mole of enormous masses of hard rock, of
-the same length as the wall, and forced the flooded river to expend
-its rage in vain, setting the wall free from any fear of injury,
-however high the river might swell. Finding that the city wall upon
-the northern side had become ruinous from age, he razed it to the
-ground, together with its outwork, and rebuilt it, but not upon its
-former site, because the houses of the city were so crowded together
-at that point as to inconvenience the inhabitants; but he proceeded
-beyond the foundations of the wall, beyond the outwork and the ditch
-itself, and there built an admirable and singularly beautiful wall,
-thus greatly enlarging Zenobia in this quarter. There was, moreover,
-a certain hill which stood near the city towards the west, from which
-the barbarians, when they made their attacks, were able to shoot with
-impunity down upon the heads of the defenders, and even of those who
-were standing in the midst of the city; this hill the Emperor Justinian
-surrounded with a wall on both sides, and thus included it in the city
-of Zenobia, afterwards escarping its sides throughout, so that no enemy
-could ascend it. He also built another fort upon the top of the hill,
-and thus rendered it altogether inaccessible to those who wished to
-assault the city, for beyond the hill the ground sinks into a hollow
-valley, and therefore it cannot be closely approached by the enemy;
-above this hollow valley the mountains at once rise on the western
-side. The Emperor did not merely watch over the safety of the city,
-but also built churches in it, and barracks for the soldiers: he also
-constructed public baths and porticos. All this work was carried out
-under the superintendence of the architects Isidorus and Joannes, of
-whom Joannes was a Byzantine, and Isidorus a Milesian by birth, being
-the nephew of that Isidorus whom I mentioned before. Both of these were
-young men, but showed an energy beyond their years, and both displayed
-equal zeal in the works which they constructed for the Emperor.
-
-IX. After Zenobia was the city of Suri,[49] situated on the river
-Euphrates, whose fortifications were so contemptible that when Chosroes
-assaulted it, it did not hold out for so much as half-an-hour, but was
-instantly taken by the Persians. This fort, however, like Callinicum,
-was restored by the Emperor Justinian, who surrounded it with a strong
-wall, strengthened it with an outwork, and enabled it for the future
-to resist the attack of the enemy, There is in Euphratesia a church
-dedicated to Sergius, an eminent saint, whom the ancients so admired
-and looked up to that they named the place Sergiopolis,[50] and
-surrounded it with a low rampart, sufficient to prevent the Saracens
-in that region from capturing it by assault; for the Saracens are by
-nature incapable of attacking walls, and consequently the weakest mud
-wall is sufficient to resist their onset. In later times this church
-received so many offerings as to become powerful and famous throughout
-the land. The Emperor Justinian, reflecting upon these matters, at once
-applied himself to its protection, surrounded it with a most admirable
-wall, and provided a quantity of water, stored up in reservoirs, for
-the use of its inhabitants; besides this, he built in the place houses
-and porticos, and all the other buildings which are regarded as the
-ornaments of a city. He also placed a garrison of soldiers in it to
-defend the walls in time of need; and, indeed, Chosroes, the King of
-Persia, who determined to take the city, and who brought up a large
-army to besiege it, was compelled to raise the siege, being overcome by
-the strength of the walls.
-
-The Emperor spent equal care upon all the towns and forts on the
-borders of Euphratesia, (namely) Barbalissus,[51] Neocæsarea, Gabula,
-Pentacomia, which is on the Euphrates, and Europus.[52] At Hemerius,
-finding the walls built in some parts carelessly and dangerously, and
-in some parts formed only of mud, while the place was deficient in
-water-supply and consequently despicable as a fortification, he razed
-them to the ground, and at once carefully rebuilt them of courses of
-the hardest stone, making the wall much wider and higher than before.
-He also constructed reservoirs for water in all parts of the works, all
-of which he filled with rain-water, and, placing a garrison there, he
-rendered the place as powerful and secure as we now see it. Indeed, if
-one were carefully to consider this, and to inspect all the other good
-works of the Emperor Justinian, one would say it was for this alone
-that he had received the crown, by the manifest favour of God, who
-watches over the Roman people.
-
-Besides these places he also found Hierapolis,[53] which is the chief
-of all the cities in that region, lying exposed to any enemy that might
-attack it, but by his own provident foresight he rendered it safe; for,
-as it originally enclosed a large empty space and on that account the
-entire circuit of the walls could not be guarded, he cut off the part
-which was useless, arranged the walls in a safer and more compact form,
-and, by thus reducing it to the size necessary for use, made it one of
-the strongest cities of the present day. He also conferred upon it the
-following benefit. A fountain of sweet water springs perpetually out of
-the earth in the midst of the city, and forms therein a wide lake;
-this, indeed, added to the safety of the city when it was beleaguered
-by an enemy, but in time of peace was by no means necessary, as much
-water was brought into the city from without. In process of time the
-inhabitants, having enjoyed a long period of peace, and having never
-experienced any distress, neglected this spring; for it is not in human
-nature when in prosperity to make provision against times of adversity;
-consequently they gradually filled up the lake with rubbish, and were
-accustomed to bathe in it, to wash their clothes in it, and to throw
-all kinds of refuse into it....
-
-In this province of Euphratesia were situated two other towns,
-Zeugma[54] and Neocæsarea, which were indeed towns in name, but were
-merely surrounded by dry stone walls, built so low that they might
-be crossed by an enemy without any difficulty, since they could leap
-over them without fear; while they were so narrow as to be altogether
-indefensible, because they afforded no room for the garrison to stand
-upon to defend them; however, the Emperor Justinian surrounded these
-places also with real walls, of a sufficient width and height, and
-equipped them with all other means of defence, thus giving them a just
-right to be termed cities, and rendering them safe from the attacks of
-the enemy.
-
-X. Moreover, with regard to the cities taken from Chosroes, that
-barbarian, disregarding the perpetual peace which he had sworn to
-observe, and the money which he had received on account of it, was
-filled with envy of the Emperor Justinian, because of the conquests
-which he had made in Libya and in Italy, and considered his plighted
-faith to be of less importance than the gratification of this passion;
-he watched his opportunity, when the greater part of the Roman army
-was away in the West, and invaded the Roman territory unexpectedly,
- before the Romans had any news of the approach of the enemy; these
-cities, I say, the Emperor Justinian so strengthened and beautified
-that they are all at the present time much more flourishing than
-before, and have no dread of injury from barbarian invasion, fearing no
-attacks of any kind.
-
-Above all, he rendered the city of Antiochia,[55] which is now surnamed
-Theopolis, far more beautiful and powerful than it was before; its
-wall in ancient times was too large, and extended beyond all reason,
-uselessly enclosing flat ground in one place, and lofty cliffs in
-another, so that it was full of weak points. The Emperor Justinian
-reduced it to a useful size, making it protect the city alone, and
-not the places which it formerly enclosed. In the lower part of the
-fortifications, where the city had spread out to a dangerous extent
-over a smooth plain, and was indefensible through the great length of
-the wall, he drew it back as far as possible, advantageously reducing
-the size of the city in that quarter, and strengthening it by
-concentration. As for the river Orontes, which formerly flowed past
-it in a circuitous course, he changed its direction, and caused it to
-skirt the walls of the city. Thus, by an artificial channel, he brought
-the course of the river as near the city as possible, by which means
-he relieved the city from the danger of its unmanageable size, and
-yet retained the protection afforded by the river Orontes: then, by
-building new bridges, he supplied fresh means of intercourse across the
-river, which he diverted from its course as far as was required, and
-then returned to its former bed.
-
-The upper part of the city, on the high ground, he fortified in the
-following manner. On the summit of the mountain which is called
-Orocassias there is a lofty rock which stands close outside the wall
-opposite to the fortifications in that quarter, and which renders them
-easy to attack. It was from this point that Chosroes took the city,
-as I have explained in my work on the subject. The region within the
-walls was for the most part uninhabited and difficult of access, for
-the place is divided by lofty rocks and deep ravines, which cut off
-all the paths, so that the wall of Antiochia seems there to belong to
-another city. He therefore disregarded the rock which overhangs the
-wall so close and renders it liable to capture, and decided to build
-his new wall at a distance from it, having learnt by experience the
-folly of the original builders; moreover, he levelled the ground within
-the walls, which formerly had been precipitous, and made the ascent
-to this part of the city not only practicable for people on foot, but
-for horsemen and even for carriages. On this high ground he also built
-baths and reservoirs for water within the walls, and dug a well in each
-tower, remedying the original waterless character of the place by the
-storage of rain-water.
-
-It is worth our while to describe his works upon the torrent which
-descends from these mountains. Two precipitous mountains overhang
-the city, standing close to one another; of these, the one is called
-Orocassias, the other Stauris. They are joined by a glen and ravine
-which lies between them, which in time of rain produces the torrent
-named Onopnictes, which used to flow down from the high ground and
-overflow the fortifications, and sometimes rose so high as to pour into
-the streets of the city, doing much mischief to the inhabitants. The
-Emperor Justinian remedied this in the following manner. In front of
-that part of the wall which is nearest to the ravine, from which the
-torrent used to rush against the wall, he built an exceedingly high
-wall, reaching from the hollow bed of the ravine to the mountains on
-either side, so that the torrent was not able to rush past it, but
-was forced to stay and collect its waters there. In this wall he made
-apertures, through which he forced the water to run gently in a smaller
-volume, checked by this artificial barrier, so that it no longer broke
-with its full force against the city wall so as to overflow it and ruin
-the city, but proceeded gently and quietly, as I have explained, and
-flowing in this manner passed wherever it was desired to go through the
-channels constructed for it by the former inhabitants.
-
-Thus did the Emperor Justinian reconstruct the walls of Antiochia; he
-also rebuilt the entire city, which was burnt by the enemy. As the
-whole city was reduced to ashes, and levelled to the ground, and only
-heaps of rubbish remained after the conflagration, it was at first
-impossible for the citizens of Antiochia to recognise the site of their
-own dwellings. He consequently removed all the ruins, and cleared
-away the charred remains of the houses; but, as there were no public
-porticos or halls supported by columns, no market-place, and no streets
-which marked out the quarters of the city, there was nothing to point
-to the site of any particular house. However, the Emperor, without
-any delay, removed the rubbish as far as possible from the city, thus
-freeing the air and the ground from all impediments to building, and
-first covered the foundations of the city everywhere with stones large
-enough to load a waggon. After this he divided it by porticos and
-market-places, defined all the blocks of building by streets, arranged
-the aqueducts, fountains, and watercourses with which the city is
-adorned, constructed theatres and public baths in it, and graced it
-with all the other public buildings which belong to a prosperous city.
-
-He also brought thither a number of workmen and artificers, and thus
-rendered it more easy for the inhabitants to rebuild their own houses;
-the result of this is that Antiochia at the present day is a more
-celebrated city than before. He also built therein a large church in
-honour of the Virgin, the beauty and magnificence of which is in all
-respects beyond description. He endowed this church with a considerable
-revenue, and also built a large church dedicated to St. Michael the
-Archangel. Moreover, he made provision for the sick poor in that place,
-and built dwellings for them, separate for the different sexes, in
-which they were supplied with attendants, and the means of curing their
-diseases; while at the same time he established hospices for strangers
-who might be staying for any time in the city.
-
-XI. In like manner he also restored, greatly strengthened, and brought
-into its present condition the wall of the city of Chalcis, together
-with its outwork, which had become weak and ruinous through age.
-
-There was in Syria an utterly neglected village named Cyrus,[56] which
-the Jews had built in ancient times when they were led captive from
-Palestine into Syria by the army of the Medes, from which country they
-were long afterwards released by Cyrus the King; wherefore they called
-the place Cyrus in honour of their benefactor. In the course of time
-Cyrus became quite overlooked and was entirely without walls; but the
-Emperor Justinian, with a prudent zeal for the safety of the Empire,
-and also out of reverence for the SS. Cosmas and Damianus, whose bodies
-lay near that place down to my own time, made Cyrus into a flourishing
-and admirable city, rendering it safe by a very strong wall, with
-a numerous garrison, large public buildings, and with all other
-appurtenances on an exceedingly magnificent scale. In former times the
-interior of this city was without water, but outside the walls was a
-plenteous spring which provided abundance of drinking-water, yet was
-altogether useless to the inhabitants, since they had no means of
-drawing water from it without great labour and peril; for they were
-obliged to go to it by a circuitous path, as the country between it
-and the city was precipitous and altogether impassable, so that an
-enemy, if he were present, could easily lay an ambush and cut them
-off. He therefore constructed a watercourse from the city walls to the
-fountain, not open, but concealed underground with the greatest care,
-which supplied the city with water without either trouble or danger.
-
-He also very strongly rebuilt the entire circuit of the walls of
-Chalcis,[57] which had fallen into ruin down to its very foundation
-and was altogether indefensible, and he strengthened it with an
-outwork; he also restored all the other towns and forts in Syria in an
-admirable fashion.
-
-Thus did the Emperor Justinian provide for the security of Syria;
-there is, too, in Phœnicia, by the side of Lebanon, a city named
-Palmyra, which was built in the desert in ancient times, and which was
-conveniently placed on the road by which our enemies the Saracens would
-enter our country. It was, indeed, originally built for this purpose;
-namely, in order to prevent the barbarians making unexpected inroads
-into the Roman territory. This place, which through lapse of time had
-become almost entirely deserted, was strongly fortified by the Emperor
-Justinian, who supplied it abundantly with water, and filled it with a
-garrison of soldiers, so as to check the inroads of the Saracens.
-
-
-
-
- BOOK III.
-
-
-I. The Emperor Justinian fortified the eastern country in the manner
-which I have described in a former part of this work. Now as I started
-from the Persian frontier in my description of his work upon the
-fortresses, I think it will be convenient to proceed from thence to
-that of Armenia, which skirts the Persian territory from the city of
-Amida as far as that of Theodosiopolis. Before describing the buildings
-in that quarter, I think it would be advisable to give some account
-of how our Emperor brought the Armenians out of a condition of danger
-and terror into their present state of settled security; for he did
-not preserve these his subjects by buildings alone, but also by his
-foresight in other matters, as I shall presently explain. To do this I
-must refer for a short time to ancient history.
-
-In old times the Armenians had a king of their own nation, as we are
-told by the historians of remotest antiquity. When, however, Alexander
-of Macedon overthrew the King of Persia, the Persians remained quiet
-under his yoke, but the Parthians revolted against the Macedonians,
-conquered them in war, drove them out of their country, and pushed
-their frontier as far as the river Tigris. Subsequently the Persians
-remained subject to them for five hundred years, up to the time when
-Alexander, the son of Mamæa, ruled over the Romans. At this time one
-of the kings of the Parthians made his brother, named Arsaces, King of
-the Armenians, as the history of the Armenians tells us; for let no one
-suppose that the Arsacidæ are Armenians. Now for five hundred years
-there was peace between them in consequence of their relationship. The
-King of the Armenians dwelt in what is called Greater Armenia, having
-been from ancient times subject to the Emperor of the Romans; but
-afterwards one Arsaces, King of Armenia, had two sons, named Tigranes
-and Arsaces. When this King was about to die, he made a will by which
-he left the succession to his kingdom to both his sons, not dividing
-its power equally between them, but giving a fourfold greater share
-to Tigranes. The elder Arsaces, after making this division of his
-kingdom, passed away, but Arsaces his son, grieved and enraged at the
-inferiority of his position, laid the matter before the Roman Empire,
-hoping that by using all means in his power he might drive his brother
-from the kingdom, and render his father’s unjust wishes of no effect.
-At this time Theodosius, the son of Arcadius, ruled over the Romans,
-being still a child. Tigranes, fearing the Emperor’s vengeance, put
-himself in the hands of the Persians and handed over his kingdom to
-them, preferring to live as a private man amongst the Persians, rather
-than to make an equitable arrangement with his brother, and rule
-jointly over the Armenians with him in good faith and honour. Arsaces,
-being equally afraid of the attacks of the Persians and of his brother,
-abdicated his own kingdom in favour of the Emperor Theodosius, on
-certain conditions, which I have explained at length in my History of
-the Wars. For some time the country of the Armenians was an object of
-contention between the Romans and the Persians, but they finally agreed
-that the Persians should possess the share of Tigranes, and the Romans
-that of Arsaces. Both parties signed a treaty on these conditions, and
-henceforth the Emperor of the Romans appointed whom he pleased, and at
-what time he thought proper, to rule over the Armenians. This ruler was
-called the Count of Armenia down to my own time.
-
-However, since such a kingdom as this was not capable of repelling the
-incursions of the enemy, because it possessed no regular army, the
-Emperor Justinian, perceiving that Armenia was always in a disorderly
-condition, and therefore was an easy prey to the barbarians, put an
-end to this form of government, and placed a general in command of the
-Armenians, giving him a sufficient number of regular soldiers to repel
-the invasions of the enemy. This was the arrangement which he adopted
-for what is called Greater Armenia; but the remainder of Armenia, that
-which reaches from this side of the river Euphrates as far as the city
-of Amida, was governed by five Armenian satraps, whose offices were
-hereditary and tenable for life; however, they received the insignia
-of their office from the hands of the Roman Emperor alone. It is worth
-while to explain what these insignia were, since they will never again
-be seen by men: they were a cloak made of wool, not such as grows on
-sheep, but such as is gathered from the sea. The animal on whom this
-wool grows is called ‘pinna.’ The cloak was of purple, covered with
-gold at that part where it was fastened together; there was a gold
-brooch upon the cloak, containing a precious stone, from which three
-amethysts were suspended by loose golden chains. The tunic was of silk,
-entirely covered with the golden ornaments known as ‘feather-work;’ the
-boots were red-coloured, reaching to the knee, such as it is not lawful
-for anyone to wear except the Roman Emperors and the Kings of Persia.
-
-No Roman soldiers were ever employed either by the King of Armenia or
-the satraps, but they trusted exclusively to their own resources in
-war. In later times, however, during the reign of the Emperor Zeno,
-when Illus and Leontius openly revolted against the Emperor, certain
-of the satraps took their side; wherefore the Emperor Zeno, after
-his victory over Illus and Leontius, allowed one of the satraps,
-whose satrapy—that of the country called Belabitis—was the weakest
-and least important, to retain his former possession, but deposed
-all the others, and did not allow these governments any longer to
-be held by hereditary descent, but filled them by persons chosen by
-the Emperor, as is the custom with all the other Roman governments.
-Yet even then Roman soldiers were not placed in them, but Armenian
-soldiers, as had formerly been customary, and who were quite unable
-to defend them against the attacks of the enemy. Perceiving this, the
-Emperor Justinian abolished the title of satrap for all time to come,
-and appointed two rulers over these nations, with the title of Dukes,
-giving them a large number of regular Roman soldiers, in order that
-with them they might defend the Roman frontier. He also built for them
-strong places, as follows.
-
-II. I shall begin with the country of Mesopotamia, in order to connect
-my account with what has been described above. He established one of
-these rulers of the Armenian tribes, who have the title of Duke, in
-the city which is called Martyropolis,[58] and the other in a fortress
-which is named Citharizon. I will now describe in what part of the
-Roman Empire these places are situated. The city of Martyropolis is
-situated in that part of Armenia which is called Sophanene, close to
-the river Nymphius, and bordering closely on the enemy’s country;
-for at that place the river Nymphius divides the Roman and Persian
-territory. Beyond the river lies the country named Arxanes, which
-from ancient times has belonged to the Persians. Yet this city was
-always neglected by the Romans, and lay exposed to the attacks of
-these barbarians; so that Cabades, the King of the Persians, in the
-reign of the Emperor Anastasius, invaded the country of the Romans,
-and led an army through Martyropolis, which is distant from Amida a
-little more than a day’s journey for a lightly equipped traveller. As
-a mere incident and unimportant part of his invasion he took this city
-without any siege, assault, or beleaguerment, but simply by giving out
-that he was coming; for the inhabitants, who knew well that they could
-not hold out for a single moment of time against his army, as soon as
-they saw the Median host near at hand, at once went over to Cabades,
-with Theodorus—who at that time was satrap of Sophanene—at their
-head, dressed in the insignia of his office, and delivered themselves
-and the city of Martyropolis up to him, taking with them the public
-revenue for two years. Cabades, pleased with this, refrained from
-ravaging the city and the entire country, which he regarded as part of
-the Persian Empire. He dismissed the people unhurt, and neither did
-any injury to them nor altered anything in their city, but replaced
-Theodorus—whom he regarded as a wise man—as satrap over them, placing
-in his hands the symbols of authority, and trusting him to protect the
-Persian territory. After this he led his army onwards, took Amida by a
-siege, and retired into the Persian territory, as I have described in
-my ‘History of the Wars.’ The Emperor Anastasius, perceiving that it
-was not possible for the city of Martyropolis to defend itself without
-any fortifications against the attacks of the enemy, not only was not
-angry with Theodorus and the people of Sophanene, but declared that
-he was very thankful to them for their action. The wall of the city
-of Martyropolis was in thickness about four feet, and in height about
-twenty feet; so that it could not only be easily captured by an enemy,
-who employed siege operations and brought battering engines against it,
-but could easily be escaladed.
-
-In consequence of this, the Emperor Justinian proceeded as follows. He
-dug a trench outside the walls, laid foundations in it, and built a new
-wall of a thickness of four feet, at a distance of four feet from the
-old wall. He raised this wall also to a height of twenty feet, making
-it in all respects equal in size to the old one; he then filled up the
-space between the two walls with stones and mortar, thus forming the
-whole work into one wall twelve feet in thickness. He then raised it,
-keeping the thickness the same, to a height twice as great as that
-which it formerly possessed; moreover, he built an admirable outwork
-round the city, and built all the other defences of a fortified place.
-
-III. On the west side of Martyropolis is a place named Phison, which
-also is situated in that part of Armenia which is called Sophanene,
-and is distant from Martyropolis a little more than one day’s journey.
-About eight miles beyond this place lie precipitous and altogether
-impassable mountains, between which are two narrow passes, situated
-close to one another, which are called Clisuræ. Travellers from Persian
-Armenia to Sophanene, whether they proceed from the Persian territory
-or by way of the fortress of Citharizon, must necessarily proceed
-through these two passes, of which the one is called by the natives
-Illyrisis, and the other Saphchæ. Each of these ought to be fortified
-with the utmost care, in order to bar the way against the enemy; in
-former times, however, they remained entirely unguarded. But the
-Emperor Justinian, by placing admirable fortifications both at Phison
-and in the passes, and by establishing sufficient garrisons in them,
-rendered it altogether impossible for the barbarians to invade the
-country. These were the works of the Emperor Justinian in that part of
-the country of Armenia which is called Sophanene.
-
-In Citharizon, which is in the province called Asthianene, he built a
-new fort on a hilly spot, of great size, and completely impregnable.
-This place he furnished with a sufficient supply of water, and all
-other conveniences for its inhabitants, and placed in command of it, as
-I said before, the other Duke of Armenia with a sufficient garrison of
-soldiers, thus rendering the tribes of Armenia secure in this quarter
-also.
-
-As one goes from Citharizon[59] towards Theodosiopolis and Greater
-Armenia is the country of Corzane, which extends for a distance of
-about three days’ journey, without any lake, river or mountain to
-divide it from the country of the Persians, whose frontier is confused
-with it; so that the inhabitants of this region, whether they be Roman
-or Persian subjects, have no fear of one another, and never expect
-any attack, but intermarry with one another, have common markets for
-their produce, and cultivate the country together. When the rulers
-of either nation make an expedition against the other at the command
-of their prince, they always find their neighbours unprotected; for
-each of them has extremely populous places close to one another, while
-in former times there was no fortification whatever; so that it was
-possible for the King of Persia to invade the Roman territory in this
-quarter more easily than anywhere else, until the Emperor Justinian
-prevented his doing so, in the following manner. In the midst of this
-country there was a place named Artaleson, which he surrounded with a
-very strong wall, and made into an impregnable fortress; he placed a
-garrison of regular soldiers in it, and appointed a general over them,
-whom the Romans in the Latin language style ‘a Duke.’ Thus did he
-fortify the whole of that frontier.
-
-IV. These were the works of the Emperor Justinian in that quarter. I
-now come to what he did in the rest of Armenia. The city of Satala
-was formerly in a perilous position, because it is not far distant
-from the enemy’s country, and is built upon low ground, surrounded
-by many hills, so that it ought in consequence of its position to
-possess impregnable fortifications. However, its defences were even
-more untrustworthy than its position, the works having been badly and
-carelessly constructed, and by lapse of time having fallen into ruin.
-The whole of these were demolished by the Emperor, who built a new wall
-round it of sufficient height to appear to overtop the neighbouring
-hills, and of sufficient thickness to support such an unusual height
-with safety. He built round it an outwork of an admirable character,
-and struck despair into the heart of the enemy. He also built a very
-strong fort not far from Satala, in the province of Osrhoene.
-
-In this province there was an old fort built by the ancients upon the
-ridge of a precipitous hill, which was once taken by Pompeius, the
-Roman general, who, when he became master of the country, fortified it
-with great care, and named it Colonia. The Emperor Justinian exerted
-all his power in restoring this fort, which had fallen into decay after
-so long a time; moreover, he distributed enormous sums of money among
-the inhabitants of this region, and thus persuaded them to build new
-fortifications on their own ground, and to restore those which had
-fallen into ruin; so that nearly all the works situated in that country
-were built by the Emperor Justinian. There also he built the forts of
-Baiberdon and Arcon; he restored Lysiormum and Lutararizon;[60] he also
-built a new fort in the place which is called the Ditch of Germanus.
-Moreover, he restored the walls of Sebastia[61] and Nicopolis, which
-are cities of Armenia, which were on the point of falling, having
-become decayed through age. In them he built churches and monasteries.
-At Theodosiopolis he built a church dedicated to the Virgin, and
-restored the monasteries in the places named Petrius and Cucarizon.
-At Nicopolis[62] he built the monastery of the Forty-five saints, and
-a church of St. George the Martyr at Bizana. Near Theodosiopolis he
-restored the monastery named after the Forty Martyrs.
-
-There was a place in what used to be called Lesser Armenia, not far
-from the river Euphrates, where formerly a regiment of Roman soldiers
-was stationed. The place was named Melitene, and the regiment was
-named Legion. Here the Romans in former times had built a square
-fortification on low ground, which was convenient for soldiers’
-quarters and for the reception of their standards. Afterwards, by
-the orders of Trajan, the Roman Emperor, the place was raised to the
-dignity of a city, and became the capital of that nation. In the course
-of time the city of Melitene became large and populous; and since
-it was no longer possible for the inhabitants to dwell within the
-fortification, which, as I have said, enclosed but a small space of
-ground, they built their city in the plain near it, erecting thereon
-their churches, the dwellings of their magistrates, the market-place,
-and the shops of their merchants, the streets, porticos, baths,
-theatres, and all the other ornaments of a large city. In this manner
-Melitene became for the most part composed of suburbs. The Emperor
-Anastasius attempted to enclose the whole of it with a wall, but died
-before he had carried out his intention; however, the Emperor Justinian
-built a wall all round it, and rendered Melitene[63] a great defence
-and ornament to the Armenians.
-
-V. These are the works of our Emperor in that part of Armenia which
-lies on the right bank of the Euphrates; I will now speak of what he
-did in Greater Armenia. When the Roman Emperor Theodosius obtained the
-kingdom of Arsaces, as I explained before, he built a castle on one of
-its hills, very liable to capture, which he called Theodosiopolis. This
-was taken by Cabades, the king of Persia, when he passed it as he was
-marching straight upon Amida. Not long afterwards the Roman Emperor
-Anastasius built a city there, enclosing within its walls the hill upon
-which Theodosius had placed his castle. Although he named the city
-after himself, yet he was not able to abolish the name of Theodosius,
-its former founder; for though the things in common use among mankind
-are constantly changing, yet it is not easy to alter their former
-names. The wall of Theodosiopolis was of a sufficient width, but was
-not raised to a proportional height, for it was only about thirty feet
-high, and therefore was very liable to capture by an enemy skilled
-in sieges, such as the Persians. It was weak in other respects also,
-for it was not defended by any outwork or ditch; moreover, some high
-ground close to the city overhung the wall. These defects the Emperor
-Justinian remedied in the following manner; in the first place he
-dug a very deep trench all round it, like the bed of a torrent among
-precipitous mountains: next, he cut up the overhanging hill into a mass
-of inaccessible precipices and pathless ravines; moreover, in order
-to make the wall very high, and unassailable by an enemy, he employed
-the same device as at the city of Dara. He contracted the battlements
-to the smallest size through which it was possible to shoot at the
-besiegers, laid stones over them so as to make another story round the
-entire circuit, and skilfully placed a second set of battlements upon
-it, enclosing the whole place within an outwork like that of the city
-of Dara, and making each tower into a strong castle. He established in
-this place all the forces of Armenia, with their general, and rendered
-the Armenians so strong that they no longer feared the attacks of the
-Persians.
-
-At Bizana the Emperor did nothing of this sort; for this place is
-situated upon flat country, surrounded by wide plains fit for the
-manœuvres of cavalry, and full of putrid pools of stagnant water; so
-that it was very easily stormed by an enemy, and was very unhealthy for
-its inhabitants; for these reasons, he neglected this place, and built
-a city elsewhere to which he gave his own name. It is a fine city and
-altogether impregnable, and stands in a place called Tzumina, distant
-three miles from Bizana, in a very healthy and airy position on high
-ground.
-
-VI. These were the acts of the Emperor Justinian in Armenia. At this
-point of my narrative it appears convenient to describe what he did
-among the tribes of the Tzani, since they dwell next to the Armenians.
-In ancient times the Tzani were independent and without any rulers,
-living after the manner of wild beasts, regarding and worshipping
-as gods the woods and birds and other animals. They spent all their
-lives in lofty and thickly wooded mountains, and never cultivated the
-ground, but supported themselves by plundering and brigandage; for they
-themselves were unacquainted with agriculture, and their country, when
-it is not covered with precipitous mountains, is hilly: and the surface
-of these hills is not earthy, or capable of growing crops even if it
-were cultivated, but rough and hard, and altogether sterile. It is not
-possible to irrigate the ground, to reap a crop, or to find a meadow
-anywhere; and even the trees, with which the land of the Tzani is
-covered, bear no fruit, because for the most part there is no regular
-succession of seasons, and the land is not at one time subjected to
-cold and wet, and at another made fertile by the warmth of the sun,
-but is desolated by perpetual winter and covered by eternal snows. For
-this reason the Tzani, in ancient times, remained independent; but
-during the reign of our Emperor Justinian they were conquered by the
-Romans, under the command of Tzita; and, perceiving that resistance was
-impossible, at once submitted in a body, preferring an easy servitude
-to a dangerous freedom. They at once all changed their religion to the
-true faith, became Christians, and embraced a more civilized mode of
-life, renouncing brigandage, and serving in the Roman army, which was
-constantly at war with their enemies. However, the Emperor Justinian,
-fearing that the Tzani might at some time revert to their former wild
-mode of life, devised the following expedients.
-
-The whole country of the Tzani is difficult, and quite impassable for
-horsemen, being everywhere surrounded with precipices and woods, as I
-said before; so that it was impossible for the Tzani to mix with their
-neighbours, but they lived by themselves in a savage manner, like wild
-beasts. He therefore cut down all the trees which hindered the making
-of roads, and levelled the rough ground, rendering it easily passable
-for horsemen, and thus made it possible for them to mix with the rest
-of mankind, and hold intercourse with their neighbours. Next he built
-a church for them in a place called Schamalinichon, in order that they
-might perform divine service, partake of the holy mysteries, gain the
-favour of God by prayers, perform the other duties of religion, and
-feel themselves to be human beings. He built forts in every part of the
-country, garrisoned them with regular Roman soldiers, and thus enabled
-the Tzani to mix without restraint with the rest of mankind. I shall
-now describe the parts of Tzania in which he built these forts.
-
-There is there a place where the three frontiers of the Roman Empire,
-of Persian Armenia, and of the Tzani join; here he constructed a
-new and very powerful fort, named Oronon, which he made the chief
-guarantee of peace to the country; for at that point the Romans first
-entered Tzania. Here he established a garrison under a general with
-the title of Duke. At a place distant two days’ journey from Oronon,
-on the frontier of the Ocenite Tzani—for the Tzani are divided into
-many tribes—there was a fortress built in ancient times, which long
-before this had fallen into ruin by neglect, and was named Charton. The
-Emperor Justinian restored this, and placed in it a large garrison to
-keep the province in order. On the east of this place is a precipitous
-ravine stretching towards the north. Here he built a new fort named
-Barchon. Beyond this, at the skirts of the mountain, are stables where
-the Ocenite Tzani used to keep their cattle, not in order to plough the
-land,—for the Tzani, as I said before, are altogether idle, and know
-nothing of husbandry, and have no ploughed land, or other operations
-of farming,—but for a constant supply of milk and meat. Beyond the
-skirts of the mountain, to the westward of the place upon the plain,
-which is called Cena, stands the fort of Sisilisson, which was of
-ancient construction, but by length of time had fallen into ruin, and
-was restored by the Emperor Justinian, who established in it, as in
-all the others, a sufficient garrison of Roman soldiers. On the left,
-as one goes from thence in a northerly direction, is a place which the
-natives call the Ditch of Longinus; for in ancient times Longinus, a
-Roman general of the Isaurian nation, pitched his camp there during a
-campaign against the Tzani. Here our Emperor built a fort, named Burgum
-Noes, a day’s journey distant from Sisilisson, which, like the fort at
-Sisilisson described above, our Emperor very strongly fortified. Beyond
-this is the frontier of the Coxylini Tzani, where he placed two forts
-named Schimalinichon and Tzanzakon. Here he placed another officer with
-a garrison.
-
-VII. These were the works of the Emperor Justinian among the Tzani.
-In the country beyond them, on the banks of the Euxine Sea, is a
-city called Trapezus.[64] As there was a scarcity of water at this
-place, the Emperor Justinian constructed an aqueduct, called by the
-name of the Martyr Eugenius, by which he relieved the wants of the
-inhabitants. Both here and at Amasea[65] he restored the greater part
-of the churches, which had become ruinous by lapse of time. Beyond the
-frontier of the city of Trapezus is a place named Rhizeum,[66] which
-he in person restored and surrounded with fortifications magnificent
-beyond description and belief; for the city is second to none of those
-on the Persian frontier in size and strength.
-
-He also built a fort in Lazica, named Losorium, and fortified the
-passes in that country, which are named the Clisuræ, in order to shut
-out the enemy from the country of the Lazi.[67] He also restored an
-ancient and ruinous church of the Christian Lazi, and founded a noble
-city, named Petra,[68] which the Lazi by their own negligence allowed
-to fall into the hands of the Persians, when Chosroes came thither
-with a great army; but the Romans conquered the Persians in battle,
-killed some of them, took the rest prisoners, and razed the city to
-the ground, that the Persians might not be able to return thither and
-do any more mischief—all of which has been described in my ‘History of
-the Wars’—where also is a description of how, on the Continent opposite
-the territory of the Lazi, as one goes towards the Mæotic Lake,[69] the
-Romans destroyed two forts, named Sebastopolis[70] and Pityous, because
-they heard that Chosroes meditated sending an army to occupy them.
-Now, however, the Emperor Justinian entirely rebuilt Sebastopolis,
-which before was only a small fort, making it impregnable by the
-strength of its walls and other defences, and ornamenting it with
-streets and buildings, so as to render it one of the first of cities,
-both for size and beauty.
-
-Moreover, finding that the walls of the cities of Bosporus and Cherson,
-which are situated upon the sea-shore in that region, beyond the Mæotic
-Lake and the Tauri and the Tauroscythi, on the frontier of the Roman
-Empire, had quite fallen into ruin, he restored them to a condition
-of great beauty and strength. In the same region he built the fort
-of Alustus, and one in the country of the Gorzubiti. He especially
-strengthened the fortifications of Bosporus, which, in ancient times,
-had fallen into the power of the barbarians, and which he captured
-from the Huns and annexed to the Roman Empire. There is here a country
-by the sea-shore, named Doru, which has been long inhabited by those
-Goths, who would not follow Theoderic on his expedition to Italy, but
-of their own accord remained there, and have been in alliance with
-the Romans down to my own time, joining the Roman armies when they
-march against the enemy, at the pleasure of the Emperor; their numbers
-are about three thousand; they are excellent warriors, industrious
-husbandmen, and most hospitable to strangers. Their country, Doru, is
-situated on high ground, yet is not rough or sterile, but good soil,
-producing the best of crops. The Emperor built no city or fort anywhere
-in this country, as its inhabitants cannot endure to be confined within
-walls, but love to dwell in the open country. He did, however, fortify
-with long walls the passes by which an enemy could enter the country,
-and thus freed the Goths from foreign invasion. These were his works in
-this quarter.
-
-There is a maritime town of the Thracians on the borders of the Euxine
-Sea, named Anchialus,[71] which it would be more proper to mention in
-my description of Thrace; since, however, the course of my narrative
-has led me to speak of the works of our Emperor on the shores of the
-Euxine Sea, it will be well at this point to describe the buildings
-which he erected at Anchialus. At this place, fountains of warm water,
-which spring up not far from the city, supply the inhabitants with
-natural baths. This place was neglected and left unfortified by the
-former Emperors, although so many tribes of barbarians dwell in the
-neighbourhood of it, so that the sick persons, who resorted to it,
-could not enjoy its benefits without considerable danger; however, the
-Emperor Justinian has now fortified it, and enabled them to be healed
-in safety. These were the fortifications built in the East, in Armenia,
-in the country of the Tzani, and on the shores of the Euxine Sea, by
-the Emperor Justinian. Let us now proceed from this region to the
-buildings which he has constructed in the rest of Europe.
-
-
-
-
- BOOK IV.
-
-
-I. I count it a toilsome and perilous task, to cross a great ocean in
-a crazy vessel; and it is the same thing to describe the buildings of
-the Emperor Justinian in a feeble narrative; for this Emperor, one may
-say, showed greatness of mind in all that he did, and in his buildings
-performed works surpassing description. In Europe especially, wishing
-to construct works on a scale worthy of the need which existed for
-them, his buildings are difficult, nay, almost impossible to describe,
-being worthy of their position in the neighbourhood of the river Danube
-and the barbarian tribes beyond it, whose invasions they are intended
-to repel; for along its banks dwell the nations of the Huns and the
-Goths, and the empire is threatened by the tribes of the Tauri and the
-Scythians, the Sclavonians and the rest, whom the ancient historians
-call the ‘dwellers in waggons’ or Sauromatæ, and all the other wild
-tribes which either inhabit or roam through that region. With all
-these tribes, ever eager for war, Justinian was forced to contend, so
-that he could neglect no point, but was forced to construct a chain
-of innumerable fortresses, establish in them numberless garrisons
-of soldiers, and do everything else in his power to hold in check a
-foe, with whom neither truce nor intercourse could be held; for these
-enemies were accustomed to make war without any pretext or declaration,
-and not to terminate it by any treaty, or cease fighting after a time,
-but to take up arms without any cause only to lay them down when
-compelled by main force. However, let us proceed to what remains of
-our description; for when a work is begun, it is better to bring it to
-an end in any fashion whatever, rather than to give it up and leave it
-unfinished; besides which, we might reasonably be blamed if our Emperor
-could construct such works, and we were to shrink from the labour of
-describing them. Now that I am about to enumerate the buildings of this
-our Emperor in Europe, it is worth while before doing so to make a few
-remarks about the country.
-
-From what is called the Adriatic Sea a branch extends straight into the
-continent, apart from the rest of the sea, so as to divide the country
-and form the Ionian Gulf, having on its right bank the Epirotes and
-the other nations in that quarter, and on the left the Calabrians.
-Compressed into a long and narrow inlet, it embraces almost the whole
-of the continent. Above this sea and running over against it, the
-river Danube forms the land of Europe into a peninsula. Here our
-Emperor constructed many admirable works; for he fortified the whole of
-Europe so securely as to render it inaccessible to the barbarians who
-dwell beyond the river Danube.
-
-I ought, however, to begin with the native country of the Emperor,
-which must occupy the first place in my narrative, as it does in all
-other respects; for it alone may rejoice and pride itself upon the
-glory of having bred and furnished the Romans with an Emperor, whose
-works are so great that they can neither be described in language nor
-set down in writing.
-
-In the country of the European Dardani, who dwell beyond the frontier
-of the citizens of Epidamnus, near the fort called Bederiana, is a
-place named Tauresium, from whence came the Emperor Justinian, the
-Founder of the Universe.[72] This place he hastily fortified in a
-quadrangular form, placing a tower at each angle, and gave it from its
-shape the name of Tetrapyrgia, or the ‘Four Towers.’ Close to this
-place he built a most noble city, which he named Justiniana Prima (this
-word in the Latin language means ‘First’), thus repaying his debt to
-the country which bred him, though this duty ought to have been shared
-by all the Romans, since this place furnished a preserver for them
-all alike. Here he constructed an aqueduct and supplied the city with
-a perpetual flow of water, and erected many other works, magnificent
-and surpassing all description, worthy of the founder of the city;
-it is not easy to enumerate the churches, and it is impossible for
-language to describe the dwellings of the magistrates, the size of the
-porticos, the beauty of the market-places, the fountains, the streets,
-the baths, and the shops. In a word, the city is great, populous,
-flourishing, and worthy to be the metropolis of the whole country, to
-which dignity it has been raised. In addition to this, it is the seat
-of the Archbishop of Illyria, all the other cities yielding to it as
-being the greatest in size; so that it in turn reflects glory upon the
-Emperor; for the city prides itself upon the Emperor which it has bred,
-while the Emperor glories in having constructed the city. Let the above
-description of it suffice; for to describe it all, in exact detail, is
-impossible, because all language must fall short of a city worthy of
-such an Emperor.
-
-Besides this, he entirely rebuilt the fort of Bederiana, and rendered
-it much stronger than before. There was an ancient city in the country
-of the Dardani, named Ulpiana. He demolished the greater part of the
-wall of this place, which was very unsafe and altogether useless, and
-brought it to its present magnificent appearance, decorated it with
-many other beautiful buildings, and gave it the name of Justiniana
-Secunda. (Secunda in the Latin language signifies ‘Second.’) He also
-built a new city in its neighbourhood, which he named Justinopolis,
-after the name of his uncle Justin. He restored the walls of Sardica,
-Naïsopolis, Germana and Pantalia, which he found dilapidated by age,
-so as to make them secure and impregnable. Between these cities he
-built three small towns, Cratiscara, Quimedaba, and Rumisiana. Thus
-he restored these cities from their foundations; and, wishing to
-render the river Danube a very strong bulwark to them and to the whole
-of Europe, he covered the whole course of the river with numerous
-forts, as I shall shortly afterwards describe, and established on all
-parts of its banks garrisons of soldiers, sufficient to restrain the
-barbarians from crossing the river in that quarter. When, however, he
-had completed all these works, remembering the insecurity of all human
-designs, and reflecting that, should the enemy succeed in passing the
-river by any means, they would ravage the unguarded country, carry
-off all the inhabitants for slaves, and plunder all their property,
-he did not leave them to trust to the forts along the course of the
-river alone for their protection, but gave them means of defence of
-their own; for he constructed such a number of fortifications in these
-regions, that every field either possesses a castle or is near to some
-walled place, both here and in New and Old Epirus. Here also he built
-the city of Justinianopolis, which formerly was called Adrianopolis.
-
-He restored Nicopolis, Photica and Phœnice; the latter towns, Photica
-and Phœnice, being situated upon low ground, suffered from inundations;
-wherefore the Emperor Justinian, perceiving that it was impossible
-to build walls for them upon a firm foundation, made no alteration
-in either of them, but built forts near them, which he placed upon
-strong and precipitous ground. In this country there was an ancient
-city, abundantly supplied with water, and deriving its name from its
-position, for it was formerly named Eurœa. Not far from this city of
-Eurœa is a lake, in the midst of which rises an island containing a
-hill; the lake reaches round this island so far as only just to allow
-access to it. The Emperor transferred the inhabitants of Eurœa to this
-place, built a city for them, and strongly fortified it.
-
-II. After our survey of the whole of Epirus we pass over Ætolia and
-Acarnania, and come to the Crissæan Gulf, the Isthmus of Corinth,
-and the other parts of Greece. Here the Emperor’s foresight was most
-especially displayed, and one may marvel at the numerous walled cities
-with which he fortified the Roman Empire. Amongst the rest he paid
-especial care at the pass of Thermopylæ. In the first place he raised
-its walls to a great height, for the mountains in this place were easy
-to be taken by an enemy, and were fortified by what was more like a
-hedgerow than a wall. He placed double battlements upon all these
-walls, and also upon the fort, which had been built there in an equally
-careless manner by the ancients, giving it a sufficient height, and
-double bulwarks. Besides all this, as the place was entirely without
-water, he contrived a reservoir for rain-water, and also carefully
-fortified many paths up the mountain which had formerly been left
-unguarded.
-
-One may well wonder how the Persian King spent so long a time here,
-and only found one path, and that, too, one which was betrayed to
-him by Greek traitors, when there are many unfortified roads in the
-place along which one could almost drive a waggon; for the sea, which
-washes the base of the mountains, has widened the mouths of most of
-the paths leading up from thence, and as the ground was full of glens
-and impassable ravines, it appeared to the ancients that what was thus
-divided by nature could not be continuously enclosed by fortifications,
-so that they lazily sacrificed their safety in their reluctance to
-embark upon so difficult a work, and trusted to chance, resting all
-their hopes of safety against the invasion of the barbarians on their
-probable ignorance of the roads; for men who despair of accomplishing
-difficult tasks always imagine that what they have found so hard, will
-not easily be effected by others; so that it cannot be disputed that
-the Emperor Justinian showed greater care and foresight than anyone
-else who has ever lived, since he was not prevented, even by the
-sea which washes and breaks upon these mountains, from laying firm
-foundations on the very beach and watery shore, and making the most
-contrary elements serve his purpose, and yield to him, subdued by human
-art. However, not even after having connected these mountain thickets
-and glens, and having joined the sea to the mountain, and enclosed the
-whole of Greece with his fortifications, did our Emperor relax his zeal
-on behalf of his subjects, but he also built many forts within this
-wall, taking a just view of the chances of human life, which render
-no place secure or impregnable; so that if by any mischance it should
-happen that these walls should at any time be taken, the garrison might
-find a refuge in these forts. Moreover, he established everywhere
-granaries and reservoirs of water in secure positions, and placed
-nearly 2,000 soldiers to garrison the works, which was never done by
-any emperor at any former time; for these walls remained unguarded
-formerly, even down to my own time, and if the enemy assaulted them,
-some of the peasants in the neighbourhood, adopting a military life on
-the spur of the moment, used to act as garrison, and, from their want
-of experience, risked the capture of them and of the whole of Greece,
-by which parsimony this country was for a long time exposed to the
-attack of the barbarians.[73]
-
-Thus did the Emperor Justinian strengthen the fortifications of
-Thermopylæ. He also with great care built walls round the cities which
-lie in the country beyond it—Saccus, Hypata, Coracii, Unnum, Baleæ and
-Leontarium. At Heraclea he did as follows: as one goes from Illyria to
-Greece, two mountains stand close to one another for a long distance,
-forming a narrow pass between them, of the kind called Clisuræ. In
-the midst runs a fountain, which in the summer-time pours a clear
-and drinkable stream down from the mountains which stand around, and
-forms a tiny rivulet; but in rainy seasons there rises a very deep and
-violent torrent, which collects its waters from the ravines among the
-cliffs. By this path the barbarians were able to gain an easy passage
-to Thermopylæ and the neighbouring parts of Greece. On either side of
-the path there were in ancient times two ancient fortresses, one being
-the city of Heraclea, which I mentioned before, and the other that of
-Myropole, standing at a little distance from it. The Emperor Justinian
-restored both these fortresses, which had long been in ruins, and built
-a very strong wall across the pass, joining it to the mountains on
-either side, so that he closed the passage against the barbarians, and
-forced the torrent first to form a lake within this wall, and then to
-flow over it and continue its course.
-
-He secured all the cities of Greece which lie within the walls of
-Thermopylæ, restoring the fortifications of all of them, for they
-had long ago fallen into decay—at Corinth in consequence of violent
-earthquakes, and at Athens, Platæa, and the towns in Bœotia having
-fallen into decay through age, as no one had taken any care of them;
-he, however, left no place assailable or unguarded, for in his watchful
-care for his subjects he bethought him that the barbarians, should they
-reach the country about Thermopylæ, would despair of success as soon as
-they learned that they would gain nothing by forcing the works there,
-since all the rest of Greece was fortified, and they would have to
-undertake the siege of each individual city; for a deferred hope does
-not encourage men to endure labour, nor are they eager for gain which
-is far distant, but give up their hopes of future advantage to avoid
-present discomfort.
-
-Having effected this, the Emperor Justinian, learning that all the
-cities in Peloponnesus were unwalled, and reflecting that much time
-would be wasted if he attended to the security of each one, securely
-fortified the whole isthmus with a wall, since the existing wall
-was mostly in ruins. Upon this wall he built forts and established
-garrisons in them, and in this manner rendered the whole country of
-Peloponnesus safe from the enemy, even though any misfortune should
-befall the fortifications at Thermopylæ.
-
-III. Diocletianopolis in Thessaly was in ancient times a flourishing
-city, but latterly was ruined by the incursions of the barbarians,
-and had long been without inhabitants. There is a lake near it, which
-is called Castoria, in the midst of which is an island surrounded
-by water, with only one narrow passage, not wider than fifteen
-feet, leading to it through the lake. On this island stands a very
-lofty mountain, which overhangs the lake on one side and the island
-on the other; wherefore our Emperor decided against the site of
-Diocletianopolis, because it was obviously exposed to attack, and
-had long before suffered the misfortunes which I had mentioned, but
-built a very strong city on the island, to which he naturally gave
-his own name. Besides this, he removed the walls of Echinæum, Thebes,
-Pharsalus, and all the other cities of Thessaly, amongst which are
-Demetrias, Metropolis, Gomphi, and Tricattus, and securely fortified
-them, for their walls were decayed by age and could easily be taken by
-an enemy.
-
-Now that we have come to Thessaly, let us proceed to Mount Pelion
-and the river Peneus. The Peneus flows in a gentle stream past Mount
-Pelion, and in its course adorns the city of Larissa, for Phthia no
-longer exists, but has perished through age. The river flows with a
-quiet stream as far as the sea, and the neighbouring country is rich
-in fruits of all kinds, and in sweet waters, which the inhabitants
-were never able to enjoy, as they were in continual expectation of an
-attack from the barbarians; for there was no strong place anywhere in
-these regions to which they could fly for refuge, but the walls of
-Larissa and Cæsarea were so ruinous that they were almost open towns.
-The Emperor Justinian, by rebuilding the walls of both these cities
-very strongly, enabled the country to enjoy true prosperity. Not far
-from hence rise precipitous mountains covered with lofty trees. These
-mountains were the home of the Centaurs; and in this country the
-battle of the Centaurs with the Lapithæ took place, as the ancient
-myths declare, which inform us that in old times there dwelt there a
-monstrous race combining the forms of two creatures. Antiquity gives
-some warrant for this fable by the name of a fort in these mountains,
-which down to my own time was named Centauropolis, whose ruinous walls
-the Emperor Justinian restored and strengthened, together with those of
-Eurymene in the same country, which had fallen into the same condition.
-
-Now, that I may leave no part of Greece undescribed, we must proceed to
-the island of Eubœa, which stands close to Athens and Marathon. This
-island of Eubœa lies in the sea, in front of Greece, and seems to me as
-though it had once formed a part of the mainland, and had afterwards
-been separated from it by a strait, for an arm of the sea flows past
-the mainland there, in the neighbourhood of the city of Chalcis, ebbing
-and flowing in a narrow channel, confined between banks which reduce
-it to the size of a rivulet. This strait is called the Euripus. Such
-is the island of Eubœa. A single beam laid across the strait forms a
-bridge, which the inhabitants lay across at their pleasure, and then
-appear to be dwellers on the continent, and walk on foot to the land
-beyond the strait; but when they remove it, they cross the strait in
-boats, and again become islanders: so that whether they proceed on foot
-or on shipboard depends upon the laying down or taking up of a single
-piece of wood....
-
-The country within this is named (the Peninsula of) Pallene. In ancient
-times the inhabitants built a wall across the isthmus, which joined
-the sea at each end, and built there a city, which in former times was
-called Potidæa, and now Casandria; however, time so ruined all these
-buildings that when, not long ago, the Huns overran these regions, they
-captured this cross-wall and city as though in sport, though they never
-have conducted a siege since the world began. This event, however, gave
-the Emperor Justinian an opportunity of displaying his goodness and
-magnanimity: for as he was always wont to repair all the misfortunes
-which befell him by his own foresight, he turned the most terrible
-disasters into a source of good fortune by the magnificent works by
-which he repaired. So here he fortified the city of Pallene, which is
-the bulwark of the whole country, and the wall across the isthmus, so
-as to render them quite impregnable and able to defy all attacks. These
-were his works in Macedonia.
-
-Not far from the city of Thessalonica flows the river Rhechius, which
-passes through a fertile and rich country, and empties itself into
-the sea at that place. This river flows with a gentle current: its
-waters are calm and sweet. The neighbouring country is low-lying,
-well-watered, and forms rich pasture; but was sadly exposed to the
-inroads of the barbarians, having no fort or place of strength of
-any kind for a distance of forty miles; wherefore the Emperor built
-a strong fort on the banks of the river Rhechius where it joins the
-sea—an entirely new work, to which he gave the name of Artemisium.
-
-IV. It is my duty to mention the other strong places in this part of
-Europe. I am quite sure that if I were to recount this list of the
-fortresses in this country, to men dwelling in a distant region and
-belonging to another nation, without any facts to guarantee the truth
-of my story, the number of the works would make it appear altogether
-fabulous and incredible; as it is, however, they are to be seen at no
-great distance, and great numbers of the inhabitants of that region are
-present in our city; wherefore, with the confidence which springs from
-truth, I shall not hesitate to give a list of the works of the Emperor
-Justinian in the above-mentioned countries, both in restoring ruinous
-fortifications and in building new ones. It will be most convenient to
-put them all in the form of a list, so that my narrative may not be
-confused by the insertion of their names.
-
-These are the new forts built by the Emperor Justinian in New
-Epirus:[74]
-
- Sceminites,
- Ulpiansus,
- Episterba,
- Argus,
- Aona,
- Stephaniacum,
- Martis,
- Gynæcomytes,
- Speretium,
- Aven,
- Streden,
- Deuphracus,
- St. Sabinus,
- Aliula,
- Dyrlachin,
- Patana,
- Gemenus,
- Bacuste,
- Alistrus,
- Irene,
- Epiduta,
- Bacusta,
- Labellus,
- Epileum,
- Piscinæ,
- Cithinas,
- Dolebin,
- Hedonia,
- Titiana,
- Ulibula,
- Brebate,
- Thesaurus.
-
-These places were restored:
-
- St. Stephen,
- Cethreon,
- Apis,
- Peleum,
- Come,
- Pacue,
- Scidreonpolis,
- Antipagræ,
- Pupsalus,
- Gabræum,
- Dionaa,
- Clementiana,
- Illyrin,
- Tithra,
- Brebeta,
- Bupus,
- Endyni,
- Dionysus,
- Ptochium,
- Tyrcanus,
- Capaza,
- Cilicæ,
- Argyas,
- Therma,
- Amantia,
- Paretium.
-
-These are the new forts built in Old Epirus:
-
- Parmus,
- Olbus,
- Cionin,
- Marciana,
- Algus,
- Cimenus,
- Xeropotoes,
- Europa,
- Chimæra,
- Helega,
- Homonœa,
- Adanum.
-
-These places were rebuilt:
-
- Murciara,
- Castina,
- Genysius,
- Percus,
- Marmarata,
- Listria,
- Petroniana,
- Carmina,
- St. Sabinus,
- Also a reservoir in the fort of Come,
- Martius,
- Pezium,
- Onalus,
- Two forts dedicated to St. Donatus, in the territory of
- Justinianopolis and Photice,
- Symphygium,
- Pronathidum,
- Hedones,
- Castellum,
- Bulibas,
- Palyrus,
- Trana,
- Posidon,
- Colophonia.
-
-In Macedonia:
-
- Candida,
- Colobona,
- The Basilica of Amyntas,
- Bolbus,
- Brigizes,
- Opas,
- Pleurum,
- Caminus,
- Therma,
- Bogas,
- Neapolis,
- Calarnus,
- Museum,
- Acremba,
- Adrianium,
- Edana,
- Melichisa,
- Pascas,
- Aulon,
- Gentianum,
- Priniana,
- Thesteum,
- Cyrrhi,
- Gurasson,
- Cumarciana,
- Limnederium,
- Bupoodin,
- Babas,
- Cyriana,
- Pelecum,
- Lages,
- Cratæa,
- Siclæ,
- Nymphium,
- Metizus,
- Argicianum,
- Bazinus,
- Cassopas,
- Parthion,
- Fasciæ,
- Placidiana,
- Hynea,
- Limnaæ,
- Option,
- Charadrus,
- Cassopes.
-
-These forts were rebuilt in Thessaly:
-
- Alcon,
- Lossonus,
- Gerontica,
- Perbyla,
- Cercinei,
- Scidreus,
- Phracellan.
-
-The following new forts were built in Dardania:
-
- Laberium,
- Castimum,
- Rabestum,
- Castellium,
- Acrenza,
- Terias,
- Drullus,
- Victoriæ.
-
-These were rebuilt:
-
- Cesiana,
- Tezule,
- Usiana,
- Besiana,
- Mascas,
- Liste,
- Celliriana,
- Zysbaës,
- Genzana,
- Petrizen,
- Eutychiana,
- Mulato,
- Priscopera,
- Miletes,
- Dardapara,
- Cesuna,
- Veriniana,
- Lasbarus,
- Castellobretara,
- Edetzio,
- Dinius,
- Cecola,
- Emastus,
- Castelona,
- Belas,
- Cattarus,
- Cattaricus,
- Pentza,
- Cattapheterus,
- Debanus,
- Cubinus,
- Getmaza,
- Victoriana,
- Azeta,
- Durbulie,
- Suricum,
- Cusines,
- Tuttiana,
- Ballesina,
- Bella,
- Catrelates,
- Casyella,
- Mariana,
- Capomalva,
- Seretus,
- Potchium,
- Quino,
- Berzana,
- Bessaiana,
- Arsa,
- Blezo,
- Labutza,
- Quinti,
- Bermerium,
- Catrasema,
- Rotun,
- Cobenciles,
- Marcellina,
- Primoniana,
- Pamylinus,
- Aria.
-
-These in the country of the city of Sardica:
-
- Scupium,
- Stenes,
- Marcipetra,
- Briparum,
- Romaniana,
- Struas,
- Protiana,
- Maccunniana,
- Scopentziana.
-
-In the country of Cabentza, Balbæ was built, and the following were
-repaired:
-
- Byrsia,
- Stamazo,
- Clesbestita,
- Duiana,
- Vineus,
- Trisciana,
- Parnusta,
- Tzimes,
- Turicla,
- Medeca,
- Peplabius,
- Cunæ,
- Bidzo,
- Stenocorta,
- Danedebæ,
- Ardia.
-
-In * * * these were restored:
-
- Bugarma,
- Betzas,
- Bregedaba,
- Borbrega,
- Turus.
-
-These were rebuilt:
-
- Salebries,
- Arcunes,
- Duries,
- Buteries,
- Barbaries,
- Arbatias,
- Cuzusura,
- Etæries,
- Itaberies,
- Tugurias,
- Bemaste,
- Stramentias,
- Bottes,
- Bitzimaeas,
- Badziania,
- Banes,
- Bimerus,
- Tusudeaas,
- Scuanes,
- Scentudies,
- Scares,
- Lignius,
- Itadeba.
-
-In the country of the city Germanae, Scaplizo was built, and the
-following were rebuilt:
-
- Germas,
- Candaras,
- Rolligeras,
- Scinzeries,
- Riginocastellum,
- Suagogmense.
-
-These in the country of the city of Pauta (Pantalia?):
-
- Tarporum,
- Sobastas,
- Cherdusceras,
- Blepus,
- Zespuries.
-
-These in the region of Scassetana:
-
- Alarum,
- Magomias,
- Luconanta,
- Balausum,
- Butis.
-
-In the country of the city of * * * these new forts were built:
-
- Calventia,
- Pharanores,
- Stranbasta,
- Aldanes,
- Barachthestes,
- Sarmates,
- Arsena,
- Brarcedum,
- Eraria,
- Bercadium,
- Sabinibries,
- Timiana,
- Candilar,
- Gurbicum,
- Lautzones,
- Duliares,
- Arsaza,
- Viculea,
- Castellium,
- Groffes,
- Garces,
- Pistes,
- Dusmanes,
- Bratzista,
- Holodoris,
- Cassia,
- Grandetum,
- Urbriana,
- Nogeto,
- Mediana,
- Tiuncana,
- Castengium.
-
-These were rebuilt:
-
- Hercula,
- The fort of Mucianus,
- Burdopes,
- Calys,
- Millareca,
- Debrera,
- Chesdupara.
-
-These in the country of Remesiana:
-
- Brittura,
- Subaras,
- Cumudeba,
- Deurias,
- Lamponiana,
- Stronges,
- Dalmatas,
- Primiana,
- Frerraria,
- Topera,
- Tomes,
- Cuas,
- Tzerzenuzas,
- Stenes,
- Aeadaba,
- Deutreba,
- Pretzuries,
- Lutzolo,
- Repordenes,
- Spelunca,
- Scumbro,
- Britaro,
- Tulcoburgo,
- Longiana,
- Lupofantana,
- Dardapara,
- Burdomina,
- Grinciapana,
- Graccus,
- Drasimarca.
-
-In the country of Aquiena there was built the new fort of Timathachion,
-and the following were rebuilt:
-
- Peteres,
- Sculcoburgo,
- Vindimiola,
- Braiola,
- Arganocilum,
- Auriliana,
- Gembro,
- Clemades,
- Turribas,
- Gribo,
- Chalarus,
- Tzutrato,
- Mutzipara,
- Stendas,
- Scaripara,
- Odriuzo,
- Cipipene,
- Trasiana,
- Castellonovo,
- Florentiana,
- Romyliana,
- Sceptecasas,
- Argentares,
- Potes,
- Amuloselotes,
- Timalciolum,
- Meridio,
- Meriopontede,
- Tredetitilius,
- Bræola,
- Motrees,
- Vicanovo,
- Quartiana,
- Julioballæ,
- Pontzas,
- Zanes.
-
-V. Thus did the Emperor Justinian fortify the whole Illyrian continent.
-I shall now set forth the manner in which he strengthened the bank of
-the river Ister, which men also call the Danube, with fortifications
-and garrisons of soldiers. The Roman Emperors in ancient times, wishing
-to prevent the barbarians who dwelt beyond the Danube from crossing
-it, occupied the whole shore of this river with fortresses, which
-they built not only on the right bank, but in some places also on the
-further bank of the river. These fortresses were not constructed so
-as to be inaccessible to assailants, but just sufficient not to leave
-that bank of the river without defenders; for the barbarians in that
-region did not understand siege operations. Most of these strong places
-consisted only of one tower, and were consequently called towers, and
-very few men were stationed in them. This was at that time sufficient
-to overawe the barbarian tribes, so that they made no attacks upon the
-Romans; but in later times Attila invaded the country with a great
-army, razed all these fortresses to the ground without difficulty, and
-laid waste the greater part of the Roman territory, without meeting
-with any resistance. The Emperor Justinian rebuilt the demolished
-forts, not in their original form, but in the most powerful manner
-of fortification, and in addition to them built many others. In this
-manner he entirely restored the security of the Roman Empire, which had
-been altogether lost. I shall now set forth the manner in which all
-this was effected.
-
-The river Danube, flowing from the mountains of the Celts, who are now
-known as the Gauls, encloses a great tract of country, for the most
-part entirely desert, but in some places inhabited by barbarians, who
-dwell like savages, without any intercourse with the rest of mankind.
-On reaching Dacia, it first begins to divide the barbarians who dwell
-on its left bank from the Roman territory on the right bank. For this
-reason the Romans call this part of Dacia ‘Ripensis’; for in the Latin
-language a bank is called _ripa_. The first city which they built on
-this bank was named Singedon, which in process of time the barbarians
-captured, razed to the ground, and rendered entirely desolate. Most
-of the other fortresses were reduced to the same condition; but the
-Emperor Justinian rebuilt it entirely, surrounded it with a strong
-wall, and again made it a noble and admirable city. He built a new fort
-of great strength, distant eight miles from the city of Singedon,[75]
-which from that circumstance is called Octavum. Beyond it there was an
-ancient city named Viminacium, which the Emperor entirely rebuilt; for
-it had long before been razed to the ground.
-
-VI. Proceeding onward from the city of Viminacium, three fortresses
-stand on the bank of the Danube, named Picnus, Cupus, and Novæ,
-which formerly derived their name from a single tower built in each
-place; now, however, the Emperor Justinian added so many houses and
-fortifications to each of these, that they came to be regarded as
-considerable cities. On the further bank, opposite Novæ, stood in
-ancient times a ruinous tower named Litorata, which the ancients
-called Lederata. This place was made by our Emperor into a large and
-very strong fort. After Novæ are the forts of Cantabazates, Smornes,
-Campses, Tanatas, Vernes, and Ducepratum, and many more on the further
-bank, all of which he rebuilt from the foundations. After this comes
-Caput-bovis, the work of the Roman Emperor Trajan, and beyond it
-an ancient fort named Zanes, all of which he enclosed with strong
-fortifications, and rendered them impregnable bulwarks of the empire.
-Not far from Zanes is a fort named Pontes, where a stream leaves the
-river, encloses a small portion of the bank, and then rejoining its
-true channel, unites itself to the main river. It does this not by
-nature, but compelled by human art. I will now describe why it was that
-the place was named Pontes, and that the Danube was forced to flow
-round this place.
-
-The Roman Emperor Trajan, a spirited and energetic man, appears to
-have been irritated at the thought that the boundary of his empire was
-fixed by the river Danube.[76] He was anxious, therefore, to throw a
-bridge across it, in order that he might pass it without its offering
-any obstacle when he marched against the barbarians beyond it. How he
-built this bridge I shall take no pains to describe, but shall let
-that be told by Apollodorus of Damascus, the chief architect of the
-entire work. No advantage accrued from it to the Romans, and the bridge
-subsequently was destroyed by the stream of the Danube and by age.
-Trajan built two forts on either bank of the river, and called that
-on the further side Theodora and that on the Dacian bank Pontem, from
-the name of the bridge; for the Romans call a bridge _pons_ in Latin.
-Since after this the river became impassable for ships at this place,
-owing to the ruins and foundations of the bridge, they forced the river
-to adopt a new channel and perform a circuit in order to afford them
-a passage beyond it. Both these forts fell into ruins through age and
-the assaults of the barbarians; but the Emperor Justinian rebuilt the
-fort Pontem, on the right bank of the river, with new and powerful
-fortifications, and thus secured Illyria. As for that on the opposite
-bank, named Theodora, he thought it unnecessary to bestow any care
-upon it, since it was exposed to the attacks of the barbarians in that
-region; but he built all the new fortifications which stand on the
-bank below Pontem at this day, which are named Mareburgus, Susiana,
-Armata, Timena, Theodoropolis, Stiliburgus, and Halicaniburgus. There
-is a small city near this place, named Ad Aquas, some small part of
-whose fortifications, which had become unsafe, were restored by the
-Emperor. Beyond it he built Bergonovore, and Laccobergus, and the fort
-named Dorticum, which he made into the existing strong fortification.
-He altered the solitary tower named Judæus into what may be called,
-and really is, a most beautiful fort. He rebuilt Bergus Altus, which
-formerly was deserted and altogether uninhabited, and also enclosed
-with a wall another place named Gombes. He rebuilt the fortifications
-of Crispas, which had become ruinous from age, and built Longiniana and
-Ponteserium in an admirable manner. At Bononia and Novum he rebuilt the
-bastions which had become ruinous. He rebuilt all the ruinous parts
-of the city of Ratiaria; and in many other places he either enlarged
-small fortifications or reduced over-large ones to a convenient form,
-in order that neither their smallness nor their excessive size might
-expose them to the attacks of the enemy; as, for example, he turned
-Mocatiana from a single tower into the more complete fort which it
-is at this day, whilst at Almus he reduced the space enclosed by the
-walls, which formerly was very great, thus enabling it to defy the
-attacks of the enemy. In many places he altered a solitary tower, an
-object of contempt to an invader, into a strong fort, as at Tricesa
-and Putedis. He magnificently restored the ruinous walls of Cebrus. He
-built a new fort in Bigrane, and another one near to it, in a place
-where formerly stood a single tower named Onos. Not far from this
-there remained only the foundations of a city, which in former times
-had been named Augusta, but which now, possessing its ancient name,
-but having been altogether rebuilt by the Emperor Justinian, is well
-peopled. He rebuilt the ruined fortifications of Aëdabe, restored the
-city of Variana, which had long been in ruins, and fortified Valeriana,
-which before had possessed no defences.
-
-Besides these, he paid attention to and enclosed with strong
-fortifications other places not on the bank of the river, but standing
-at a distance from it, named Castramartis, Zetnocortum, and Iscum. He
-took great pains to enclose with a wall and otherwise fortify an old
-fort on the bank of the river, named the Fort of the Huns. Not far from
-the Fort of the Huns is a place where a fort stands on each bank of the
-Danube, the one in Illyria named Palatiolum, while that on the opposite
-bank was named Sicibida. These, which had become ruinous through
-age, were restored by the Emperor Justinian, who thereby checked the
-inroads of the barbarians in that quarter, and beyond them rebuilt an
-ancient fort, now known as Utos. On the extreme frontier of Illyria
-he built a fort named Lapidaria, and altered a solitary tower, named
-Lucernariaburgum, into a fort worthy of admiration. The above were the
-works of the Emperor Justinian in Illyria; he did not, however, merely
-strengthen this country with fortifications, but placed in each of them
-garrisons of regular soldiers, and thus checked the incursions of the
-barbarians.
-
-VII. Hitherto I have described the fortifications of Illyria along the
-river Danube. We must now pass into those which the Emperor Justinian
-built along its shores in Thrace; for it appears convenient to me
-first to describe the whole of this bank, and then to proceed to the
-description of his works in the inland country. Let us then first
-proceed to the country of the Mysians,[77] whom the poets speak of as
-fighting hand to hand; for their country is conterminous with that
-of Illyria. After Lucernariaburgum, the Emperor Justinian built the
-new fort of Securisca, and beyond it restored the ruinous part of
-Cyntodemus. Beyond this he built an entirely new city, which, after
-the name of the Empress, he called Theodoropolis. He renewed the
-ruinous part of the forts which are named Iatron and Tigas, and added
-a tower to that of Maxentius, of which he thought it stood in need.
-He built the new fort of Cynton. Beyond this is the fortification of
-Transmarisca, opposite to which, on the further side of the river,
-the Roman Emperor Constantine once built with great care a fort named
-Daphne, thinking it advisable that at this place the river should be
-guarded on both sides. This in process of time was entirely destroyed
-by the barbarians, but was rebuilt from its foundations by the Emperor
-Justinian. Beyond Transmarisca, he took suitable pains to restore the
-fortresses of Altinum and that called Candidiana, which long ago had
-been destroyed by the same enemies. There are three forts in succession
-along the bank of the Danube, named Saltopyrgus, Dorostolus, and
-Sycidaba, in each of which the Emperor repaired with great care such
-parts as had become ruinous. He bestowed similar pains upon Quesoris,
-which lies beyond the bank of the river, and enlarged and greatly
-extended Palmatis, which stands in a narrow pass, although it was
-not near the bank of the river. Close to this he built a new fort,
-named Adina, because the Sclavonian barbarians were wont to conceal
-themselves there and lie in ambush, so as to render it impossible for
-travellers to proceed through that country. He also built the fort of
-Tilicion and the outwork on the left of it.
-
-Thus was the bank of the Danube and its neighbourhood fortified in
-Mysia.[78] I shall now proceed to Scythia, where the first fort is
-that named after St. Cyrillus, the ruinous parts of which were most
-carefully rebuilt by the Emperor Justinian. Beyond this was an ancient
-fortress named Ulmiton, but as the Sclavonian barbarians had for a long
-time infested that region, and made their habitation there, it had
-become quite deserted, and nothing remained of it except its name. He
-therefore rebuilt it from its foundations, and rendered that part of
-the country safe from the attacks of the Sclavonians. Next to this is
-the city of Ibida, whose walls had become very ruinous, but which he,
-without any delay, rebuilt and rendered very strong. He built a new
-fort beyond it named Ægistum, and restored another fort in the furthest
-part of Scythia named Almyris, whose walls had for the greater part
-fallen into decay, as he did to all the other fortifications in this
-part of Europe.
-
-VIII. I have described above the buildings constructed by the Emperor
-Justinian among the Dardanians, Epirotes, Macedonians, and the other
-tribes of the Illyrians, as well as those in Greece and along the river
-Ister.
-
-Let us now proceed to Thrace, taking as the best foundation for our
-narrative the neighbourhood of Byzantium, since that city surpasses
-all others in Thrace, both in strength and situation, for it overhangs
-Europe like a citadel, and guards also the sea which divides it from
-Asia. I have described above his works, both churches and other
-buildings, within and without the walls of Constantinople; I am now
-about to speak of what lies beyond them.
-
-There is a fort in the suburbs of the city, which from its form is
-called the ‘round fort.’ The road which leads from it to Rhegium passes
-for the most part over uneven ground, and in rainy seasons used to
-become swampy and difficult for travellers; now, however, our Emperor
-has paved it with large stones, and made it easy to traverse. In
-length this road reaches as far as Rhegium; its width is such that two
-waggons going in opposite directions can pass without difficulty. The
-stones of which it is formed are very hard; one would imagine them to
-be millstones. They are of enormous size, so that each of them covers
-a large extent of ground, and stands up to a great height. They form
-so smooth and level a surface that they do not seem to be joined, or
-carefully let into one another, but to have grown together. Such is
-this road. There is a lake close to Rhegium, into which rivers flowing
-from the higher ground discharge their waters. This lake reaches as far
-as the sea, so that there is but one very narrow bank between them,
-both washed on either side by their several waters; when, however,
-they approach most nearly to one another, they restrain their currents
-and turn them back, as though they had there placed boundaries for
-themselves. At one point they join one another, leaving a channel
-between them, of which it is hard to say to which water it belongs, for
-the water of the sea does not always flow into the lake, nor does the
-lake always discharge its waters into the sea; but after much rain, and
-with a southerly wind, the water of the channel appears to flow out of
-the lake; though if the wind blows from the north, the sea appears to
-wash into the lake. In this place the sea forms an immense extent of
-shoal-water, with only one narrow channel leading through them into
-deep water. This channel is so narrow that it is called the ‘Ant.’ The
-channel which, as I have said before, joins the lake to the sea, used
-in former times to be crossed by a wooden bridge, though with great
-danger to the passengers, who often fell into the water together with
-the beams of the bridge; now, however, the Emperor Justinian has raised
-the bridge upon high arches of stone, and rendered the passage safe.
-
-Beyond Rhegium there is a city named Athyra, whose inhabitants he
-relieved from the distress from which he found them suffering from want
-of water, by building a reservoir there, in which the excess of their
-water might be stored up, and supplied to them in time of need; he also
-restored the ruinous part of their wall.
-
-Beyond Athyra there is a place which the natives call Episcopia. The
-Emperor Justinian perceiving that this place lay exposed to the attacks
-of the enemy, more especially as there was no strong place, but the
-country was entirely unguarded, built a fort there, the towers of
-which he constructed, not in the usual manner, but as follows. From
-the ‘curtain’ wall projects a building, narrow at first, but very wide
-at the outer end, upon which each of the towers is built. It is not
-possible for an enemy to approach near to this wall, since they come
-between these towers, and are overwhelmed by the cross-fire which the
-garrison easily pour upon their heads. He placed the gates, not in the
-usual manner, between two towers, but obliquely in a small projection
-of the wall, so that they are not seen by the enemy, but are hidden
-behind the wall. This work was performed for the Emperor by Theodorus
-Silentiarius, a very clever man. Thus was this fort constructed. We
-must now proceed to make some mention of the ‘long walls.’
-
-IX. The sea which proceeds from the ocean and Spain, with Europe on
-its left hand, flows in the same easterly direction as far as Thrace,
-but there divides into two portions, one of which proceeds towards
-the east, while another makes a short bend and terminates in the
-Euxine Sea. When it reaches Byzantium, it winds round the city on its
-eastern side, as though round a goal, and continues its course in a
-much more oblique direction, proceeding by a strait which turns the
-upper and lower parts of Thrace into an isthmus; not that the sea there
-is divided into two parts, as is the case in other isthmuses, but it
-circles round in a singular manner and embraces Thrace on both sides,
-and more especially the whole suburbs of Byzantium. These suburbs the
-inhabitants have built over and adorned, not merely for their use,
-but with an arrogant and boundless luxury, and with all the license
-which is produced by wealth. Here they have stored much furniture,
-and preserved many works of art. Whenever, therefore, the barbarians
-suddenly invade the Roman Empire, these places suffer far more damage
-than the rest, and are in fact utterly ruined. The Emperor Anastasius,
-wishing to prevent this, built long walls[79] at a place no less than
-forty miles from Byzantium, joining the two seas where they were
-distant two days’ journey from one another. Having constructed these
-works, he supposed that all within them had been made secure; they
-were, however, the cause of still greater disasters, for it was not
-possible either to build so enormous a work firmly, or to guard it with
-proper care; while when the enemy made themselves masters of one part
-of the long wall, they conquered the remainder of the garrison without
-difficulty, assailed the rest of the people unexpectedly, and did more
-mischief than can easily be described.
-
-Our Emperor, however, having rebuilt the ruinous part of these walls,
-and strengthened their weak points so as to assist their defenders,
-devised the following plan also. He stopped up all the passages leading
-from one tower to another, and arranged one single means of ascent from
-the ground, within the walls of each, so that the garrison could, if
-necessary, block up this passage and defy an enemy, even though he had
-made his way within the wall, since each tower is sufficient within
-itself for the defence of its garrison. Within these walls he made the
-most complete provision for safety, both by the buildings which I have
-mentioned above, and by restoring the most ruinous part of the wall of
-the city of Selybria.[80] These were the works of the Emperor Justinian
-at the ‘long walls.’
-
-The well-known city of Heraclea,[81] our neighbour on the sea-coast,
-which formerly, under the name of Perinthus, was the first city in
-Europe, and now is second to Constantinople alone, not long ago was
-reduced to great straits by want of water; not that the country near it
-was waterless, or that those who built the city in ancient times had
-neglected to supply it with water—for Europe abounds with fountains,
-and the ancients took care to make aqueducts—but time, as usual,
-destroyed the fabric of the aqueduct either through contempt for the
-age of the building, or encouraged to ruin it by the carelessness
-of the citizens of Heraclea. This led to Heraclea being left almost
-without inhabitants; while time produced the same effect upon the
-palace there, which was a very magnificent building. However, the
-Emperor Justinian did not neglect this city, but in a truly royal
-manner furnished it with sweet and transparent waters, and did not
-allow the palace to lose its ancient reputation, for he restored the
-whole of it.
-
-A day’s journey from Heraclea is a place by the seaside named
-Rhædestus, conveniently situated for the navigation of the Hellespont,
-with a good harbour where merchant-ships can moor and discharge their
-cargoes in quiet water, and when reloaded can again put to sea without
-difficulty. It is, however, exposed to attacks of barbarians if they
-should make a sudden incursion into that country, being neither
-fortified nor placed on difficult ground; for this reason it was
-neglected by merchants, who disregarded it through fear of this danger.
-Now, however, the Emperor Justinian has not only rendered the place
-itself secure, but has also provided for the safety of all those who
-dwell in the neighbourhood by building a city at Rhædestus, with a
-strong wall and of very remarkable size, in which, on an invasion of
-the barbarians, all the people of the neighbourhood can take refuge and
-save their lives and property.
-
-X. Thus did the Emperor Justinian at Rhædestus;[82] I now proceed to
-his works in the Chersonesus. The Chersonesus projects beyond that
-part of Thrace, for it runs out into the sea and appears as though it
-proceeded as far as Asia, and was joined on to it. Its shore forms
-a promontory near the city of Elæus,[83] thus dividing the sea into
-two parts, while it itself is separated from the rest of the mainland
-by the water which runs into a recess forming what is called the
-Black Gulf; the rest of it almost forms an island, from which shape
-it derives its name, for it is called Chersonesus because it is only
-prevented by a narrow isthmus from being altogether an island. Across
-this isthmus the ancients carelessly built a wall which could be
-scaled with ladders, making it as low and narrow as though they thought
-they were building a dry stone wall round an out-of-the-way garden.
-In addition to this they built low and mean works, of the kind called
-moles, projecting into the sea on either side of the isthmus, and thus
-fortified the space between the wall and the sea, but in such a manner
-as not to repel invaders but to invite them to make an attack, so
-contemptible and easily captured was their fortification. Imagining,
-however, that they had erected an impassable barrier against the enemy,
-they did not think it necessary to build any strong place within this
-wall, for there was no fort or any other place of strength in the
-Chersonesus, though it extends for a distance of nearly three days’
-journey. Quite lately the enemy invaded Thrace, made an attempt upon
-the passage by the seashore, frightened away its guards, forced their
-way in as if in sport, and gained the other side of the wall without
-any difficulty.
-
-The Emperor Justinian therefore, in his great care for the safety of
-his subjects, did as follows: First, he utterly destroyed the ancient
-wall so that no vestige of it was left. He then built a second wall
-upon the same site, of considerable width and height; above the
-battlements of this he built a vaulted roof like a portico to shelter
-the defenders, while a second range of battlements resting upon these
-vaults doubled the defensive power of this work against an enemy. After
-this, at each end of the wall, on the very beach of the sea, he built
-two of the projecting works named moles, reaching a long way into the
-water, connected with the wall, and equalling it in height. He also
-cleaned out the ditch outside the wall and excavated it to a great
-width and depth; moreover, he placed a garrison of soldiers within
-these long walls sufficient to hold them against all the barbarians who
-might attack the Chersonesus. After having made this part so strong
-and secure, he nevertheless built additional fortifications in the
-interior, so that if, which God forbid, any disaster should befall the
-‘long wall,’ the people of Chersonesus would nevertheless be safe;
-for he enclosed the city of Aphrodisias, which before had been for
-the greater part defenceless, with a very strong wall, and supplied
-with walls and inhabitants the city of Ciberis, building there baths,
-hospices, numerous houses, and all that is necessary for a magnificent
-city. He likewise most securely fortified Callipolis,[84] which had
-been left without walls by the ancients, through their trust in the
-‘long wall.’ Here he built storehouses for corn and wine sufficient to
-supply all the wants of the garrison of the Chersonesus.[85]
-
-Opposite Abydos is an ancient city named Sestos, which also in former
-times was uncared-for and possessed no defences. It was overhung
-by a very steep hill, upon which he built a fort which is quite
-inaccessible, and impossible to be taken by an enemy. Not far from
-Sestos is Elæus, where a precipitous rock rises from the sea, raising
-its summit high in the air and forming a natural fortification. Upon
-this also the Emperor built a fort, which is difficult to pass by
-and altogether impregnable; moreover, he built a fort at Thescus, on
-the other side of the ‘long wall,’ fortifying it with an exceedingly
-strong wall. Thus did he provide in all quarters for the safety of the
-inhabitants of the Chersonesus.
-
-XI. Beyond Chersonesus is the city of Ænus,[86] which takes its name
-from that of its founder; for Æneas was, according to tradition, the
-son of Anchises. The wall of this place was easy of capture from its
-lowness, since it did not reach to the necessary height, while it lay
-completely exposed in the neighbourhood of the sea, where it was washed
-by the waves. However, the Emperor Justinian raised its walls to such
-a height that not only they could not be taken, but could not even be
-assaulted; and, by bringing them down to the seashore and strengthening
-them in every quarter, rendered Ænus altogether impregnable. Thus he
-provided for the safety of the city; but the country remained exposed
-to the incursions of the barbarians, because the (mountains of) Rhodope
-had been from ancient times deficient in fortifications. In the
-interior was a village named Bellurus, in wealth and population equal
-to a city, but always exposed to the plundering attacks of barbarians,
-on account of its being defenceless, as was also a large extent of
-country round about it: this place our Emperor made into a city,
-fortified, and rendered worthy of himself; moreover he also restored
-with great care all the fortifications which were wanting or had become
-ruinous in the other cities in the Rhodope Mountains. Among these were
-Trajanopolis and Maximianopolis, whose walls he rebuilt where they were
-defective. These were his works in this quarter.
-
-In this country Anastasiopolis was already furnished with walls,
-but, though lying near the sea, had an undefended sea-beach, so that
-it often happened that the barbarian Huns seized the vessels which
-lay there helpless, and extended their ravages to the neighbouring
-islands. The Emperor Justinian enclosed the whole sea-beach with a
-fortification, and thus provided for the safety both of the ships and
-of the islanders. He also constructed a very lofty aqueduct leading
-to the city from the mountains in the neighbourhood. There is in
-Rhodope an ancient city named Toperus, which is almost surrounded by
-a river, and lies at the foot of a lofty hill, from which it had not
-long before been captured by the barbarian Sclavonians; but Justinian
-raised its wall to so great a height that it rises above this hill
-as much as it formerly fell short of it. He built a vaulted portico
-along the wall, so that the garrison could defend the city in safety
-against besiegers, and formed each of its towers into a strong castle.
-He also strengthened it by enclosing the part between the river and
-the city-wall by a cross-wall. These were the works of the Emperor
-Justinian in this quarter.
-
-I will now describe the other fortifications which he built in the
-rest of Thrace, and in what is now called Mount Hæmus. First, he
-carefully built up what was wanting or ruinous at Philippopolis and
-Plotinopolis, which were very weakly fortified, although they stood in
-the neighbourhood of many tribes of barbarians. He also established
-numberless forts throughout the whole of Thrace, by means of which the
-country, which had formerly been exposed to the inroads of the enemy,
-was entirely preserved from their ravages; the names of these forts, as
-far as my memory goes, are as follows.
-
-In Europe:
-
- Lydicæ,
- Elaeae.
-
-In Rhodope the following new forts:
-
- Caseera,
- Theodoropolis,
- Thrasi,
- Thudanelanæ,
- Mundepa,
- Cuscabri,
- Cusculus,
- Thracian Bospara,
- Vesiparum,
- Capisturia,
- Tharsandala,
- Denizus,
- Toparum,
- Dalatarba,
- Bre,
- Scemnas,
- Carasthyra,
- Pinzus,
- Tuleus,
- Arzon,
- Castrazarba,
- Zositersum,
- Bergisum,
- Dingium,
- Sacissus,
- Cyrtuxura,
- Potamocastellum,
- Isdicaea,
- Emporium,
- Taurocephalaeum,
- Velaidipara,
- Scitaces,
- Bepara,
- Pusinum,
- Hymanparubri,
- Scariotasalucra,
- Augustas,
- Urdaus,
- St. Trajanus,
- Dertallus,
- Solvani,
- Vascum,
- Zincyra,
- Hæmimonti,
- Veripara,
- Isgipera,
- Ozorme,
- Vereiaros,
- Tamonbari,
- Ditch of Gesilas,
- Cherœnum,
- Probini,
- St. Theodorus,
- Burdepto,
- Rhacule,
- St. Julianus,
- Tzitaëtus,
- Velastyras,
- Getrinas,
- Bredas,
- Verus,
- Thocyodis,
- Via,
- Anagonclias,
- Suras,
- Anthipari,
- Dordas,
- Sarmathon,
- Clisura,
- Hylasianae,
- Thrasarichi,
- Bæca,
- Chrysanthus,
- Marcerota,
- Zdebrin,
- S. Theodorus,
- Asgarzus,
- Burtudgizi,
- Zemarchi,
- Cerioparorum,
- Casibonorum,
- Unci,
- Antoninum,
- Debre,
- Probini,
- Carberus,
- Esimonti,
- Asgizus,
- Dalatarba,
- Theodoropolis,
- Taurocomum,
- Nice,
- Cavotumba,
- Dixas,
- Getistraus,
- Tzyidon,
- Tzonpolegon,
- Basibunum,
- Anchialus,
- Marcianum,
- Cyridana,
- Beculi.
-
-The following are the other forts in Thrace on the Euxine Sea and river
-Danube, and also in the interior of the country.
-
-On the river Danube:
-
- Mysias,
- Erculente,
- Scatrina,
- Appiara,
- Exentaprista,
- Deoniana,
- Limo,
- Odyssus,
- Bidigis,
- Arina,
- Nicopolis,
- Zicideba,
- Poliscastellum,
- Cistidizus,
- Basternas,
- Metalla,
- Justinianopolis,
- Therma,
- Gemellomuntes,
- Asilba,
- Cuscana,
- Cuscum,
- Fossatum,
- Bisdina,
- Marcianopolis,
- Scythias,
- Grapso,
- Nono,
- Trosmes,
- Naisduno,
- Rhesidina,
- Constantiana,
- Veripara,
- Spadizus,
- Marcerota,
- Bodas,
- Zisnudeba,
- Turules,
- Monteregine,
- Becis,
- Altina,
- Maurovalle,
- Callatis,
- Bassidina,
- Beledina,
- Abrittus,
- Rubusta,
- Diniscarta,
- Tigra,
- Scedeba,
- Novas.
-
-In the interior:
-
- Copustorus,
- Virginazo,
- Tillito,
- Ancyriana,
- Murideba,
- Itzes,
- Castellonovo,
- Padisara,
- Bismapha,
- Valentiniana,
- Zaldapa,
- Axiopa,
- Carso,
- Gratiana,
- Preidis,
- Argamo,
- Paulimandra,
- Tzasclis,
- Fair Theodora,
- Tomis,
- Creas,
- Catassi,
- Nisconis,
- Novejustiniana,
- Presidio,
- Ergamia.
-
-And others beyond number.
-
-
-
-
- BOOK V.
-
-
-I. The works of Justinian in the whole of Europe have been as far as
-possible described by me in the former portion of this book; we must
-now proceed to the description of the remainder of his works in Asia.
-I think that I have described above the fortifications of cities and
-forts, and the other buildings erected by him in the East, from the
-Median frontier as far as the city of Palmyra in Phœnicia, on the
-borders of Lebanon. I shall now speak of his works in the remainder of
-Asia and Libya, describing both the manner in which he repaired the
-roads, which were difficult and dangerous, in some places steep and
-overhung by rocky mountains, in others bordering upon rivers which
-drowned travellers, and also how he repaired all that was defective in
-the cities, beginning at the following point.
-
-Before the city of Ephesus[87] there is some high ground, not formed
-of earth or capable of producing fruit, but altogether hard and rocky.
-Here the inhabitants at former times had built a church, dedicated to
-St. John the Apostle, surnamed the Divine. This Apostle was named the
-Divine because he has written about God in a manner surpassing the
-nature of man. This church, which was small and ruinous through age,
-the Emperor Justinian razed to the ground, and rebuilt of such size
-and beauty, that, in short, it resembles and in all respects vies with
-the church dedicated by him to the Apostles in the imperial city, which
-I have described above.
-
-This was the work of our Emperor in Ephesus. In the island of Tenedos I
-will presently describe the work which he constructed for the advantage
-of the imperial city and all seafarers, after making the following
-prefatory remarks. The sea as far as the Hellespont is contained in a
-narrow strait; for the two continents there approach nearest to one
-another, forming the beginning of the strait near Sestos and Abydos.
-Ships bound for Constantinople consequently anchor when they reach
-this place, because they are unable to proceed any further unless the
-wind blows from the south. When, therefore, the fleet of corn-ships
-sail thither from Alexandria, if it meets with a favourable wind, the
-merchants in a very short time moor their ships in the harbours of
-Byzantium, and as soon as they have unloaded them, depart at once, in
-order that they may all make this voyage for a second or even a third
-time before the winter, while those of them who choose take in some
-other merchandise for the return voyage. If, however, the wind blows
-against them at the Hellespont, both the corn and the ships become
-injured by delay. Reflecting upon these things, the Emperor Justinian
-has clearly proved that nothing is impossible for man, even when he has
-to contend with the greatest difficulties; for he built granaries on
-the island of Tenedos, which is close to the strait, of a sufficient
-size to contain the freight of the whole fleet, being in width no
-less than ninety feet, in length two hundred and eighty, and of great
-height. After the Emperor had constructed these, when those who were
-conveying the public supply of corn were detained by contrary winds
-at this point, they used to unload their cargo into the granary,
-and, disregarding the northerly and westerly winds and all the other
-winds which were unfavourable for them, would prepare for another
-voyage. They therefore at once sailed home, while afterwards, whenever
-it became convenient to sail from Tenedos to Byzantium, the corn was
-conveyed from Tenedos thither in other ships by persons appointed to
-perform this duty.
-
-II. In Bithynia there is a city[88] named after Helena, the mother
-of the Emperor Constantine, in which they say that Helena was
-born, and which in former times was an inconsiderable village. The
-Emperor Constantine, out of filial duty, gave this place its name
-and the dignity of a city, but built nothing there on an imperial or
-magnificent scale; for the place remained in its former condition in
-respect of its buildings, but merely had the glory of being called a
-city, and prided itself on being named after Helena, to whom it had
-given birth. However, the Emperor of our own age, as though wishing to
-put away the reproach of the founder of the empire, first supplied this
-city, which he found suffering from want of water, with a magnificent
-aqueduct, and furnished the inhabitants beyond their expectation with
-enough water not only to drink, but also to wash in, and to use for all
-the other luxuries of life, as they were now supplied with water in
-abundance; in addition to this he built for them a new public bath, and
-restored another which had fallen into ruins and been neglected through
-the want of water which I have mentioned, so that it had all fallen to
-the ground. He also built churches, palaces, porticos, and dwellings
-for the magistrates, and supplied all the other needs of a flourishing
-city.
-
-Close by this city flows a river, which the natives from its form
-call Draco (the snake); for it winds in curves on either hand, often
-proceeding in opposite directions, bending its waters round in a
-crooked course, and flowing now to the right hand and now to the left;
-so that travellers coming to the city were obliged to cross it more
-than twenty times.[89] Many of them thus perished through the river
-suddenly rising in flood; besides which, a thick wood and masses of
-reeds, which encumbered its outfall into the sea, made it a source of
-trouble to the country; indeed, not very long ago, after much rain,
-it overflowed its banks and inundated a great part of the country,
-doing irreparable damage; for it swept away many fields, uprooted
-vines, olives, and numberless fruit-trees of all kinds, and also
-the houses which stood outside the walls of the city, besides doing
-other important damage to the inhabitants. The Emperor Justinian,
-out of pity for them, devised the following plan: he cleared away
-the woods, and cut down all the reeds, so as to enable the river to
-discharge itself freely into the sea, so that it would no longer be
-forced to overflow its banks. He also cut through the mountains which
-stand in that country, and made a carriage-road through places which
-formerly had been rough and precipitous. By this means he rendered it
-unnecessary for the greater part of the inhabitants to cross the river
-at all, whilst he threw two bridges of great width across it, so that
-henceforth they could pass over it without danger.
-
-III. The excellent works which he constructed at Nicæa,[90] in
-Bithynia, are worthy of mention. In the first place, he restored
-the whole of the aqueduct, which had entirely fallen into ruin and
-become useless, and thus furnished the city with an abundant supply of
-water. Next he built churches and convents both for women and men. He
-carefully restored the whole of the palace there, some part of which
-was in ruins, and likewise a bath in the place which is called the
-‘Couriers’ Lodgings,‘ and which had long been ruinous. Close to this
-city, on the west side, a torrent is wont to rush down, making the road
-in that direction entirely impassable. The ancients had constructed a
-bridge here, which in the course of time became unable to withstand
-the rush of the torrent, as it was not kept in proper repair, so that
-it yielded to the force of the stream, and was swept away, leaving no
-trace on the spot where it formerly stood. The Emperor Justinian built
-another bridge here, of such height and width that the former one
-seemed to bear no proportion to it whatever, which rises high above the
-torrent when at its fullest, and affords a safe passage to travellers.
-
-[Illustration: _SECTION_ and
-PLAN OF THE CISTERN OF IMBAHER OR BATHS OF ANTONINUS.
- _Reduced from Texier’s Asia Minor. G.A._]
-
-At Nicomedia[91] he rebuilt the Baths of Antoninus, the most important
-part of which had fallen down, and from the vastness of its size seemed
-unlikely ever to be rebuilt. The great river which is now called the
-Sangaris,[92] which runs with an exceedingly swift current, is of
-great depth in the middle, and of width like a sea, and had never been
-spanned by a bridge since the creation; however, by lashing a number
-of boats together, and connecting them with each other like mat-work,
-foot-passengers ventured to cross it, as once the army of Medes crossed
-the Hellespont, fearing the wrath of Xerxes. This, however, they did
-not accomplish without danger, for the river often swept away all
-the boats, together with their fastenings, and made it impossible
-for travellers to cross it. Now, however, the Emperor Justinian has
-attempted to build a bridge over it. The work is begun, and he has
-already expended much labour upon it; so that I am sure that before
-long he will accomplish it, for I know that Heaven assists him in all
-his works, so that up to this time none of his projects have remained
-unaccomplished, although in many cases he at first seemed to be
-undertaking impossibilities.
-
-[Illustration: BRIDGE ACROSS THE RIVER SANGARIS.
- _Reduced from Texier’s Asia Minor_]
-
-There is a road in Bithynia leading thence into Phrygia, upon which
-in the winter season innumerable men and animals used to perish; for
-the ground, being soft, not only after great rains, or the melting of
-great quantities of snow, but even after slight showers, became deep,
-impassable mud, and turned the road into a swamp, in which travellers
-were frequently swallowed up. He, however, together with the Empress
-Theodora, with magnificent generosity, removed this source of danger
-to travellers; for they raised the thoroughfare safely upon enormous
-stones for a distance of half a day’s journey for a lightly-equipped
-traveller, and enabled passengers to proceed along a firm road. These
-were the works of the Emperor Justinian in this quarter.
-
-In Bithynia there are springs of warm water in the place called
-Pythia. These springs are made use of by many persons, especially the
-inhabitants of Byzantium, for pleasure, and above all for the healing
-of those suffering from disease. Here he displayed a truly imperial
-magnificence; for he built a palace, which had not existed before,
-and public baths supplied with the warm water. He also brought hither
-drinking water by an aqueduct from distant fountains, and relieved the
-place from the drought from which it had formerly suffered. Besides
-this, he rebuilt on a larger and much more magnificent scale the Church
-of the Archangel and the infirmary for the sick.
-
-IV. There is a river in Galatia which the inhabitants call the
-Siberis,[93] near the place called Sycæ, and about ten miles from the
-city of Juliopolis, on the eastern side. This river often rose suddenly
-to a great height and swept away many of the travellers along that
-road. The Emperor Justinian, grieved at hearing this, put a stop to
-these disasters for the future by spanning the river with a powerful
-bridge, capable of withstanding the force of a flooded river. He also
-formed the eastern abutment of the bridge into a projecting wall, of
-the form technically known as a bulwark. He also built a church for
-travellers on the western side of it, which might serve as a refuge for
-them in times of storm. The river, which flows past the western side of
-this city of Juliopolis, used to shake and injure its walls; however,
-our Emperor restrained it by building an embankment parallel to the
-city wall for a distance of not less than five hundred feet. By this
-means he preserved the fortifications of the city from being washed
-away.
-
-The following were his works in Cappadocia. There has been there since
-ancient times a very large and populous city named Cæsarea, which was
-surrounded by a wall of such excessive extent as to render it weak and
-altogether indefensible, because it enclosed a large space which was
-not necessary for the city, and was exposed to attack by its useless
-length; for there are lofty hills, not near to one another, but at a
-considerable distance, which the founder of the city was anxious to
-enclose within its walls, lest they should be used to attack it from,
-so that thus, under the pretext of safety, he really exposed it to
-great danger, by enclosing many fields and gardens, besides crags and
-high pasture-land, on which the inhabitants did not subsequently build
-any houses, but left it in its former condition, the few houses upon
-it remaining solitary and isolated to the present day. The garrison
-was not sufficient to guard such a great extent of wall, nor were
-the inhabitants able to keep it in repair, so that they lived in
-terror of attack, just as though they had no walls at all. However,
-the Emperor Justinian pulled down the unnecessary part of the wall,
-concentrated the city within a really efficient rampart, and made the
-place impregnable to all assailants, strengthening it with a sufficient
-garrison. Thus did he provide for the safety of the people of Cæsarea
-in Cappadocia.
-
-There was in Cappadocia a fortress named Mocesus, standing on level
-ground, whose wall was so decayed that some part of it had already
-fallen, and the rest was like to fall. The Emperor Justinian demolished
-this fort, and built a new and very great wall to the westward of
-the old fort, on a lofty spot inaccessible to any assailants. Here he
-built many churches, hospices, public baths, and everything else which
-belongs to a flourishing city; so that this place came to be regarded
-as the metropolis, which is the name given by the Romans to the first
-city of a nation. These were his works in Cappadocia.
-
-V. Along the road leading from the city of Antiochia, now called
-Theopolis, towards Cilicia, is a suburb named Platanon. Not far from
-this city was an ancient path, confined in a narrow glen between two
-mountains, which had been for the greater part washed away by the
-rains, so as to render it dangerous to travellers proceeding along
-it. When the Emperor Justinian heard of this, he spent much pains
-and thought upon it, and at once discovered a remedy for this evil;
-for at a vast expense he cut down and overcame the difficulties of
-the mountains in that region for a great distance, so that, beyond
-everyone’s hope and expectation, he made a level and wide carriage-road
-over what had formerly been precipice, clearly proving that by wise
-plans and lavish expenditure men can overcome all obstacles. These were
-his works in that quarter.
-
-There is in Cilicia a city named Mopsuestia,[94] the work, it is said,
-of the celebrated ancient prophet (Mopsus). Beside this runs the river
-Pyramus, which is an ornament to the city, but is only traversed by one
-bridge. In the course of ages the greater part of this bridge became
-ruinous, so that it continually threatened to fall, and all who crossed
-it did so with the fear of death before their eyes. Thus, a work
-devised by the ancients for men’s safety had, through the negligence of
-those in charge of it, become a source of danger and terror; however,
-our Emperor carefully restored all the ruinous parts of the bridge,
-so as to afford security to those who crossed it, and enabled the city
-again to take a pride in the river unalloyed with fear.
-
-Beyond this is the city of Adana, round the eastern side of which runs
-a river named Sarus,[95] which rises in the mountains of Armenia. The
-Sarus is a navigable river, and is nowhere fordable on foot. Here in
-ancient times there had been constructed a large and admirable bridge,
-in the following manner. In the river were built many piers, formed of
-large stones of great thickness, extending across the whole width of
-the river, and rising high above its surface. Above the two central
-ones rise two lofty arches. These piers, standing in the water, and
-having to withstand the force of a strong current, had in the course of
-ages become for the most part ruinous, so that at no distant time it
-appeared probable that the whole bridge would fall into the river, and
-every man who crossed it prayed that it might only just hold together
-until he had done so. However, the Emperor Justinian dug a new channel
-for the river, into which he diverted its stream for a time, removed
-the water from the above-mentioned piers, promptly removed the ruinous
-portions of them, and rebuilt them, after which he turned the river
-back again into the channel which is called its bed. These were his
-proceedings here.
-
-The river Cydnus[96] runs through the midst of the city of Tarsus, and
-appears to have done no injury to it at any time except once, when
-it caused great destruction in the following manner: the season was
-spring-time, and a south wind, which suddenly began to blow with great
-strength, melted all the snow with which in winter-time the Tarsus
-Mountains are almost entirely covered. In consequence of this streams
-of water ran down from every part of those mountains, all the ravines
-poured down torrents, and numerous springs inundated all the skirts
-of the Tarsus range. The river Cydnus, swollen high by these waters
-which were poured into it by its tributaries, and by heavy rains which
-afterwards fell, overflowed and entirely washed away all the suburbs of
-Tarsus on the southern side, poured furiously into the city, sweeping
-away the bridges, which were of slight construction, inundated all the
-streets and market-places, and even rose as high as the upper stories
-of the houses. For a night and a day the city remained in this danger
-and distress, after which the river gradually retired and returned to
-its usual bed. When the Emperor Justinian heard of this, he devised the
-following plan. In the first place, he prepared a second channel for
-the river outside the city, in order that it might there divide its
-stream, and might only pour half its waters upon the city of Tarsus:
-next, he built the bridges very much wider, and rendered them too
-strong to be swept away by the flooded Cydnus. Thus he enabled the
-inhabitants of the city to dwell in it without alarms or dangers for
-the future.
-
-[Illustration: PLAN OF ES SAKHRA.
-(_Dome of the Rock_)
-_From the O.S. Plan of Jerusalem 1864-5._]
-
-[Illustration: PLAN of EL AKSA.]
-
-VI. These were the works of the Emperor Justinian in Cilicia. At
-Jerusalem he built a church in honour of the Virgin,[97] to which no
-other can be compared. The inhabitants call it the ‘new church.’ I
-shall describe what it is like, prefacing my account by the remark
-that this city stands for the most part upon hilly ground, which hills
-are not formed of earth, but are rough and precipitous, so as to make
-the paths up and down them as steep as ladders. All the rest of the
-buildings in the city stand in one place, being either built upon
-the hills, or upon flat and open ground; but this church alone stands
-in a different position; for the Emperor Justinian ordered it to be
-built upon the highest of the hills, explaining of what size he wished
-it to be, both in width and in length. The hill was not of sufficient
-size to enable the work to be carried out according to the Emperor’s
-orders, but a fourth part of the church, that towards the south wind
-and the rising sun, in which the priests perform the sacred mysteries,
-was left with no ground upon which to rest. Accordingly those in charge
-of this work devised the following expedient: they laid foundations at
-the extremity of the flat ground, and constructed a building rising
-to the same height as the hill. When it reached the summit, they
-placed vaults upon the walls and joined this building to the other
-foundations of the church; so that this church in one place is built
-upon a firm rock, and in another place is suspended in the air—for
-the power of the Emperor has added another portion to the (original)
-hill. The stones of this substruction are not of the size of those
-which we are accustomed to see: for the builders of this work, having
-to contend with the nature of the ground, and being forced to raise a
-building equal in size to a mountain, scorned the ordinary practices
-of building, and betook themselves to strange and altogether unknown
-methods. They cut blocks of stone of enormous size out of the mountains
-which rise to vast heights in the neighbourhood of the city, cunningly
-squared them, and brought them thither in the following manner: they
-built waggons of the same size as these stones, and placed one stone
-upon each waggon. These waggons were dragged by picked oxen, chosen by
-the Emperor, forty of them dragging each waggon with its stone. Since
-it was impossible for the roads leading into the city to take these
-waggons upon them, they made a passage for them by cutting deeply into
-the mountains, and thus formed the church of the great length which it
-was the Emperor’s pleasure that it should have. After they had built
-it of a proportional width they were not able to put a roof upon it.
-While they were inspecting every grove and place which they heard was
-planted with tall trees, they discovered a thick wood, producing cedars
-of enormous height, with which they made the roof of the church, of a
-height proportional to its length and width. These were the works[98]
-which the Emperor Justinian constructed by human power and art, though
-assisted by his pious confidence, which in its turn reflected honour
-upon himself, and helped him to carry out his design. This church
-required to be surrounded on every side with columns, such as in
-beauty would be worthy of the main building, and of a size capable
-of supporting the weight which would be laid upon them. However, the
-place, from its inland situation at a distance from the sea, and its
-being entirely surrounded by the precipitous mountains which I have
-mentioned, rendered it impossible for the builders of the foundation to
-bring columns thither from elsewhere. While, however, the Emperor was
-grieving at this difficulty, God pointed out in the nearest mountains
-a bed of stone of a kind suitable for this purpose, which either had
-existed there in former times and been concealed, or was then created.
-Either story is credible to those who regard God as the cause of it:
-for we, measuring everything by our human strength, think that many
-things belong to the region of the impossible, while for God nothing
-whatever is difficult or impossible. The church, then, is supported by
-a great number of columns brought from this place, of very great size,
-and of a colour which resembles flame, which stand, some above, some
-below, and some round the porticos which encircle the entire church,
-except on the side turned towards the east. Of these columns, the two
-which stand before the door of the church are of very unusual size,
-and probably second to no columns in the whole world. Beyond them is
-another portico, named the Narthex (reed), I suppose because it is
-narrow; after this is a court of square shape supported by columns
-of equal size; from this lead interior doors of such grandeur as to
-show those passing them what a spectacle they are about to meet with.
-Beyond this is a wonderful porch, and an arch supported on two columns
-at a great height. Proceeding further, there stand two semicircles,
-opposite to one another, on each side of the way to the church; while
-on either side of the other road are two hospices—the work of the
-Emperor Justinian—one of which is destined for the reception of
-strangers, while the other is an infirmary for the sick poor. The
-Emperor Justinian also endowed this Church of the Virgin with large
-revenues. Such were the works of the Emperor Justinian in Jerusalem.
-
-[Illustration: Ruins of Church on M^t. Gerizim.
-_From a plan by Cap^t. Wilson RE_
-_Quarterly Statement April 1883._]
-
-VII. There is a city in Palestine named Neapolis, which is overhung
-by a lofty mountain named Gerizim.[99] This mountain was originally
-held by the Samaritans, who ascended it at all seasons in order to
-pray, not that they had ever built a church there, but worshipped and
-reverenced the summit of the mountain above everything else. Jesus, the
-Son of God, when in the flesh, went amongst these people, and held a
-conversation with one of the women of the country. When she inquired of
-Him about the mountain, He told her that in future times the Samaritans
-should not worship in this mountain, but that the true worshippers
-should worship Himself there, alluding to the Christians. In process of
-time this prophecy came to pass, for it was not possible that the true
-God should lie. It came to pass in the following manner. In the reign
-of the Emperor Zeno, the Samaritans suddenly collected together, and
-fell upon the Christians in Neapolis, who were keeping the feast called
-Pentecost in their church, and killed many of them, while they struck
-with their swords the Bishop, by name Terebinthius—whom they found
-standing before the holy table, engaged in celebrating the sacrament—so
-as, amongst other wounds, to cut off the fingers from his hands, while
-they insulted the holy mysteries in a manner fit indeed for Samaritans
-to do, but not fit for us to speak of. This priest shortly afterwards
-came to Byzantium, into the presence of the then Emperor, to whom he
-showed what he himself had suffered, described what had taken place,
-and begged the Emperor to avenge what had been done, reminding him of
-the prophecy of Christ. The Emperor Zeno, much moved at what had taken
-place, without delay inflicted a full measure of punishment upon those
-who had been guilty of this outrage. He drove the Samaritans out of
-Mount Gerizim, handed it over to the Christians, and built upon the
-summit a church which he dedicated to the Virgin, which he enclosed
-with what was indeed called a wall, but which in truth was a dry
-stone fence. He placed a sufficient number of soldiers as a garrison
-in the city below, but in the church and its fortification not more
-than ten. The Samaritans, enraged at these proceedings, were filled
-with anger, and remained sulky and dissatisfied, though, through fear
-of the Emperor, they kept silence. In process of time, however, in
-the reign of Anastasius, the following event took place. Some of the
-Samaritans, at the instigation of a woman, climbed unexpectedly up the
-steep face of the mountain, for the road which leads up it from the
-city was strictly guarded, so that it was impossible for them to ascend
-by it. Falling suddenly upon the church, they killed the guards who
-were posted there, and called with a loud voice upon the Samaritans
-in the city to join them. They, however, fearing the soldiers, were
-not at all willing to join the conspirators; and not long afterwards
-the governor of the province (he was named Procopius, of the city of
-Edessa, an eloquent man) captured those who had been guilty of this
-outrage, and put them to death. Yet even then the Emperor did not
-bestow any attention or care upon the fortification; but in our own
-time the Emperor Justinian, although he has for the most part converted
-the Samaritans to a better religion, and rendered them Christians,
-yet, leaving the old wall round the church upon Gerizim in its former
-condition of loose stones, as I described before, he enclosed it within
-a second wall, and rendered it altogether impregnable. In this place
-he also rebuilt five Christian churches which had been burned by the
-Samaritans. These were his works in this country.
-
-VIII. In the country which was formerly called Arabia, but which now is
-known as the Third Province of Palestine, a desert tract extends for a
-great distance, entirely barren of fruits, of water, and of all good
-things. A precipitous and savagely wild mountain, named Sina, stands
-close to the Red Sea. It is not necessary at this point in my narrative
-for me to give a description of these regions, since in my ‘History of
-the Wars’ I have given an exact account of the whole of the country
-near the Red Sea and the so-called Arabian Gulf, and of the tribes of
-the Auxomite Ethiopians, and the Homerite Saracens. There also I have
-described how the Emperor Justinian added the palm-grove[100] to the
-Roman Empire. I therefore omit to speak of this, that I may not incur
-the charge of want of taste. In this Mount Sina[101] dwell monks, whose
-life is but a careful study of death, and who therefore enjoy without
-fear the solitude which is dear to them. Since these monks have no
-desires, but are superior to all human passions, and as they possess
-nothing and spend no care upon their persons, nor seek for pleasure
-from anything else whatever, the Emperor Justinian built a church for
-them, which he dedicated to the Virgin, that they might therein spend
-their life in continual prayer and service of God. He did not build
-this church on the summit of the mountain, but a long way below it; for
-it is not possible for a man to pass the night upon the peak, because
-at night continuous thunderings and other yet more terrible divine
-manifestations take place, which overpower men’s strength and reason.
-Here it was that Moses is said to have received the Law from God,
-and to have brought it away. At the foot of the mountain our Emperor
-also built a very strong fort, and placed in it a very considerable
-garrison of soldiers, in order that the barbarian Saracens might not
-from that point, the country being, as I have said, a desert, secretly
-invade Palestine. This is what he did here; but what he did in the
-monasteries, both here and in the remainder of the East, I will now
-briefly enumerate.
-
-IX, In Jerusalem he restored the following monasteries: that of St.
-Thalelæus, St. Gregorius, and St. Panteleemon in the desert of Jordan;
-the hospice at Jericho;[102] the church of the Virgin at Jericho; the
-church of the Iberians at Jerusalem; the church of the Lazi in the
-desert of Jerusalem; the church of St. Mary in the Mount of Olives; the
-church of the well of St. Elisæus;[103] the church of Siletheus; the
-church of the Abbot Romanus. He restored the wall of Bethlehem, and the
-church of the Abbot Joannes at Bethlehem.
-
-[Illustration: CHURCH AT BETHLEHEM.[104]]
-
-He built cisterns and reservoirs as follows: in the monastery of St.
-Samuel, a wall and a cistern; in the monastery of the Abbot Zacharia,
-a cistern; in the monastery of Susanna, a cistern; in the monastery
-of Aphelius, a cistern; in the monastery of St. John beside the
-Jordan, a cistern;[105] in the monastery of St. Sergius in the mountain
-named Cisseron, a cistern; the wall of Tiberias;[106] the poor-house
-at Bostra in Phœnicia; the house of the Virgin at Porphyreon;[107]
-the monastery of St. Phoca in the mount; the house of St. Sergius in
-Ptolemaïs;[108] the house of St. Leontius at Damascus. In the suburbs
-of Apamea[109] he restored the poor-house of St. Romanus; he built the
-wall of St. Marox; he restored the church of Daphne[110] in the suburbs
-of Theopolis; at Laodicea[111] he restored the church of St. John; in
-Mesopotamia he restored the monastery of St. John, and the monasteries
-of Thelphrache, Zebinus, Theodotus, Joannes, Sarmathe, Cyrene,
-Begadacum, and the monastery at Apadnæ, in Isauria.[112] He rebuilt
-the bath and poor-house of the city of Cyricum; the poor-house of St.
-Conon, and the aqueduct of the same saint in Cyprus; the house of SS.
-Cosmas and Damianus in Pamphylia; and the poor-house of St. Michael in
-the seaport which is called the naval arsenal of the city of Perga, in
-Pamphylia.
-
-
-
-
- BOOK VI.
-
-
-I. The above were the works of Justinian in those regions. What he did
-at Alexandria was as follows. The river Nile does not flow as far as
-Alexandria, but, after reaching the city which is named Chæreum,[113]
-proceeds to the left, leaving the country about Alexandria. In
-consequence this the ancients, in order that the city might not be
-entirely cut off from the river, dug a deep channel from Chæreum, and
-succeeded in making a small part of the stream of the river Nile run
-through it, by which, as by other channels, it discharges its waters
-into the lake Maria. This channel was nowhere navigable for large
-ships, but men at Chæreum transfer Egyptian corn from them to boats
-named _diaremata_, and so bring it to the city, which they can reach
-by the river which flows through this channel. They store up the
-corn in the place which the Alexandrians call Phiale. Since it often
-happened that when the populace rose in revolt, the corn in this place
-was destroyed, the Emperor Justinian enclosed it with a wall, and
-prevented any attacks being made upon the corn. These were the works
-of the Emperor Justinian in this place. However, since the course of
-our narrative has brought us into Egypt, a country which borders upon
-Libya, let us describe his works in that country also, since this
-Emperor found the whole of Libya in the possession of barbarians, and
-annexed it to the Roman Empire.
-
-The river Nile, which flows from the Indies into Egypt, divides that
-land into two portions down to the sea. The land, which is divided by
-the river, is divided also in name; for the country on the right bank
-of the river is named Asia, as far as the river Phasìs in Colchis,
-which divides the land of Asia from that of Europe, or indeed to the
-Cimmerian straits and the river Tanais; for geographers are at issue
-upon this point, which I have mentioned in the description of the
-Euxine Sea in my ‘History of the Wars.’ The country on the left bank
-of the Nile is called Libya as far as the main ocean, which divides
-the two continents in the West by interposing an arm between them,
-which forms our (Mediterranean) Sea. The whole of Libya is divided
-into various provinces, called, probably, after the name of their
-inhabitants; but the name of Libya at the present day is applied only
-to the territory of Pentapolis,[114] which extends from the frontier
-at Alexandria as far as the city of Cyrene. In it there is a city,
-situated at a distance of two days’ journey from Alexandria, named
-Taphosiris,[115] in which it is said that the Egyptian god Osiris is
-buried. In this city the Emperor Justinian constructed magistrates’
-houses, public baths, and other buildings.
-
-II. The greater part of this country of Libya is desert, and was
-almost entirely neglected: yet our Emperor in his watchful care took
-measures to prevent its incurring any damage from invasion by the
-neighbouring Moors, for he built two forts and established garrisons in
-them. One of these forts is named Paratonium, and the other Antipyrgum,
-which stands near Pentapolis. Pentapolis is distant from Alexandria
-eight days’ journey for a lightly-equipped traveller. In this country
-of Pentapolis the Emperor Justinian likewise very strongly fortified
-the city Teuchria,[116] and rebuilt from its foundations the wall[117]
-of Berenice,[118] where he also built a public bath for the use of
-the citizens; moreover, on the southern frontier of Pentapolis he
-fortified two monasteries, named Agriolodes and Dinarthion, by which
-he restrained the barbarians in that quarter from making sudden and
-unexpected inroads on the Roman territory.
-
-There is in this country a city, named Ptolemaïs,[119] which in former
-times was flourishing and populous, but in process of time became
-almost deserted through want of water; for the greater part of the
-inhabitants long ago suffered from drought so much that they left it
-and dispersed in various directions. Now, however, our Emperor has
-rebuilt the aqueduct which supplied the city with water, and restored
-it to its former appearance of prosperity.[120] The furthest city of
-Pentapolis upon the western frontier is that of Borium,[121] where
-mountains, standing close together, seem to form a barrier which shuts
-out the enemy from invading the country. The Emperor, finding this city
-unwalled, enclosed it with a very strong rampart, thus rendering it and
-the whole of the country round it quite secure for the future.
-
-There are two cities, both of which pass under the same name, being
-both called Augila.[122] They stand at a distance of about four days’
-journey from Borium for a lightly equipped traveller, on the southern
-side of it. They are old cities, and the habits of their citizens are
-old-fashioned: for all of them, even in my own time, practised the
-rites of polytheism. Here in ancient times were temples dedicated to
-Ammon, and to Alexander of Macedon, to whom the inhabitants used to
-offer sacrifice down to the reign of Justinian, and there was in them a
-large number of persons called Slaves of the Temple: now, however, our
-Emperor, who not only provides for the security of the bodies of his
-subjects, but is also careful to save their souls, took all necessary
-measures for the benefit of those who dwelt here, making liberal
-provisions for them in all respects, and above all teaching them the
-true religion, so that he made them all Christians in a body, and
-turned them from their pagan ancestral customs. He also built for them
-a temple of the Virgin, to serve as a fortress for the safety of the
-city and of the true religion. These were his works in this quarter.
-
-The city of Borium, lying near the Moorish barbarians, has remained
-free from imposts down to this time, nor have any gatherers of tribute
-or taxes visited it since the creation. From ancient times Jews dwelt
-close to it, and had an ancient temple which they greatly respected and
-reverenced, as it had, according to tradition, been built by Solomon
-the King of the Hebrew nation. However, the Emperor Justinian compelled
-them all to desert their ancestral religion and become Christians,
-while he turned this temple into a church.
-
-III. Beyond this lie what are called the Great Syrtes. I will explain
-what their appearance is, and why they have received this name. The
-shore in this quarter, divided by the inroads of the sea, and washed
-away by the beating of the waves, seems to retire and to withdraw
-itself inland, so as to form an immense crescent-shaped gulf. The
-distance across the mouth of this gulf is forty stadia, while the
-perimeter of the crescent extends to a distance of six days’ journey.
-The sea forms this gulf by pressing against the mainland; and when a
-ship is once forced by the wind or the waves within the horns of the
-crescent, it is thenceforth impossible for it to retrace its course,
-but it seems dragged along, and always forced further forward. It was,
-I imagine, from this destruction of ships that the ancients called the
-place Syrtes. Nor can ships float as far as the shore, for the greater
-part of the gulf is full of sunken rocks, which make it impossible
-for ships to float there, so that they are wrecked in the shallows.
-The crews of these ships can only escape, if they escape at all, in
-small boats, and reach the land with very great danger. Here is the
-frontier of the region named Tripolis. In it dwell Moorish barbarians
-of Phœnician origin. Here is also a city named Cidama, inhabited by
-Moors who have long been on terms of friendship with the Romans, and
-all of whom, by the persuasion of the Emperor Justinian, voluntarily
-adopted the Christian faith. These Moors are now called Pacati, because
-they always are at peace with the Romans; for the Romans in the Latin
-language call peace _pacem_. Tripolis is distant from Pentapolis a
-journey of twenty days’ journey for a lightly equipped traveller.
-
-IV. Beyond this is the city of Leptis Magna,[123] which in ancient
-times was great and populous, but since has become almost entirely
-deserted, having through neglect been mostly buried with sand. Our
-Emperor rebuilt its walls from the foundation, not, however, enclosing
-so great an extent as formerly, but much less, in order that the city
-might not again be exposed to danger, either from human enemies or
-from the sand, by its great size. He left the buried part of the city
-as it was, covered with heaps of sand, and fortified the rest in the
-strongest manner. Here he built an admirable church, dedicated to the
-Virgin, besides four others. In addition to this, he also rebuilt the
-ruinous palace which formerly existed here, the work of the Emperor
-Severus the elder, who was born in this place, and left this palace as
-a memorial of his good fortune.
-
-Having arrived at this part of my narrative, I cannot pass over
-the great event which took place at Leptis Magna in our time. When
-Justinian had already come to the throne, and before he had begun
-the war against the Vandals, the Moorish barbarians called Leucathæ
-overpowered the Vandals, who were then masters of Libya, and reduced
-Leptis Magna to an utter desert. Being encamped with their generals
-upon some hilly ground not far from Leptis Magna, they suddenly beheld
-a flame of fire in the midst of the city. Supposing that the enemy
-had entered it, they rushed hurriedly to attack them; but finding
-no one there, they laid the matter before their prophets, who,
-interpreting what had taken place, foretold that at no distant time
-Leptis Magna would be inhabited. Not long afterwards the army of the
-Emperor arrived, conquered the Vandals and Moors in battle, and gained
-possession of Tripolis and the rest of Libya. I now return from this
-digression to my narrative.
-
-In this city the Emperor Justinian built public baths, rebuilt the
-walls from their foundations, and gave both the baths and all other
-public buildings an appearance worthy of a city. Moreover, he induced
-the neighbouring barbarians, named Gadabitani, who up to this time were
-entirely given up to the Greek form of paganism, to become zealous
-Christians, as they are at this day. He also fortified the city of
-Sabaratha, in which he built a most notable church.
-
-In the further part of this country there are two cities, named
-Tacapa[124] and Girgis, between which lies the lesser Syrtis. Here
-every day a wonderful phenomenon takes place. The sea, pent up in a
-narrow place, forms there a crescent-shaped gulf, such as I described
-in the other Syrtis. Here the sea flows into the mainland for a
-distance of more than eight days’ journey for a lightly equipped
-traveller, and towards evening retires again, leaving the shore there
-dry, like any other sea-beach. Sailors bound for this land, which at
-times becomes sea, sail in the ordinary manner as far as they are able
-in the day-time, but towards nightfall prepare to pass the night on dry
-land. They carry long poles on purpose, and as soon as they suspect
-that the waters are about to ebb, they take these poles in their hands,
-and without any hesitation leap out of the ship. At first they swim,
-but afterwards, when the water does not reach above their faces, they
-stand on their feet, and sticking the points of their poles into the
-ground, which by this time is, or shortly will be, dry, they fix them
-upright underneath their ship, supporting it on either side, that it
-may not be damaged by falling to one side or the other. Early on the
-following morning the land is again covered by the waves of the sea,
-which raises the ships and causes them to float; then the sailors take
-up their poles and sail on again. This proceeding never varies, but
-this interchange of the elements takes place every day.
-
-V. After Tripolis and the Syrtis, let us proceed to the rest of Libya.
-We must begin with Carthage, which is the largest and most important
-of the cities in this country, prefacing our description by observing
-that when Genseric and the Vandals possessed Africa, there occurred to
-them a destructive idea worthy of barbarians; for they imagined that
-they would be better off if all the towns in this country had no walls,
-so that the Romans might not occupy any of them to their disadvantage.
-They accordingly at once pulled down all the walls to their very
-foundation; for all barbarians, as a rule, most quickly devise and
-most promptly execute any plans which they form for the injury of the
-Romans. The walls of Carthage and some few other places alone were
-left, which they did not care to keep in repair, but allowed to be
-ruined by age. However, the Emperor Justinian, against the advice of
-all men, who shrank in terror from the enterprise, and only led on and
-assisted by God, sent Belisarius with an army to Libya, took Gelimer,
-and destroyed the power of the Vandals, killing many of them and making
-the rest prisoners of war, as I have recounted in my ‘History of the
-Wars.’ He rebuilt all the ruined fortifications in Libya, and himself
-built many new ones.
-
-First of all, he gave his attention to Carthage,[125] which now, as is
-right, is named Justiniana. He rebuilt the whole of its ruined walls,
-and dug a trench encircling it, which did not previously exist; he also
-built churches, one dedicated to the Virgin, which is in the palace,
-and one outside the palace dedicated to St. Prima, one of the local
-saints. He built porticos on both sides of what is called the Maritime
-market-place, and a noble public bath, which he named the Baths of
-Theodora, after the name of the Empress. He also built a monastery on
-the sea-shore within the walls, close to the harbour, named Mandracium,
-which he enclosed with a strong wall and formed into an impregnable
-fort.
-
-These were the works of Justinian at New Carthage. In the country near
-it, which is called the Proconsulate, there was an unwalled city named
-Baga,[126] which was liable to be taken by barbarians, not only if they
-marched especially to attack it, but even if they passed near it. This
-place the Emperor Justinian enclosed with a strong wall, thus raising
-it to the rank of a city, and one, too, which was capable of affording
-security to its citizens, who, having met with such favour, named the
-city Theodorias, in honour of the Empress. He also built a fort in this
-country, named Tucca.
-
-VI. In Byzacium is a city by the sea side, named Adrumetus,[127] which
-in ancient times was great and populous, so that it had the name and
-repute of being the chief city in this country, because it was the
-first in size and in prosperity. The Vandals demolished the walls of
-this city, that the Romans might not be able, to hold it against them,
-so that it was exposed to the attacks of the Moors, who ravage that
-country; however, the Libyan inhabitants provided for their own safety
-as far as they were able, by piling up the ruins of their walls and
-joining their houses to one another, by which means they were able
-to offer a precarious resistance to their assailants. Their safety,
-however, hung by a thread, and was very uncertain, as they were at
-war with the Moors and neglected by the Vandals. When, however, the
-Emperor Justinian, in the course of the war, became master of Libya, he
-built a wall of considerable size round this city, established in it
-a sufficient garrison of soldiers, and enabled the inhabitants to be
-confident of safety and to disregard all their foes. For this reason
-they call it Justiniana to the present day, thus repaying their debt
-of gratitude to the Emperor, and showing their loyalty towards him by
-the adoption of his name, for they had no other means of repaying the
-kindness of the Emperor, as he wished for no other return than this.
-On the shore of Byzacium there is another place named Caputvada[128]
-by its inhabitants. It was at this place that the Emperor’s army
-first landed when it proceeded against Gelimer and the Vandals. Here,
-also, that marvellous and ineffable gift was bestowed by God upon
-the Emperor, which I have described in my ‘History of the Wars.’ The
-country being altogether waterless, the Roman army suffered greatly
-from thirst, whereupon the earth, which formerly had always been dry,
-sent forth a fountain at the place where the soldiers had formed their
-camp. For when they dug, the water burst forth, and the land, divesting
-itself of its natural barrenness, changed its nature and became moist
-with sweet water. Here, therefore, they encamped and passed the night,
-and marching forth in battle array the next day, to cut the matter
-short, gained possession of Libya. The Emperor Justinian therefore, in
-order to erect a perpetual memorial of this gift of God, who when He
-pleases can make the most difficult things easy, at once determined
-to form this place into a city, with a strong wall, and adorned with
-everything else worthy of a city. The Emperor’s wish was fulfilled.
-The wall and city were built, and the fortunes of this open field were
-suddenly altered. The rustics, throwing away the plough, dwell as
-citizens, and no longer live a country, but a town life; for they meet
-together there daily, deliberate upon their own affairs, buy and sell
-in the market with one another, and perform all the other functions
-which distinguish the inhabitants of a city.
-
-These were his works on the seashore of Byzacium. In the interior,
-on the frontier which borders on the barbarian Moors, very strong
-fortresses are built to hold them in check, in consequence of which
-they are no longer able to overrun the empire, for he enclosed each
-of the cities upon that frontier, which are named Mamma, Telepta, and
-Cululius, with very strong walls, built a fort which the inhabitants
-name Aumetera, and established in them trustworthy garrisons of
-soldiers.
-
-VII. In the same manner he ensured the safety of the country of Numidia
-by fortifications and garrisons of soldiers. I shall now enumerate
-each of these in detail. There is a mountain in Numidia called
-Aurasius,[129] the like of which does not exist anywhere else in the
-world. In the first place, it is lofty and precipitous, and extends
-for a distance of about three days’ journey; it is also inaccessible,
-all the ascents to it being barred by precipices. When, however, one
-has reached the top, the ground is a rich soil, smooth, and with easy
-roads, fair pastures, parks planted with trees and all kinds of herbs.
-Fountains spring out from the crags; there are quiet pools, rushing
-rivers with masses of broken water, and, what is strangest of all,
-the crops and fruit-trees on this mountain produce twice as much as
-any other part of Libya. Such is the mountain of Aurasium, which was
-originally held by the Vandals, whom the Moors dispossessed, and
-dwelt there until the Emperor Justinian drove them out and annexed
-it to the Roman Empire. To prevent the barbarians returning thither
-and doing mischief, he fortified the cities in the neighbourhood of
-this mountain, which he found deserted and without walls; and having,
-besides them, built two forts, and established there a sufficient
-garrison of soldiers, he left the barbarians of that country no hope
-of making a successful attack upon Aurasius. He also built impregnable
-fortifications in the remainder of Numidia. These were his works in
-this country.
-
-There is a city in the island of Sardo, which is now called Sardinia,
-which the Romans call the Fort of Trajan; this Justinian enclosed with
-a wall, which it did not formerly possess.
-
-Near Gades, by one of the pillars of Hercules, on the right hand, on
-the shore of Libya, was once a fort named Septon,[130] which had been
-built by the Romans in ancient times, but had been neglected by the
-Vandals and had perished through age. This place our Emperor Justinian
-made strong by a wall and a garrison. In it also he built a noble
-church dedicated to the Virgin, thus dedicating to her the beginning of
-the empire, and rendering this fort impregnable to all mankind in that
-quarter.
-
-So much for this. No one can any longer doubt, but it is now clear to
-all mankind that the Emperor Justinian strengthened the empire, not
-only with fortifications, but also with garrisons, from the eastern
-frontier to the setting sun, which are the limits of the Roman
-dominion. Such of the buildings of Justinian as I have been able
-to discover, either by having seen them myself, or by hearing them
-described by those who have seen them, I have as far as I am able
-described in this work; but I am well aware that I have omitted to
-speak of many others, which have either escaped my notice by their
-great number or remain altogether unknown to me; so that anyone who
-turns his attention to searching them all out and describing them in
-a book will have the advantage of having performed a useful work, and
-will gain for himself the reputation of a man of taste.
-
-
-
-
- APPENDIX I.
-
-
-Procopius’s description of Justinian’s work at Constantinople is so
-full and detailed that it would appear to be complete. But it omits one
-church built by the Emperor, viz., that of the Saviour, to which was
-attached the Monastery of the Chora, now known as the Mosque Kahireh,
-or Kahriyeh.
-
-The history of this church is thus given in Ducange:
-
-‘Chora seu Χώρα monasterium ita appellatum, condiderat
-Justinianus et cum præ vetustate concidisset aliud a fundamentis
-extruxit Alexii Imperatoris socrus Andronici Ducæ conjux.
-
-‘Denique cum ruinam rursum minaretur, illud reædificavit Theodorus
-Metochita Magnus Logotheta, imperante Andronico Palæologo Seniore.
-
-‘Hæc omnia sic narrat Nicephorus Gregoras, lib. ix.: “Divertit e
-regione et in vicinia (domus suæ) in sacro scilicet Choræ Monasterio,
-quod ipse magnis ante sumptibus vetustate ruinosum instauravat.
-Exstructum enim olim fuerat a Justiniano Imperatore forma oblonga:
-deinde cum vetustate usque ad ima concidisset, aliud a fundamentis
-templum, ea qua nunc forma cernitur, Alexii Comneni Imperatoris socrus
-condidit sed cum rursus ruinam minitaretur, hic medio templo excepto,
-omnia liberali manu pene instauravit. Metochitam hujus monasterii
-instauratorem rursus prædicat, lib. viii.”’—Ducange, iv., p. 126.
-
-An inscription over the south door of the church states that the
-monastery was outside the walls of Constantine; that the church was
-rebuilt by Justinian; again, from its foundations, in the time of
-Alexis Komnenos; and again rebuilt by Theodore the Metochite.
-
-[Illustration: SKETCH PLAN]
-
-The well-known antiquary, Mons. Texier, describes it thus in a detailed
-MS. account of ‘Constantinople,’ fol. _n. d._, in the library of the R.
-Institute of Architects:
-
-‘Kahrije, corruption du Grec της χωρας.
-
-‘Le premier fondateur de cette église fut Justinian; et Theodore
-Metochite, grand chancelier des Autels d’Andronice Paléologue n’en
-fut que le rénovateur. Le cloître est souvent cité dans les auteurs
-Byzantines comme lieu d’exil pour les religieux, et au dernier temps
-de l’empire on conserva dans l’église le portrait célèbre de la Madone
-qui avait été peint par St. Luke.’ A description of it is also given in
-Salzenberg’s ‘Alt-Christliche Baudenkmale von Constantinopel’ (Berlin,
-1854), p. 36.
-
-The latest account is given by the Rev. Charles G. Curtis, in the
-‘Encyclopædia Britannica,’ 9th edition, _s.v._ ‘Constantinople:’
-
-‘The monastery to which this church of the Saviour belonged was
-Μονὴ τῆς χώρας, or, as we say, “in the fields.” This was an ancient
-establishment, and its church, the oldest church in the city, dates
-from the third century.
-
-‘A gem of beauty still, even in its decay, rich with mosaic of the
-fourteenth century, of a style purer and more refined than that
-which is more often seen and admired at Ravenna and Palermo. In this
-church alternately with the Hodegetria was kept the Holy Robe of the
-Virgin, which was wont to be carried in procession when the walls were
-threatened.’ The sketch-plan engraved was made by T. H. L. in 1884. An
-elevation of the exterior is given in C. Daly’s ‘Revue’ (1840), p. 13.
-(L.)
-
-
-
-
- APPENDIX II.
-
-
-Church of the Virgin, Jerusalem:
-
-The description by Procopius of this church is very detailed; but the
-great alterations and destruction of buildings throughout the Harem
-area since his time make it extremely difficult to arrive at a correct
-understanding of his account, or to identify any portion of the church
-with existing buildings. It is usually supposed to have occupied the
-site of the present Mosque El Aksa, the entrances to which the Duc de
-Vogüé believes to be remains of Justinian’s church.
-
-The questions as to the church are involved, to a considerable extent,
-with those relating to the date and authorship of the Dome of the Rock,
-which has usually been assigned to the Caleph Abd-el-Melek; but the
-late Mr. Fergusson, whose great architectural knowledge is undisputed,
-maintained that it was no other than Constantine’s Church of the Holy
-Sepulchre, and that the church described by Procopius was not on the
-site of El Aksa, but at the eastern angle of the temple area, and now
-utterly destroyed.
-
-The subject, already sufficiently complicated, has been rendered
-still more so by a theory brought forward in 1882, by the well-known
-Professor Sepp, to the effect that the Dome of the Rock was not
-constructed by Constantine nor by Abd-el-Melek, but by Justinian.
-
-The question is much more difficult to decide than may at first
-sight appear; and I confess that after having, for some years past,
-carefully collected the various documents on the subject, including
-the valuable translations published by my friend the late Professor
-Palmer, of Arabic historians, and having subsequently visited Jerusalem
-and studied the subject on the spot, with the kind assistance of
-Dr. Chaplin and others, I find that there are so many points to be
-cleared up, that I should not like to offer a definite opinion on the
-several disputed points until after another visit, which I hope to
-make shortly, to Jerusalem. My present views, so far as I may venture
-to put them forward, are in accordance with those of De Vogüé, Sir C.
-Warren and Captain Conder, viz., that the Dome of the Rock was built by
-Abd-el-Melek. (L.)
-
-
-
-
- INDEX.
-
-
- A.
-
- Abbot Romanus, Church of the, 147
-
- Abbot Joannes, Church of the, 148
-
- Abbot Zacharia, Monastery of, 148
-
- Aborrhas, River, 54, 55, 57
-
- Abydos, 121, 128
-
- Acacius, Church of, 22
-
- Acarnania, 93
-
- Ad Aquas, 111
-
- Adana, 137
-
- Adina, 113
-
- Adriatic Sea, 90
-
- Adrianopolis, 93
-
- Adrumetus, 163
-
- Aëdabe, 112
-
- Ægean Sea, 24
-
- Ægistum, 114
-
- Ænus, 121, 122
-
- Ætolia, 93
-
- Agriolodes, Monastery of, 155
-
- El Aksa, 140
-
- Alexandria, 128, 152, 153
-
- Almus, 111
-
- Almyris, 114
-
- Albinum, 113
-
- Alustus, 88
-
- Amasea, 86
-
- Amida, 40, 51, 53, 73, 75, 77, 78, 79, 82
-
- Ammodius, 45
-
- Anaplus, 24, 29, 30, 31
-
- Anastasiopolis, 122
-
- Anchialus, 89
-
- Annucas, 57
-
- Antiphorus, 59
-
- Antipyrgum, 154
-
- Antiochia, 68, 69, 70, 71, 136
-
- Ant, the, 116
-
- Antoninus, Baths of, 131, 132
-
- Apadnæ, Monastery of, 151
-
- Apadnæ, 53
-
- Apamea, 151
-
- Aphelius, Monastery of, 148
-
- Apostles, Church of, 20
-
- Artaleson, 80
-
- Archangel, Temple of the, 33
-
- Arcadius, 15
-
- Arcadius, Baths of, 36
-
- Arcon, 81
-
- Argyronium, 33
-
- Armenia, Lesser, 81
-
- Armenia, 28, 73, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 89
-
- Armenia, Greater, 74, 75, 79, 82
-
- Armata, 111
-
- Arxanes, 77
-
- Asia, 25
-
- Asthianene, 79
-
- Atachæ, 53
-
- Athyra, 116
-
- Athens, 96, 98
-
- Augusta, 112
-
- Augila, 156
-
- Augustæum, 13, 34
-
- Aumetera, 165
-
- Aurasius, Mount, 165
-
-
- B.
-
- Baga, 162
-
- Baiberdon, 81
-
- Baleæ, 96
-
- Banasymeon, 53
-
- Bara, 53
-
- Barchon, 86
-
- Barbalissus, 65
-
- Batnæ, 61
-
- Bederiana, 91, 92
-
- Begadacum, Monastery of, 151
-
- Belabitis, 76
-
- Bellurus, 122
-
- Bergonovore, 111
-
- Bergus Altus, 111
-
- Berenice, 154
-
- Bethlehem, 148
-
- Bidamas, 57
-
- Bigrane, 111
-
- Bismideon, 57
-
- Bithynia, 129, 133, 134
-
- Bizana, 81, 83, 84
-
- Blachernæ, 16, 26
-
- Black Gulf, 119
-
- Bœotia, 96
-
- Bononia, 111
-
- Borium, 156, 157
-
- Bosporus, 88
-
- Bostra, in Phœnicia, 150
-
- Brochi, 29
-
- Byrthum, 53
-
- Byzantium, 15, 16, 18, 20, 24, 26, 29, 31, 33, 38, 114, 117,
- 123, 129, 134, 145
-
- Byzacium, 163, 164
-
-
- C.
-
- Cæsarea, 98, 135
-
- Callipolis, 121
-
- Callinicum, 57, 61, 64
-
- Campses, 109
-
- Candidiana, 113
-
- Cantabazates, 109
-
- Cappadocia, 135, 136
-
- Caputvada, 164
-
- Caput-bovis, 109
-
- Carrhæ, 57, 61
-
- Carthage, 161
-
- Cassandria, 99
-
- Castoria, Lake, 97
-
- Castramartis, 112
-
- Cebres, 111
-
- Centauropolis, 98
-
- Cena, 86
-
- Ceras, Gulf of, 24
-
- Chæreum, 152
-
- Chalcis, 71, 72, 98
-
- Chalce, The Palace of, 34, 35
-
- Cherson, 88
-
- Chora, Church of, 40
-
- Chersonesus, 119, 120, 121
-
- Ciberis, 121
-
- Cidama, 158
-
- Cilicia, 136, 138
-
- Cimmerian Straits, 153
-
- Ciphæ, Fort, 53
-
- Circesium, 55, 57
-
- Citharizon, 77, 79
-
- Clisuræ, 79, 87, 96
-
- Colonia, 81
-
- Commagene, 61
-
- Constantinople, 13, 34, 37, 40, 115, 118, 128
-
- Constantina, 54
-
- Corinth, 96
-
- Coracii, 96
-
- Corzane, 79
-
- Corde, 45
-
- Couriers’ Lodgings, 131
-
- Cratiscara, 92
-
- Crissæan Gulf, 93
-
- Crispas, 111
-
- Cucarizon, 81
-
- Cululius, 165
-
- Cupus, 109
-
- Cydnus, River, 137, 138
-
- Cyntodemus, 113
-
- Cynton, 113
-
- Cyprus, 151
-
- Cyricum, 151
-
- Cyrene, Monastery of, 151
-
- Cyrus, 71, 72
-
- Cyrene, City of, 153
-
-
- D.
-
- Dabanæ, 53
-
- Dacia, 108, 109
-
- Damascus, 110
-
- Danube, River, 89, 91, 92, 108, 109, 110, 112, 113, 114
-
- Daphne, 113, 151
-
- Dardani, 92
-
- Daras, a village, 40, 41, 42, 43, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 83
-
- Dausaron, 57
-
- Demetrias, 97
-
- Deuteron, 17
-
- Dimarthion, Monastery of, 155
-
- Diocletianopolis, 97
-
- Ditch of Germanus, 81
-
- Ditch of Longinus, 86
-
- Dorostolus, 113
-
- Doru, 88
-
- Dorticum, 111
-
- Draco, River, 130
-
- Ducepratum, 109
-
-
- E.
-
- Echinæum, 97
-
- Edessa, 57, 58, 59, 60, 145
-
- Elæus, 119, 121
-
- Ephesus, 127, 128
-
- Epirus, 93
-
- Epidamnus, 91
-
- Episcopia, 116
-
- Eryma, 112
-
- Eubœa, Island, 98
-
- Euphratesia, 65, 67
-
- Euphrates, River, 53, 56, 61, 63, 64, 65, 75, 81, 82
-
- Euripus, Strait of, 99
-
- Europus, 65
-
- Eurœa, 93
-
- Eutropius, 39
-
- Euxine Sea, 24, 29, 32, 86, 89, 153
-
-
- F.
-
- Forum of Constantine, 34, 35
-
- Forty Martyrs, 81
-
- Fort of the Emperors, 53
-
- Fountain, The, 16
-
- Forts, Lists of, 100-107, 123-126
-
-
- G.
-
- Gabula, 65
-
- Gades, 166
-
- Galatia, 134
-
- Gerizim, 143, 144, 145, 146
-
- Germana, 92
-
- Girgis, 160
-
- Golden Gate, 17, 33
-
- Gomphi, 97
-
- Gombes, 111
-
- Greece, 93, 96, 98
-
- Great Syrtes, 157
-
-
- H.
-
- Halicaniburgus, 111
-
- Hebdomon, 23, 31
-
- Hellespont, 119, 128, 133
-
- Helena, 129
-
- Hemerius, 65
-
- Hera, Temple of, 17
-
- Heraclea, 96, 118, 119
-
- Hieriphthon, Fort, 53
-
- Hieron, 33
-
- Hiereum, } 17
- or }
- Heræum, } 38, 39
-
- Hierapolis, 66
-
- Horn, The, 29
-
- Hormisdas, 18, 34
-
- House of Ares, 35
-
- Huns, Fort of the, 112
-
- Hypata, 96
-
-
- I.
-
- Iatron, 113
-
- Iberians, Church of, 147
-
- Ibida, 114
-
- Illyria, 96, 110, 112, 113
-
- Illyrisis, 79
-
- Ionian Gulf, 90
-
- Irene, Church of, 14, 27
-
- Isauria, 151
-
- Iscum, 112
-
- Isidorus, 15
-
- Isthmus of Corinth, 93
-
- Ister, River, 108, 114
-
- Italy, 36, 67, 88
-
-
- J.
-
- Jecundiana, 38
-
- Jerusalem, 147
-
- Jericho, Hospice at, 147
-
- Joannes, Monastery of, 151
-
- Jordan, Desert of, 147
-
- Judæus, 111
-
- Julian, Port, 23
-
- Juliopolis, 134
-
- Justinopolis, 92, 93
-
- Justiniana Prima, 91
-
- Justiniana Secunda, 92
-
- Justiniana (Carthage), 162, 163
-
-
- K.
-
- King’s Palace, 18
-
-
- L.
-
- Laccobergus, 111
-
- Laodicea, 151
-
- Lapidaria, 112
-
- Larissa, 98
-
- Lazi, Church of the, 147
-
- Lazica, 87
-
- Lebanon, 73
-
- Lederata, 109
-
- Leontarium, 96
-
- Leptis Magna, 158, 159
-
- Libya, 36, 67, 127, 152, 153, 159, 161, 166
-
- Litorata, 109
-
- Longiniana, 111
-
- Losorium, 87
-
- Lucernariaburgum, 112
-
- Lutararizon, 81
-
- Lurnes, 53
-
- Lysiormum, 81
-
-
- M.
-
- Macedon, 74, 99, 102
-
- Mæotic Lake, 87, 88
-
- Magne Kahireh, Church of, 168, 169
-
- Magdalathum, Fort, 57
-
- Mamma, 165
-
- Mandracium (Harbour), 162
-
- Marathon, 98
-
- Mareburgus, 111
-
- Maria, Lake, 152
-
- Martyr Anthimus, Church of, 27
-
- Martyr Eugenius (Aqueduct), 86
-
- Martyr Menas, Church of, 33
-
- Martyr Menæus, Church of, 33
-
- Martyr Mocius, Church of, 23
-
- Martyropolis, 51, 77, 78, 79
-
- Martyr St. Pantelëemon, Church, 32
-
- Martyr Thecla, Church of, 23
-
- Martyr Thyssus, Church of, 23
-
- Maxentius, 113
-
- Maximianopolis, 122
-
- Melitene, 28, 82
-
- Mesopotamia, 53, 57, 61, 76
-
- Metropolis, 97
-
- Mocesus, 135
-
- Mochadius, 33
-
- Mocatiana, 111
-
- Mopsuestia, 136
-
- Mount Hæmus, 123
-
- Mount Pelion, 98
-
- Myropole, 96
-
- Mysia, 114
-
-
- N.
-
- Naïsopolis, 92
-
- Neapolis, 143, 144
-
- Neocæsarea, 65, 67
-
- New Epirus, 93, 100
-
- Nicæa in Bithynia, 130
-
- Nicomedia, 131
-
- Nicopolis, 81, 93
-
- Nile, River, 152, 153
-
- Novæ, 109
-
- Novum, 111
-
- Numidia, 165
-
- Nymphius, River, 77
-
-
- O.
-
- Octavum, 108
-
- Old Epirus, 23
-
- Onopnictes, 70
-
- Onos, 111
-
- Orocassias, 69, 70
-
- Oronon, 85
-
- Orontes, River, 68, 69
-
- Osrhoëne, 61, 80
-
-
- P.
-
- Palmyra, 127
-
- Pallene, Peninsula of, 99
-
- Palestine, 72, 143, 147
-
- Palmatis, 113
-
- Palatiolum, 112
-
- Pamphylia, 152
-
- Pantalia, 92
-
- Paratonium, 154
-
- Peloponnesus, 97
-
- Pentacomia, 65
-
- Pentapolis, 153, 154, 155, 156
-
- Peneus, River, 98
-
- Persian Armenia, 85
-
- Perga, 152
-
- Persia, 51, 52
-
- Perinthus, 118
-
- Petra, 87
-
- Petrius, 81
-
- Pharsalus, 97
-
- Phœnice, 93
-
- Phœnicia, 73
-
- Phasis in Colchis, River, 153
-
- Phison, 79
-
- Phiale, 152
-
- Philippopolis, 123
-
- Philæ, 57
-
- Photica, 93
-
- Phrygia, 133
-
- Phthia, 98
-
- Picnus, 109
-
- Pityous, 87
-
- Platanon, 136
-
- Platæa, 96
-
- Plotinopolis, 123
-
- Pontem, 110
-
- Pontes, 109, 110
-
- Ponteserium, 111
-
- Potidæa, 99
-
- Ptolemais, 155
-
- Proochthus, 29
-
- Propontis, 36
-
- Putedin, 111
-
- Pyramus, River, 136
-
- Pyramids, the, 40
-
- Pythia, 134
-
-
- Q.
-
- Quesoris, 113
-
- Quimedaba, 92
-
-
- R.
-
- Ratiaria, 111
-
- Rhabdium, 51, 52
-
- Rhœdestus, 119
-
- Rhasis, 53
-
- Rhegium, 115
-
- Rhesias, 23
-
- Rhecius, River, 99, 100
-
- Rhipalthæ, 53
-
- Rhizeum, 87
-
- Rhodope Mountains, 122, 123
-
- Ripensis, 109
-
- Roman Empire, 29, 43, 54, 56, 85, 88, 94, 117, 146, 152
-
- Rumisiana, 92
-
-
- S.
-
- Sabaratha, 160
-
- Saccus, 96
-
- Sakhra, es (Dome of the Rock), 139
-
- Saltopyrgus, Fort, 11
-
- Sangaris, River, 133
-
- Saphchæ, 79
-
- Sarmathe, Monastery of, 151
-
- Sardica, 92
-
- Sardo, Island (Sardinia), 166
-
- Sarus, River, 137
-
- Satala, 80
-
- Sauræ, 53
-
- Schamalinichon, 85, 86
-
- Scirtus, River, 58
-
- Scythia, 114
-
- Sebastia, 81
-
- Sebastopolis, 87, 88
-
- Securisca, 113
-
- Selybria, 118
-
- Semiramis at Babylon, 10
-
- Sergius and Bacchus, SS., 14, 18, 19
-
- Sergiopolis, 65
-
- Sergius, 65
-
- Sestos, 121, 128
-
- Siberis, River, 134
-
- Sicibida, 112
-
- Siletheus, Church of, 147
-
- Sinæ, 53
-
- Singedon, 109
-
- Sinai, Mount (close to Red Sea), 146
-
- Siphris, 53
-
- Sisilisson, 86
-
- Sisauranum, Fort, 52
-
- Smargdis, 53
-
- Smornes, 109
-
- Sophanene, 77, 78, 79
-
- St. Agathonicus, Church of, 23
-
- Stauris, 70
-
- St. Anne, Church of, 17
-
- Stadium, 40
-
- St. Bartholomew, Church of, 45, 51
-
- SS. Cosmas and Damianus in Pamphylia, House of, 151
-
- SS. Cosmas and Damianus, Church of, 26
-
- St. Conon, Poor-house of, 151
-
- St. Cyrillus, 114
-
- St. Elisæus, Church of the Well of, 147
-
- St. George the Martyr, Church of, 81
-
- St. Gregorius, 147
-
- Stiliburgus, 111
-
- St. John, Church of, 151
-
- St. John, Monastery of, 149, 151
-
- St. John the Baptist, Church of, 30
-
- St. James, Church of, 33
-
- St. John the Apostle, Church of, 127
-
- St. Laurentius the Martyr, Church of, 26
-
- St. Leontius, House of, 150
-
- St. Marox, 151
-
- St. Michael the Archangel, Church to (Antioch), 71
-
- St. Michael, Poor-house of, 152
-
- St. Michael the Archangel, at Byzantium, Church of, 17, 29, 31, 134
-
- St. Mary, Church of, 147
-
- Stork, the, 33
-
- St. Phoca, Monastery of, 150
-
- St. Plato the Martyr, Church of, 23
-
- SS. Priscus and Nicolaus, Church of, 26
-
- SS. Peter and Paul, 18
-
- St. Pantelëemon, 147
-
- St. Romanus, Poor-house of, 151
-
- St. Sergius, Monastery of, 149
-
- St. Samuel, Monastery of, 148
-
- St. Sophia, Church of, 4, 11, 14, 15, 21, 34, 51
-
- St. Theodorus, Church of, 23
-
- St. Theodota, 23
-
- St. Tryphon, Church of, 33
-
- St. Thalelæus, 147
-
- Suri, 64
-
- Susanna, Monastery of, 148
-
- Susiana, 111
-
- Sycæ, 25, 134
-
- Sycidaba, 113
-
- Syria, 71, 72, 73
-
- Syrtis the Lesser, 160, 161
-
-
- T.
-
- Tacapa, 160
-
- Tanatas, 109
-
- Tanaïs, River, 153
-
- Taphosiris, 153
-
- Tarsus, 137
-
- Tauri, 88
-
- Tauroscythi, 88
-
- Tauresium, 91
-
- Telepta, 165
-
- Tenedos, Island of, 128, 129
-
- Tetrapyrgia, or the Four Towers, 91
-
- Teuchria, 154
-
- Thannurium, 57
-
- Theodotus, Monastery of, 151
-
- Thelphrache, Monastery of, 151
-
- Thescus, 121
-
- Theopolis, 68, 136, 151
-
- Theodosiopolis, 47, 79, 81, 82, 83
-
- Thermopylæ, 94, 95, 96, 97
-
- Thessalonica, 99
-
- Thebes, 97
-
- Theodosiopolis, 47, 54, 57
-
- Themeres, 57
-
- Theodora, 110
-
- Theodora, Baths of, 162
-
- Theodoropolis, City, 113
-
- Theodoropolis, Fort, 111
-
- Thiolla, 57
-
- Thrace, 89, 112, 114, 117, 119, 120
-
- Tigas, 113
-
- Tigris, River, 74
-
- Tilicion, 114
-
- Timena, 111
-
- Toperus, 123
-
- Trajanopolis, 122
-
- Transmarisca, 113
-
- Trapezus, 86, 87
-
- Tripolis, 157, 159, 161
-
- Tricattus, 97
-
- Tricesa, Fort, 111
-
- Tucca, 163
-
- Tzanzakon, 86
-
- Tzumina, 84
-
-
- U.
-
- Ulmiton, 114
-
- Ulpiana, 92
-
- Unnum, 96
-
- Utos, 112
-
-
- V.
-
- Valeriana, 112
-
- Variana, 112
-
- Vernes, 109
-
- Viminacium, 109
-
- Virgin, at Porphyreon, House of the, 150
-
- Virgin, at Jericho, Church of the, 147
-
- Virgin, Church of the, 143
-
- Virgin Mary, Church of, 15, 16, 26, 31
-
-
- W.
-
- Watchtower, 44
-
-
- Z.
-
- Zamarthas, 57
-
- Zanes, 109
-
- Zebinus, Monastery of, 151
-
- Zenobia, 62, 63, 64
-
- Zetnocortum, 112
-
- Zeugma, 67
-
- Zeuxippus, Baths of, 34
-
-
- THE END.
-
-
- BILLING & SONS, PRINTERS, GUILDFORD.
-
-
-
-
- FOOTNOTES:
-
-[1] ‘A new era for Christian architecture commenced with his reign.
-The historian Procopius has simplified, in the different provinces of
-his Eastern empire, the task to those who would search for vestiges
-of buildings erected by this Prince. Anthemius was selected by him as
-his architect, and the Church of St. Sophia became the type of all the
-Greek churches from the sixth century. The basilica was, until his
-time, the type of the Christian church. Anthemius abandoned this form.
-The chief feature of the church was the dome, the form of the oblong
-nave being abandoned.’—Texier and Pullan, ‘Byzantine Architecture’
-(fol., London, 1864), p. 20. (L.)
-
-[2] There is a pun in the original upon παιδιά and παιδέια. Cf. Gibbon,
-ch. xl. (S.)
-
-[3] ‘Taken altogether, there is no building erected during the
-first thirteen centuries after the Christian era which, as an
-interior, is either so beautiful or so worthy of attentive study as
-this.’—Fergusson, ‘Handbook of Architecture’ (8vo., London, 1855), p.
-951. (L.)
-
-In addition to Procopius, the erection of St. Sophia has been described
-by Agathias, and at much greater length by Paulus Silentiarius, and
-the three descriptions have been compared and analyzed in the ‘Corpus
-Historiæ Byzantinæ,’ _s.v._ Paulus Silentiarius. (L.)
-
-A full description of St. Sophia with plans, sections, and detailed
-drawings of the mosaics, sculpture, etc., is given by Salzenburg in his
-splendid work ‘Alt Christliche von Constantinopel’ (Berlin, 1854). (L.)
-
-[4] ‘The solid piles which sustained the cupola were composed of
-huge blocks of freestone, hewn into squares and triangles, fortified
-by circles of iron, and firmly cemented by the infusion of lead and
-quicklime.’—Gibbon, ch. xl. (S.)
-
-[5] ‘Nine western doors open into the vestibule, and from thence
-into the _narthex_ or exterior portico. That portico was the humble
-station of the penitents. The nave, or body of the church, was filled
-by the congregation of the faithful; but the two sexes were prudently
-distinguished, and the upper and lower galleries were allotted for the
-more private devotion of the women.’—Gibbon, ch. xl. (S.)
-
-[6] Λώρους. I am unacquainted with the precise meaning of this word.
-Ducange, in his ‘Glossary,’ describes ΛΩΡΟΣ as ‘Fornix,’ ‘arcus,’ Ἁψίς,
-quoting Procopius. But this gives no definite information; nor, after
-consulting with several well-known authorities on this subject, can I
-find that the application of the term is now known. It is not alluded
-to either in Britton’s ‘Dictionary,’ or Willis’s ‘Nomenclature of the
-Middle Ages.’ From the context and Ducange’s use of the word ἅψις, I
-presume that λῶρος is applied to the great arch forming the opening of
-an apse. (L.)
-
-[7] Hom. Il., xxii. 27. (S.)
-
-[8] ‘St. Irene templum a Constantino M. extructum—tres sacras ædes.
-Deiparæ scilicet, St. Theodori et St. Irenes, eidem magnæ ecclesiæ
-unitas fuisse, neque proprium clerum habuisse, qui in iis sacra
-ministeria perageret.‘ ‘Unde cum Sophianæ ædis appendix fuerit, intra
-ejusdem septa ædificata dicitur.’ ‘Denique concussa est ipsa ædes eo
-terræ motu qui accidit Leone Isauro regnante. Hodie intra septum regium
-includi.’—Ducange, ‘Byzantinæ Historiæ Scriptoribus Constantinopolis
-Christiana’ (Venice, fol., 1729), lib. iv., p. 102.
-
-Rebuilt, in part at all events, by Justinian late in his reign, but
-in a style entirely different from that of St. Sophia or SS. Sergius
-and Bacchus, being oblong on plan, with aisles and an apse at the east
-end. This apse was cleared in 1881. Mr. Edwin Freshfield, who visited
-the church at that time, states that he ‘found that it was filled with
-marble benches, or steps, somewhat similar to the Church of Torcello,
-near Venice. There is no doubt that they formed part of the original
-arrangement of the church, and that this was due to its being the
-Patriarchal church.’—_Athenæum_, 15th August, 1885. (L.)
-
-[9] _Ædes sacræ Deiparæ dicatæ. Deiparæ Blachernarum._ Ædem vero
-Deiparæ Blachernianam a Pulcheria Augusta primum ædificatam scribunt
-passim scriptores Byzantini. Hanc postmodum de novo instauravit
-Justinus senior (V. Procopius de Ædifs., lib. i., c. iii.). Denique
-solo tenus incensum fuisse sub Romano Diogene, restauratum postmodum,
-novis ornamentis et nova ædificiorum accessione auxit mire Andronicus
-senior.—Ducange, lib. iv., pp, 55, 56. (L.)
-
-[10] ‘Deuterum, Δεύτερον, locus et tractus urbis ita
-appellatus occurrit sæpe apud scriptores Byzantinos qui in eo ædes
-sacras Stæ. Annas, Sti. Georgii, St. Pauli et SS. Notariorum extitisse
-narrant.—Procopius scribens haud procul a St. Annæ æde in Deutero aliam
-ædificasse Justinianum Zoæ Martyri, ad ultimam urbis plateam.—Porro
-Deuterum dictum fuisse, quod secundo milliari a vetere Byzantio
-dissitum esset.’—Ducange, lib. ii., p. 133. (L.)
-
-[11] ‘Templum quod Αρχαγγέδον et τὰ Στείρου appellatum fuit, id nominis
-sortitum eit, a Patricia quadam sterili, Leone M. Impr. Quum autem
-esset parvum oratorium ampliorem ædem ibi excitavit Judinianus M. quam
-terræ motu collapsam instauravit Basilius Macedo, qui insuper ablatam
-ex Strategio Phialam æream illuc transposuit. Observat porro Maltratus
-in margine Procopii περὶ τοῦ ναοῦ τοῦ αὐτομάτου ἐν τῷ Σενατορίῳ—unde
-colligitur regionem in qua hæc ædes extructa fuit senatorii nomine
-donatam.’—Ducange, lib. iv., p. 66. (S.)
-
-[12] ‘Assumptus ille in Hormisdas SS. Sergii et Bacchi Monasterio quod
-Palatio adjacet.’—Ducange, lib. iv., p. 93.
-
-[13] ‘Juxta Hormisdæ palatium, ubi priusquam imperium adeptus esset
-habitabat Justinianus. Hormisdæ monasterium nuncupatur. Quippe ad
-Hormisdæ palatium, quod Imperator factus magno Palatio adjunxit, bina
-excitavit templa, quæ a latere cohærebant, et vestibulorum porticus,
-atria et propylea communia habebant. Cumque pari invicem decore ac
-magnitudine essent, in hoc tamen differebant, quod hujus directa esset
-longitudo, illius vero columnæ in semicirculum dispositæ essent fere
-omnes, priorem ædem SS. Petro et SS. Paulo, alteram SS. Sergio et
-Baccho dicavit.’—Ducange, lib. iv., p. 93. (L.)
-
-One of the most interesting buildings in Constantinople. It is rightly
-called the Little Agia Sofia, as it was the first essay of Justinian,
-before he became Emperor, in the style of which the Great Church was
-to be the glory. I make no doubt that Anthemius of Tralles was the
-architect, and the building has in it many of the peculiarities of the
-Church Agia Sofia. It is further interesting as having furnished the
-model for the Church of St. Vitale at Ravenna, some of the details in
-the latter church being also copied from the Kutchuk Agia Sofia. This
-church was dedicated to SS. Sergius and Bacchus.—Mr. Edwin Freshfield,
-in _Athenæum_, August 15, 1885, p. 217. (L.)
-
-[14] νἁρθηξ = a reed. (S.)
-
-[15] ‘Sanctorum apostolorum templum, omnium quæ in urbe extiterunt,
-post Sophianum celeberrimum et pulcherrimum extruxit Constantinus
-Magnus, ut in eo Imperatores Christiani post obitum humarentur.’—V.
-Eusebius, lib. iv., de Vita Consti., c. 58; Ducange, lib. iv., p. 71.
-
-Constantine erected it. The walls were covered with marble from
-pavement to roof; the nave was ceiled, and the dome, as well as the
-roof, was covered with plates of brass. Constantine caused his tomb to
-be erected in the centre of the church. It was damaged by an earthquake
-soon after its erection, but was repaired by Justinian.—Texier and
-Pullan, p. 12.
-
-In 1038 A.D., the Church of the Apostles suffered terribly in an
-earthquake, and was pulled down by Mohammed II.—Texier and Pullan,
-‘Byzantine Architecture,’ fol. 1864, p. 161. (L.)
-
-[16] ‘S. Acacii qui martyrium passus est Byzantii sub Diocletiano,
-ædem ædificavit in Heptascalo Constantinus Magnus. Ædis situm eundem
-designant Menæa, ad 4 Junii. Ecclesiam S. Acacii conditam quidem a
-Constantino Magno, sed illius nomen ædi primum imposuisse Justinianum.
-Justinianus autem hanc a fundamentis instauravit, disjecta priore æde.
-Denique cum rursum ruinam minaretur de novo instauratum est a Basilio
-Macedone.’—Ducange, lib. iv., pp. 80, 81. (L.)
-
-[17] ‘S. Platonis ædes ab Anastasio Dicoro primum ædificata est, qui
-in eam decem columnas sculptas ex Thessalonica intulit, quarum duæ
-in Chalceno a Lacapeno postea translatæ sunt. De novo instauratam
-a Justiniano. At cum postmodum illius tectum laboraret, novum
-confecit, murosque quibus incumbebat, firmiores reddidit Basilius
-Macedo.’—Ducange, lib. iv., p. 92.
-
-[18] ‘S. Mocii Martyris templum, a Constantino Magno ædificatum.
-Codinus ait non de novo ædificatam fuisse a Constantino sed cum
-fanum esset deorum, illud expurgasse, dejectes simulacris ac
-idolis.’—Ducange, lib. iv., p. 89.
-
-[19] This church is on the same plan as that of Myra.—V. Fergusson, p.
-966. (L.)
-
-[20] ‘S. Agathonici templum forma dromica ædificatum a Constantino
-Magno. Deinde in Angustiorem formam excitatum a Justiniano. Patriarches
-sedisse, coronatosque Imperatores quatuor, tandemque in Magno Palatio,
-cui adjacebat, inclusum sub Tiberio Mauricii socero.’—Ducange, lib.
-iv., p. 81. (L.)
-
-[21] Κέρας = horn. (S.)
-
-[22] Συκαί = fig-trees. (S.)
-
-[23] The very ancient church at Ratisbon, known as the ‘Alter Dom,’
-or ‘Stephan’s Kirchlein,’ is believed to have been originally built
-without windows. (S.)
-
-[24] ‘St. Irene Martyris templum, ultra ædem S. Anthimi, ad ipsum Sinus
-Ostium ædificavit Justinianus. Verum S. Irenes ædis Sycænæ, seu Sycis
-proximæ, non fuit conditor Justinianus sed instaurator.’—Ducange, lib.
-iv., p. 103. (L.)
-
-[25] Near the village of Kourou, Cheshmeh.—Murray’s ‘Guide to Turkey
-and Asia Minor,’ etc., 1878, p. 106. (L.)
-
-[26] ‘S. Michaelis templum in Anaplo ædificavit Constantinus Magnus.
-Cum vero Anaplus proprie dicatur littus Bospori Europæanum, ut alibi
-indicatum, locum distinctius designat Cedrenus, ἐν τῷ Ἀναπλῳ καὶ
-Σωσθενίῳ. Ædem S. Michaelis Sosthenianam de novo et a fundamentis
-instauravit Justinianus Magnus ut et alteram quam in opposito
-littore Asiatico ab eodem Constantino Magno ædificatam narrat
-Nicephorus.’—Ducange, lib. iv., pp. 130, 131. (L.)
-
-[27] ‘Joannis Baptistæ in Hebdomo templum excitavit Theodosius Magnus
-et in eo nuper inventum, et in urbem allatum caput sancti Præcursoris
-reposuit rotundo tecto Theodosius Magnus condidit. A Justiniano
-excitatam, seu potius instauratam prodit Procopius. Denique hanc rursum
-instauravit Basilius Macedo. Ea in latere ad solis ortum pertinente
-sita est, a Turcis maxima ex parte diruta, ubi aliquot columnæ marmoreæ
-extremam rapinam metuentes supersunt, sed paucæ ex multis ablatis.
-Quam, autem illa sumptuosa fuisset cum alia vestigia indicant, tum
-cisterna Boni paulò supra eam sita, longa 300 passus, columnis et
-concameratione spoliata, in qua nunc horti virent.’—Ducange, lib. iv.,
-pp. 68, 69. Cisternam Boni. Cameris cylindricis tectam, extruxit Bonus
-Patricius et Magister cui Heraclius Imp., contra Persas profecturus,
-urbis custodiam commisit.’—Ducange, lib. i., p. 80. (L.)
-
-[28] ‘Some ruins of this still remain near Fort Yousha, on the Asiatic
-shore of the Bosphorus.’—Murray’s ‘Guide,’ p. 118. (L.)
-
-[29] ‘SS. Menæ et Menæi Martyrum ædem excitavit in Hebdomo
-Justinianus.’—Ducange, lib. iv., p. 88. (S.)
-
-[30] ‘The finest marbles were taken from the Baths of Zeuxippus, and
-used by Mahomet II. for building his Mosque, etc.’—V. Texier and
-Pullan, p. 161. (L.)
-
-[31] ‘The dome of a spacious quadrangle was supported on massy pillars;
-the pavement and walls encrusted with many coloured marbles—the
-emerald green of Laconia, the fiery red, and the white Phrygian stone,
-intersected with veins of a sea-green hue: the Mosaic paintings of
-the dome and sides represented the glories of the African and Italian
-triumphs.’—Gibbon, ch. xl. (S.)
-
-[32] ‘On the Asiatic shore of the Propontis, at a small distance to
-the east of Chalcedon, the costly palace and gardens of Heræum were
-prepared for the summer residence of Justinian, and more especially of
-Theodora.’—Gibbon, ch. xl. (S.)
-
-[33] Now Diarbekr, on the Tigris, about twelve miles from Nisebin.
-
-[34] ‘Military architecture had a special character during the reign of
-Justinian, and his successors departed but little from the principles
-laid down by the engineers of his time. The walls were flanked with
-towers, usually round. The most commanding part was occupied by a
-square redoubt defended at the angles by towers. The gates were
-protected by an advanced work. The fortifications of many towns in
-Mesopotamia, _e.g_. Edessa, date from the time of Justinian, and are
-constructed on the same principle.’—Abridged from Texier and Pullan,
-pp. 23, 24. (L.)
-
-[35] ‘The fortifications of Dara were almost entirely rebuilt by the
-Emperor Anastasius, A.D. 503. Hastily constructed, they fell into ruins
-in a few years. Justinian rebuilt the town, A.D. 537. The line of its
-ramparts, which were built of large blocks of limestone, can be traced
-throughout, certain portions being still 30 feet high.’—Abridged from
-Texier and Pullan, p. 53. (L.)
-
-[36] ‘The fortifications of Dara,’ says Gibbon, ‘may represent the
-military architecture of the age. The city was surrounded by two walls,
-and the interval between them, of fifty paces, afforded a retreat to
-the cattle of the besieged. The inner wall was a monument of strength
-and beauty: it measured sixty feet from the ground, and the height of
-the towers was one hundred feet; the loopholes, from whence an enemy
-might be annoyed with missile weapons, were small, but numerous; the
-soldiers were placed along the rampart, under the shelter of double
-galleries, and a third platform, spacious and secure, was raised on
-the summit of the towers. The exterior wall seems to have been less
-lofty, but more solid; and each tower was protected by a quadrangular
-bulwark. A hard rocky soil resisted the tools of the miners, and on the
-south-east, where the ground was more tractable, their approach was
-retarded by a new work, which advanced in the shape of a half-moon. The
-double and treble ditches were filled with a stream of water; and in
-the management of the river, the most skilful labour was employed to
-supply the inhabitants, to distress the besiegers, and to prevent the
-mischiefs of a natural or artificial inundation.’—Gibbon, ch. xl. (S.)
-See Note, page 58.
-
-[37] ‘The Church of Dara is in a perfect state of preservation owing to
-the extreme solidity of its construction—a parallelogram 97·6 by 68·3.
-In the interior, the nave, with the adjoining chapels, forms a perfect
-square. A building adjoining, supposed to have been the baptistry, is
-ruined. Mr. Ainsworth says there are seven or eight churches in the
-town.’—Texier and Pullan, p. 52.
-
-[38] Rabdium, near Jezireh-ibn-Omar. A fine old castle. ‘This appears
-to be the Rabdium of the Byzantines. The remains of an ancient
-bridge are seen crossing the Tigris at a short distance.’—Chesney’s
-‘Euphrates.’ (L.)
-
-[39] Mejafarkîn, north-east of Diarbekr. (W.)
-
-[40] Founded by Theodosius II. V. ‘De Bello Persico,’ i. 10.—Gibbon.
-(S.) Now probably Ras el ‘Ain on the Khabûr. (W.)
-
-[41] River Aborrhas. The Chaboras at the juncture of the Khabûr and the
-Euphrates: the Chaboras of Ptolemy and Pliny and probably the Araxes of
-Xenophon; now the Khabûr. (W.)
-
-[42] ‘Circesium, the last Roman station on the Euphrates.’—Gibbon, ch.
-xl. (S.) Now Kirkisiah at the juncture of the Khabûr and the Euphrates.
-(W.)
-
-[43] ‘La fortification byzantine se composait de plusieurs parties qui
-correspondent du _vallum_, _agger_, et _mænium_ des fortifications
-Romaines. C’est le τεῖχος, le mur ou la courtine, sur la face
-de laquelle s’élèvent les tours; en avant de ce mur s’élève le mur du
-parapet, première defense de la courtine, προτείχισμα. Ce mur
-est espacé (du τεῖχος) de la courtine d’un quart environ de la
-hauteur totale. L’espace compris entre ces deux murs est le péribole
-(περίβολος), le chemin couvert. Ce mot est appliqué aussi
-au chemin interieur de l’agger qui longe le fossé (τάφρος).
-L’agger, qui se compose des terres du fossé, est soutenu par un mur,
-quelquefois flanqué de tours, qui est le ἀντιτείχισμα, mur de
-l’avant rempart. Les tours (πύργοι), sont appliquées a l’une
-et l’autre murailles. La courtine est surmontée d’un parapet. C’est la
-partie du remparts qui porte le nom de ἐπιτείχισμα, muraille
-supérieure: sur cette muraille sont placés les creneaux,
-ἐπάλζεις, qui sont quelquefois réunis par un mur dans la partie
-supérieure, et forment des espèces de barbacanes, θυρίδαι,
-pour lancer les traits. Le creneau etait quelquefois surmonté d’un
-pyramidion, d’autres fois il etait fendu par un encoche pour appuyer le
-trait.
-
-‘On ne saurait doubter que la ville d’Edesse n’eut été munie d’un
-double rempart; car ces deux parties, προτείχισμα et περίβολος,
-sont specialement mentionnées par Procope dans la relation du
-siège d’Edesse. C’est la muraille extérieure, ἑκτὸς τεῖχος, qui
-soutient l’agger, et par conséquent forme le chemin couvert, ὁ μέγας
-περίβολος.’—Texier, ‘Monographe sur l’Edesse.’ (S.) It is now Urfa. (W.)
-
-[44] ‘The text (Procopius) is so conformable to the topography of the
-town, that it would appear to have been written on the spot.
-
-‘We do not find, near the banks of the river, any vestige of the
-hippodrome mentioned by Procopius in “De Bello Persico,” book i., ch.
-xii. (L.) ‘A stranger is struck by the imposing aspect of the ancient
-castle; the same which was constructed by Justinian. Its form is that
-of a parallelogram, 400 by 200 yards, defended by several square and
-two large semi-octagonal towers. The capitals of the two Corinthian
-columns are surmounted by blocks of stone which show that they were
-intended to have some further decoration—probably the statues of
-Justinian and Theodora.—The diameter of each column is nearly two
-yards.’—Texier and Pullan, pp. 181-184.
-
-‘In Smith’s “Dict. of Geog.,” it is stated that as late as 1184, there
-were fifteen large churches, which fell into the hands of the Saracens.
-It was deserted in 1285.
-
-[45] Carrhæ (now Harran), a few miles south of Edessa.
-
-[46] Callinicum, on the Euphrates, and marked on the map as ‘or
-Nicephorium,’ at the junction with the river Bilecha (Bilek). (L.)
-
-[47] ‘On voit que l’historien Grec donne indistinctement à cette
-place les noms de Βάτνη au singulier, et Βάτναι au pluriel ... La
-table de Peutinger donne le nom Batna. Ce qui m’a surtout frappé dans
-cette localité, ce sont les vastes carrières qui ont dû fournir à une
-exploitation considerable. Une grande partie des materiaux qui ont
-servi aux constructions d’Edesse en à sans doubte été tirée.’—‘Edesse
-et ses Monuments,’ par Ch. Texier, Membre de l’Institut, Paris, 1859.
-(S.)
-
-[48] ‘The ruins present the form of an acute triangle, having its base
-resting on the river, whilst its sides climb the acclivity of a conical
-hill, and terminate at its summit in a small Acropolis. It was defended
-by walls flanked by strong towers, which, as well as the public and
-private buildings, were all constructed of fine gypsum (which abounds
-along the Euphrates), and are as sharp and fresh as if they had
-recently been built.’—‘Narrative of the Euphrates Expedition,’ p. 247,
-by F. R. Chesney, London, 1868. 8vo. (L.)
-
-[49] Suri (now Surieh), a few miles west of Callinicum. (W.)
-
-[50] Is this the same as Tetrapyrgia, where St. Sergius was buried? (W.)
-
-[51] Barbalissus (now Kala), at Balis, on the Euphrates. See Ant.
-Mart., ‘Itin.,’ xlvii. (W.)
-
-[52] On the Euphrates, now probably Jerablûs, supposed by some to be
-the site of Carchemish. (W.)
-
-[53] Hierapolis (Bambych), formerly the capital of Euphratesia, on
-west of Euphrates, between Antioch and Edessa. ‘Has no records of its
-ancient greatness but its walls, which may be traced all round; cannot
-be less than three miles in compass ... with towers of large square
-stone, extremely well built. A deep pit of about 100 yards diameter
-seemed to have had great buildings all round it, with the pillars and
-ruins of which it is now in part filled up, but not so much but that
-there was still water in it. Here are a multitude of subterraneous
-aqueducts brought to this city. You can ride nowhere about the city
-without seeing them.’—Maundrell’s ‘Journey from Aleppo to Euphrates,’
-Bohn’s edition, 8vo., p. 507, 1848. (L.)
-
-Hierapolis (Bambij, or Membij). The whole place is now a mass of ruin,
-but the outlines of a theatre and stadium can be traced. The lake is
-now represented by a deep circular pool, said to be always full of
-water. There are several springs in the ruins, and water was also
-supplied by ‘Kariz,’ or underground channels. Formerly a centre of
-great commercial importance; our word ‘bombazine’ comes from Bambya.
-(W. MS. notes, 1881.)
-
-[54] Zeugma, on the right bank of the Euphrates, opposite Biredjik. (W.)
-
-[55] Antiochia, now Antâkieh, founded by Seleucus Nicator. Having been
-nearly ruined by an earthquake it was almost rebuilt by Justinian, and
-called by him Theodopolis. In A.D. 1163, it is described by Benjamin of
-Tudela as a large city very strongly fortified, ‘overlooked by a very
-high mountain; a wall surrounds this height, on the summit of which is
-situated a well. The inspector of the well distributes the water by
-subterranean aqueducts, and thus provides the houses of the principal
-inhabitants of the city. The other side of the city is surrounded by
-the river.’ A plan of the city is given under ‘Antioch’ in Smith’s
-‘Dict. of Antiquities.’
-
-‘The city (the modern Antakieh) covers but a small part of the ground
-occupied by the ancient city, though it still contains fourteen mosques.
-
-‘The population in 1836 was under 6,000.
-
-‘The walls of the ancient city are comparatively perfect.
-
-‘From the Acropolis the wall has been carried down the almost vertical
-face of the cliff, and after crossing the valley, is made to ascend the
-opposite steep hill in a zigzag and extraordinary manner.
-
-‘At the steepest part of the hills these walls necessarily become a
-succession of gigantic steps between the towers, which, at some places,
-are close to one another.’—‘Narrative of the Euphrates Expedition,’ p.
-189, by J. R. Chesney, London, 1868. (L.)
-
-[56] ‘Cyrus, dans la Syrie. Procope rapporte que celle ville fut
-fondée par les Juifs. C’est la ville Cyrrhus de Ptolemée dont il fait
-la capitale de la Cyrrhestique. Elle était à 2 journées d’Antioche.
-Ou la nomine aussi Cyrrhus.’—‘Encyclopédie Méthodique,’ ‘Géographie
-Ancienne,’ Paris, 1787. (L.) It is now Chorres, north-west of Aleppo.
-(W.)
-
-[57] ‘Chalcis, between Beyrout and Damascus, where there are ruins of
-the old city, surrounded by a prostrate wall. Two or three miserable
-hovels are now the only representatives of a royal city.’—Porter’s
-(Murray’s) ‘Syria and Palestine,’ 1875, p. 515. (L.) Is not the
-Northern Chalcis (now Kinnesrin), south-west of Aleppo, intended? It is
-mentioned in ‘Itin.,’ Ant., also in Ant. Mart., ‘Itin.’ (W.)
-
-[58] ‘Martyropolis, near the River Nymphæus. Tradition says that it
-was founded towards the end of the fifth century by Bishop Maroutha,
-who there collected the relics of all the martyrs which could be found
-in Armenia, Persia and Syria. It was the capital of Roman Armenia, now
-Miafarékyn.’ —Smith’s ‘Dict. of Geography.’ (L.)
-
-[59] Citharizon, now probably Pâlû on the Murad Chai. (W.)
-
-[60] Q.y. Autararizon.
-
-[61] ‘Sebastia (Sivas) regarded by Pliny as not belonging to Pontus,
-but to Cappadocia. Its ancient name is unknown. Pompey increased it,
-and called it Megalopolis. Its walls were restored by Justinian:
-(Procopius). There are ruins of two castles of different epochs. One
-appears to have belonged to the kings of Pontus, strengthened by Romans
-and rebuilt by Mohammedans.’—Ainsworth’s ‘Journey’ in Chesney, p. 529.
-(L.)
-
-[62] Nicopolis now Shabhin Kara Hissar. (W.)
-
-[63] Melitene now Malatia. (W.)
-
-[64] Trapezus now Trebizond. (W.)
-
-[65] Amasea (Amasia). ‘Hamilton found two Hellenic towers of beautiful
-construction on the heights. But the greater part of the walls now
-standing are Byzantine or Turkish. (See “Researches in Assyria,” vol.
-ii., p. 16.) Hamilton explored a passage cut in the rock, about 300
-feet, to a small pool of clear cold water.’—Chesney, p. 535. The tombs
-described by Strabo remain. They are supposed to have been built by
-Mithridates.
-
-[66] Rhizeum now Rizeh, to the east of Trebizond. (W.)
-
-[67] This country was known to the Greeks and Romans as Colchis.
-
-[68] A town of the Lazi or Colchis, founded by a general of Justinian
-to keep the Lazi in subjection. Taken by Chosroes, 541; retaken, 551,
-by Romans and destroyed. See Procopius, B. Per. and Bel. Got., and
-Gibbon. Its ruins are now called Oudjenar. (L.)
-
-‘The sole vestige of Petra subsists in the writings of Procopius and
-Agathias.’—Gibbon, ch. xiii. (S.)
-
-[69] Sea of Azof. (W.)
-
-[70] Formerly Dioscurias, on eastern shore of Black Sea. (W.)
-
-[71] Now Anchialo in Eastern Roumelia. (W.)
-
-[72] ‘Under the name of Justiniana Prima, the obscure village of
-Tauresium became the seat of an archbishop and a præfect, whose
-jurisdiction extended over seven warlike provinces of Illyricum; and
-the corrupt appellation of _Giustendil_ still indicates, about twenty
-miles south of Sophia, the residence of a Turkish sanjak.’—Gibbon, ch.
-xl. (S.)
-
-[73] ‘From the edge of the seashore, through the forests and valleys,
-and as far as the summit of the Thessalian Mountains, a strong wall was
-continued, which occupied every practical entrance. Instead of a hasty
-crowd of peasants, a garrison of 2,000 soldiers was stationed along the
-rampart; granaries of corn and reservoirs of water were provided for
-their use; and by a precaution that inspired the cowardice which it
-foresaw, convenient fortresses were erected for their retreat.’—Gibbon,
-ch. xl. (S.)
-
-[74] ‘Six hundred of these forts were built or repaired by the Emperor;
-but it seems reasonable to believe, that the far greater part of them
-consisted only of a brick or stone tower, in the midst of a square or
-circular area, which was surrounded by a wall and ditch, and afforded
-in a moment of danger some protection to the peasants and cattle of its
-neighbouring villages.’—Gibbon, ch. xl. (S.)
-
-[75] Singidonum, now Belgrade. (W.)
-
-[76] ‘Strabo speaks of the “Iron Gate” as the place where the Danube
-ends and the Ister begins. Trajan’s bridge, of twenty or twenty-two
-stone piers with wooden arches, was built, A.D. 103, just below the
-rapids of the “Iron Gate,” which grind to powder the ice-blocks of
-winter, and save the piers from the shock which might otherwise destroy
-them.’—Murray’s ‘Handbook of Southern Germany.’ (S.)
-
-[77] Procopius here confounds the Mœsians of Europe with the Mysians of
-Asia Minor. The passage alluded to is in Homer’s ‘Iliad,’ ii. 604. (S.)
-
-[78] Mœsia.
-
-[79] ‘The “long wall,” as it was emphatically styled, was a work as
-disgraceful in the object, as it was respectable in the execution....
-At the distance of only forty miles from the capital, Anastasius was
-constrained to establish a last frontier; his long wall of sixty miles,
-from the Propontis to the Euxine, proclaimed the impotence of his arms;
-and as the danger became more imminent, new fortifications were added
-by the indefatigable prudence of Justinian.’—Gibbon, ch. xl. (S.)
-
-[80] Selybria, now Silibri, on Sea of Marmora. (W.)
-
-[81] Heraclea, now Eregli, on Sea of Marmora. (W.)
-
-[82] Rhædestus, now Rodosto, on Sea of Marmora. (W.)
-
-[83] Elæus, near the south-east extremity of the Gallipoli promontory,
-opposite the plain of Troy. (W.)
-
-[84] Callipolis, now Gallipoli. The wall was about on the line of the
-Gallipoli lines so well known during the Crimean War. (W.)
-
-[85] ‘In an age of freedom and valour, the slightest rampart may
-prevent a surprise; and Procopius appears insensible of the superiority
-of ancient times, while he praises the solid construction and double
-parapet of a wall, whose long arms stretched on either side into
-the sea; but whose strength was deemed insufficient to guard the
-Chersonesus, if each city, and particularly Gallipoli and Sestus, had
-not been secured by their peculiar fortifications.’—Gibbon, ch. xl. (S.)
-
-[86] Ænus, now Enos, at the mouth of the Maritza. (W.)
-
-[87] ‘Considerable remains of a church were found on the hill at
-Ayasalouk. This was perhaps St. John’s Church, and was in existence
-when the Council was held in 431. The Greeks have built for themselves
-a small church over the site of an ancient Greek church, which was
-possibly the Church of St. John, as that was known to have been
-built on a hill.’—‘Ephesus,’ by J. T. Wood, and Society of Biblical
-Archæology (London, 1878), p. 332 and ‘Discoveries,’ p. 164.
-
-‘St. John’s, at Ephesus, has been destroyed to its foundation. It was
-in the form of a cross, with a dome at the intersection.’—Texier and
-Pullan, p. 22. (L.)
-
-[88] Leake, ‘Tour in Asia Minor,’ p. 10.
-
-[89] See Leake’s ‘Tour in Asia Minor,’ p. 10.
-
-[90] See Leake’s ‘Tour in Asia Minor,’ pp. 8, 10. (S.)
-
-At the south end of the lake (Arcania), beautifully situated, stood the
-ruined towers of the famous Nicæa. Seldom have I had a harder day’s
-work than in attempting to see and comprehend this ruin of ruins.
-
-‘The grandeur and peculiar beauty of the arts amongst the earlier
-Greeks cannot be concealed even in the broken materials.
-
-‘Some parts of the walls are entirely Roman; in others the Cross,
-etc., give the date of the earlier Christians. On three of the towers
-in the walls of the city are three similar inscriptions. The sign of
-the Cross is prefixed to all three: “The Tower of Michael, the Great
-King, Emperor in CHRIST.”’—‘Travels in Asia Minor,’ by Sir C. Fellows
-(London, 1852), pp. 83, 85.
-
-‘A very small church still stands within the present town, which, from
-its mosaic floor and ceiling, may probably be of the date of St. Mark’s
-at Venice, or rather of the Byzantine age.
-
-‘Without the walls is a Roman aqueduct, which still supplies the town
-with water from the neighbouring mountain.’—Ibid., p. 87. (L.)
-
-[91] Nicomedia, now Ismid. (W.)
-
-[92] Sangaris, now Sakarieh River. The bridge is now some distance from
-the river, which has changed its course. (W.)
-
-[93] Leake’s ‘Tour in Asia Minor,’ pp. 79, 80. (S.)
-
-[94] Leake’s, ‘Tour in Asia Minor,’ pp. 180, 217. (S.)
-
-[95] Leake, p. 215. (S.)
-
-[96] Ibid., p. 214.
-
-[97] ‘The Virgin of Jerusalem might exult in the temple erected by
-her imperial votary on a most ungrateful spot, which afforded neither
-ground nor materials to the architect,’ etc., etc.—Gibbon, ch. xl. (S.)
-
-[98] See Appendix II.
-
-[99] The church is octagonal. On the east side is an apse; on the
-north the main entrance. On five sides there are small chapels, and on
-the eighth probably a sixth. There is an inner octagon, which gives
-the place some resemblance to that of the Dome of the Rock. The only
-capital uncovered was of a debased Corinthian order. The church is
-believed to have been built by Justinian _circa_ 533.
-
-Plans by Sir C. W. Wilson are given in the _Quarterly Statement_ of the
-Palestine Exploration Fund, 1873, p. 68.
-
-The church is 70·0 inside east and west (inscribed circle of internal
-octagon). East apse, 15·0 diameter; side chapels, 27·0 long inside,
-with apses 9·0 diameter.
-
-Said by Procopius to have been erected by the Emperor Zeno, not
-earlier than 474, to the Blessed Virgin. He says also that Justinian,
-after 529, built the external wall (9·0 thick) of the court, forming
-a fortress 180 by 230, with chambers built against the wall inside.
-One is 11·9 by 14·4 internally (_vide_ Plan).—‘Palestine Exploration
-Memoirs,’ vol. ii., p. 189, 190. (L.)
-
-[100] ‘The Vale of Palms by the shore of the Red Sea,’ Gibbon, ch.
-xlii.; Stanley, ‘Sinai and Palestine,’ ed. 12, pp. 20, 85, 519. (S.)
-
-[101] Full plans, details and descriptions of the fort and church built
-by Justinian at the foot of J. Mûsa are given in the Ordnance Survey of
-Sinai. (W.)
-
-[102] Tell es Sultân and Tellûl Abu el ‘Aleik (Roman). Many traces
-of ruins. The buildings do not appear to have been large or of fine
-masonry. A pillar-shaft nine inches in diameter, of marble, and
-fragments of cornices were found; also a capital of the rude Ionic
-style common in Byzantine buildings, cut in limestone and much
-weathered.
-
-East and south-east there are extensive ruins on the way to
-Erîha—mounds, small foundations, and portions of an aqueduct. They do
-not appear to be of any great antiquity.
-
-Jericho was inhabited in the fourth and fifth centuries, to which date
-the buildings near the Tell are most probably to be ascribed.—See
-‘Memoirs, Survey of Western Palestine,’ vol. iii., pp. 173, 223. (L.)
-
-[103] Well of St. Elisæus. May this be Elisha’s spring at ‘Ain es
-Sultan? (W.)
-
-[104] The church is interesting as being the only basilica of
-Constantine left standing in Palestine.
-
-The atrium is destroyed, but the basilica, consisting of a nave and
-four aisles, is almost intact, the original columns and the clerestory
-walls, with fragments of glass mosaic (of twelfth century), remaining.
-The basilica measures 87 feet east and west by 75 feet north and south.
-
-At the east end is a transept with north and south apses and an east
-apse of equal size. The floor of the transept is raised for a width
-equal to that of the basilica nave (35 feet). The basilica is separated
-by a wall, erected by the Greeks in 1842, from the transept.—‘Palestine
-Exploration Memoirs,’ vol. iii., pp. 83-85.
-
-Notwithstanding the slight notice of this city taken by Procopius, the
-part taken by Justinian in its adornment is otherwise spoken of in a
-very striking manner, and its celebrated basilica, usually stated,
-as above, to have been the work of Constantine, has been assigned in
-part to Justinian. The eastern part is almost certainly later than
-Constantine.
-
-‘The choir, with its three apses, does not seem to be part of the
-original arrangement, but to have been added by Justinian when he
-renovated—Eutychius says rebuilt—the church.’—Fergusson’s ‘History’
-(1867), vol. ii., p. 290.
-
-Eutychius’ account is thus:
-
-‘Jussit etiam Imperator legatum Ecclesiam Bethleemiticam quæ parva fuit
-diruere, aliamq, amplam, magnam et pulchram fabricare, adeo ut non
-esset Hierosolymis templum ipsâ pulchrius.
-
-‘Perveniens ergo Legatus Hierosolyma, Nosocomium peregrinis condidit,
-et Ecclesiam Elenæ perfecit, templaque quæ incenderant Samaritani
-instauravit, nec non Monasteria quam plurima extruxit, dirutâque
-Ecclesiâ Bethleemiticâ eaudem eo quo jam se habet modo ædificavit.
-
-‘Cumque his omnibus absolutis ad Imperatorem reversus esset, ille,
-describe mihi (inquit) quomodo Ecclesiam Bethleemiticam extruxisti.
-Quam cum ipsi descripsisset, haud probavit Imperator descriptionem
-estam nec ullatinus ipsi placuit, quaré valde ipsi iratus. Acceptos
-(inquit) nummos tibi ipsi congessisti, ædificium autem extruxisti
-male compactum et Ecclesiam tenebrosam confecisti nullatenus ex mente
-mea fabricatam, nec consilium meum secutus es. Capiteque ipsum plecti
-jussit.’
-
-Eutychius adds after Omar’s conquest:
-
-‘Deinde Bethleem ad eam visendam prefectus cum adesset orationis tempus
-intra Ecclesiam oravit ad arcum Australem.
-
-‘Erat autem arcus totus opere tessellate variegatus. Scripsitque Omar
-Patriarchæ syngrapham;—neque mutaretur in eo quiequam.’—Eutychius,
-‘Pocock’s Translation’ (Oxford, 1658), vol. ii., pp. 159, 288.
-
-[105] The splendid cistern of St. John on Jordan, mentioned by
-Procopius as the work of Justinian, is still visible in an almost
-perfect condition. It is 30 feet deep, supported on rows of
-piers.—‘Memoirs,’ vol. iii., p. 177.
-
-[106] Tŭbariya (Tiberias). ‘There are the remains of a sea-wall,
-and of some portions of a city-wall 12·0 thick; many traces of old
-buildings—at one place foundations which appear to belong to a church.
-
-‘Epiphanius, in the fourth century, says that it had long been
-inhabited, exclusively by Jews. The Sanhedrim came to Tiberias in the
-middle of the second century. Thence it became the central point of
-Jewish learning for several centuries. (L.)
-
-‘Justinian rebuilt the walls. These were thrown down by an earthquake
-in 1837.’—‘Palestine Exploration Memoirs,’ vol. i., p. 419.
-
-‘The ruins of the ancient town of Tiberias. A great number of fine
-granite columns are lying about; also remains of the sea-wall, with
-towers. Behind the ruins the cliffs rise steeply, with traces of
-fortifications upon them.’—Palestine Exploration _Quarterly Statement_,
-1877, p. 121.
-
-[107] ‘Le Khan dit de Nebi-Younés a été depuis longtemps identifié avec
-Porphyreon.
-
-‘Les dunes paraissent cacher des constructions antiques.
-
-‘Quand je passai à Neby-Younés on venait d’ouvrir une de ces dunes,
-pour en tirer des pierres de construction. On voyait éventrées de
-jolies chambres, peintes présentant des animaux, des paons affrontés,
-sous de petits arceaux peints très ornés rappelant la disposition des
-canons qu’on trouve en tête des beaux évangeliaires Byzantins.
-
-‘Il est évident qu’il y eut vers cet endroit une ville assez
-importante dont la floraison paraît avoir eu lieu surtout à l’époque
-Chrétienne.’—‘Mission de Phénicie dirigée,’ par M. Ernest Renan (Paris,
-Imprimerie Impériale, 1854), p. 510.
-
-Khaifa, a small town at the foot of Mount Carmel. ‘Some have held
-Khaifa to be Sycaminos, and others Porphyreon. There seems to be
-some grounds for its identity with Sycaminos, but none for its being
-Porphyreon, nor Gath Hefer (Josh. xix. 13), as Benjamin of Tudela has
-tried to prove.’—‘Journey in Syria and Palestine in 1851-2,’ by C. W.
-M. Van de Velde (8vo., 1854), vol. i., p. 289.
-
-‘All that is left of the ancient town of Porphyreon is a single granite
-column, with a sarcophagus. A Phœnician site has been replaced by a
-few tamarisks beside a Moslem well.’—Palestine Exploration _Quarterly
-Statement_, 1874, p. 199.
-
-‘The Crusaders called Haifa (at the foot of Carmel) Porphyreon. The
-real town of this name, which was derived from the purple of the Murex
-there caught, was eight Roman miles from Sidon towards the north, and
-just south of the river Tamyras (Nahr Damûr).’—Palestine Exploration
-_Quarterly Statement_, 1876, p. 188.
-
-[108] Acre (Ptolemais). ‘There are many fragments of Crusading masonry
-in the town. A small chapel near the sea, of this nature, has been
-identified with the Church of St. Andrew. There are also remains
-of the Hospital of the Knights of St. John and Church of St. John.
-Apian (given p. 163 of the ‘Memoirs’) dated 1291 contains notes of
-many churches and monasteries, but nothing referring to St. Sergius’
-house.’—‘Palestine Exploration Memoirs,’ vol. i., pp. 160-167.
-
-[109] ‘A large city of Syria, on the Orontes, called Pella by Seleucus
-Nicator, who fortified and enlarged it. In the Crusading times it bore
-the name of Tamieh—now Kŭlat el Medîk. There are large remains of
-ancient ruins.’—Smith’s ‘Dictionary of Geography.’ (L.)
-
-[110] This is the celebrated Daphne (now Beit El Ma), near Antioch
-(Theopolia). (W.)
-
-[111] ‘Dr. Robinson identifies the site of Tell Neby Mendeh with the
-Laodicea of Lebanon (also called Laodicea Cabiosa, Καβιώσα),
-mentioned by Ptolemy and Polybius—one of six towns founded _circa_
-300 B.C. by Seleucus Nicator, in honour of his mother Laodice. It was
-eighteen M. P. from Emesa (Homs) on the road to Heliopolis (Baalbeck).
-(W.)
-
-‘It is a great mound.
-
-‘The principal ruins are on the flat ground east of the mill—the
-foundations of a building called El Kamû’a, about 50 by 50 feet,
-with remains of a doorway in the south-east corner. Some broken
-pillar-shafts lie near, and the walls appear to have been ornamented
-with pilasters in low relief. The details appear to belong to a late
-period of classic art.
-
-‘These probably are the remains of the Laodicea of later times. This
-city was the see of a bishop.’—Palestine Exploration _Quarterly
-Statement_, 1881, pp. 162, 167. (L.)
-
-[112] Isauria. A district in Asia Minor to the south of Iconium. (W.)
-
-[113] Now probably Karioon, about 15 miles from Alexandria. (L.)
-
-[114] ‘Discoveries at Cyrene,’ by Capt. R. M. Smith, R.E., and
-Commander E. A. Porcher, R.N. (fol., London, 1864). At page 6 a map of
-the coast is given, and also a plan, to a small scale, of Ptolemeta,
-Apollonia, Teuchira and Ben Ghazi (Berenice). The five cities
-(Pentapolis) of Cyrenaica were Apollonia, Barca, Berenice or Hesperis,
-Cyrene and Teuchira.
-
-[115] ‘A town in the Libyan Nome, west of the Delta, and about 25 miles
-from Alexandria. There were probably several places of this name in
-Egypt, but this appears to have been the most considerable, inasmuch as
-it was the place where the prefect of Alexandria held the periodical
-census of the Libyan Nome.’—Smith’s ‘Dictionary of Geography,’ 1857.
-(L.)
-
-[116] ‘Tocra, the ancient Teuchria, afterwards called Arsinöe, which,
-although totally deserted, is still completely enclosed, except on
-the sea or north side, by walls of uncommon solidity and thickness,
-strengthened at intervals by quadrangular towers, twenty-six in number,
-and is entered by two strong-built gateways.... The walls were repaired
-by Justinian, in doing which blocks of stone and marble have been
-introduced, many bearing Greek inscriptions, which evidently formed
-part of much older buildings.’—Eng. Cycl., _s.v._ ‘Cyrene.’ (S.)
-
-A plan of the remains of Taucra or Teuchira is given in Capt. Beechey’s
-‘North Coast of Africa,’ p. 388 (4to., 1828). He states, p. 353, that
-the walls repaired under the Emperor Justinian still remain in a state
-of perfection which sufficiently proves the solidity of the work. A
-long account of the city and its walls is given at p. 375, etc. Also
-in Smith and Porcher’s ‘Discoveries at Cyrene’ (1864), p. 64, where
-Justinian’s walls are particularly mentioned.
-
-[117] ‘Scarcely a vestige of the wall remains.’—Eng. Cycl. _s.v._
-‘Bengazi.’
-
-[118] Berenice, about 40 miles to south-west of Barca. Here the
-ancients placed the gardens of the Hesperides—now Ben Ghazi. (Beechey,
-p. 314.) Bengazi may be considered as occupying the site of the
-Berenice of the Ptolemies and of the Hesperis of earlier times; but
-very few remains now appear above ground to interest the sculptor, the
-architect or the antiquary.—J. Pennell’s ‘Herodotus’ (4to., London,
-1800), p. 154.
-
-Of the ancient city very few remains are now visible. ‘At the back of
-the castle, some foundations may be seen cropping out, but the tomb
-of a saint prevents any excavations being made.’—Smith and Porcher’s
-‘Discoveries at Cyrene’ (1864), p. 13.
-
-‘Bengazi, the ancient Berenice, built by Ptolemy Philadelphus.
-
-Nothing now remains but its port, which is certainly the best on the
-coast of Tripoli.’ ‘On the north there are still to be seen, beyond
-seamark, the foundations of several large buildings, of stones 8 or
-10 feet long and 3 broad, which, by their own weight and being bound
-by strong cement, have preserved their places.’—Lieut.-Col. Playfair,
-‘Travels in the Footsteps of Bruce’ (4to., London, 1877.)
-
-[119] Ptolemaïs (Ptolemeta), now Dolmeita. V. Beechey, p. 376. He
-gives, at p. 338, etc., a plan of the city and environs, and also
-drawings of some of the ruins. The city was something less than a
-mile in length from north to south, and its breadth from east to west
-something more than three-quarters. Captain Beechey describes the
-remains of the walls to the city and harbour, of two theatres, an
-amphitheatre, and various buildings of more than ordinary consequence.
-‘Some of the shafts of small columns are spiral and formed of coloured
-marbles, and may probably be attributed to the time of Justinian, when
-the city revived under his politic munificence.’
-
-Lieut.-Col. Playfair, ‘Footsteps of Bruce’ (1877), pp. 288, 289, gives
-a good account also.
-
-Smith and Porcher, pp. 64, 66, give drawings of ruins. ‘At a point
-nearly opposite the centre of the east wall, the ravine is spanned by
-the arch of a bridge still standing, which appears to have been built
-for an aqueduct which we could trace distinctly for some distance
-from the city. Within the walls the aqueduct led in the direction of
-enormous reservoirs near the centre of the city.’ Messrs. Smith and
-Porcher describe them as consisting of six chambers, each chamber too
-feet long and 20 broad, arched over. The repairs to the aqueduct and
-cisterns are ascribed by Procopius to Justinian. (L.)
-
-[120] ‘Several of the buildings are partly standing, such as a lofty
-gateway, an amphitheatre, two theatres, a palace or large building, the
-inner court of which still retains its tesselated pavement.’—Eng. Cycl.
-_s.v._ ‘Cyrene.’ (S.)
-
-[121] ‘The exact position of this S. Borium it is difficult to
-determine.’—Smith’s ‘Dictionary of Geography.’
-
-[122] Augila (now Aujilah). ‘Its historical importance is considerable,
-and it is one of those few places whose name has not undergone change
-since Herodotus wrote.’—Rennell’s ‘Herodotus,’ pp. 568-613 (4to.,
-1800). (L.)
-
-[123] Leptis Magna. ‘The city appears to have been comprehended within
-little more than a square half-mile of ground. The actual remains are
-still sufficient to be somewhat imposing; but they are for the most
-part so deeply buried under the sand which ten centuries of neglect
-have allowed to accumulate over them, that plans of them could not be
-obtained without very extensive excavations. The style of the buildings
-is universally Roman.’ The walls and fortifications, probably restored
-by Justinian, were finally demolished by the Saracens. From that time
-the city appears to have been wholly abandoned and its remains employed
-in the construction of Modern Tripoli.—‘North Coast of Africa,’ by
-Beechey (4to., London, 1828), pp. 52, 54.
-
-Lieut.-Col. Playfair, p. 283, describes the remains thus: ‘Libidah, the
-ancient town of Leptis Magna, three days’ journey from Tripoli where
-there are a great extent of ruins, but all in bad taste—chiefly done in
-the lime of Aurelian—indeed very bad. It is said that in the time of
-Louis XIV. seven monstrous columns of granite or marble were carried
-from this place into France.’ Bruce also states that he saw several
-statues of good taste which had been deprived of their heads. (L.)
-
-[124] Tacape. ‘Gabes: this was the Epichus of Sylax and the Tacape of
-other ancient geographers; where we have a heap of ruins with some
-beautiful granite pillars still standing. These are all square and
-about 12 feet long, and such as I have not met with in any other part
-of Africa.’—Shaw’s ‘Travels in Barbary,’ p. 113. (L.)
-
-[125] Carthage. Shaw, p. 81, etc., of his ‘Travels in Barbary,’
-describes the remains of Carthage existing in his time (_circa_ 1750),
-in particular the great cistern (of which he gives a plan at p. 75),
-‘which had very little suffered,’ and ‘the famous aqueduct, a great
-part whereof is still standing:’—‘We see—a long range of its arches,
-all of them intact, 70 feet high, supported by columns 16 feet
-square ... the channel being high and broad enough for an ordinary
-person to walk in.’
-
-Bruce says, ‘We passed ancient Carthage, of which little remains but
-the cisterns, the aqueduct, and a magnificent flight of steps leading
-up to the Temple of Esculapius.’ He gives (p. 130) a drawing of the
-aqueduct, which Col. Playfair describes ‘as one of the greatest works
-the Romans ever executed in North Africa.’ ‘It was destroyed by the
-Vandals, restored by Belisarius, the general of Justinian. On the
-expulsion of the Byzantines it was once more cut off, restored by the
-Arabs, again destroyed by the Spaniards, and finally restored by the
-present Bey, Sidi Saduk, at a cost of 13,000,000 francs.’—Lieut.-Col.
-Playfair in ‘Footsteps of Bruce,’ p. 128.
-
-[126] Baga. ‘The city of Beja or Bay-jah, which by the name and
-situation should be the Vacca of Sallust, the Oppidum Vagense of Pliny,
-the ΒΑΓΑ of Plutarch, and the Vaccensium ordo Splendissimus,
-as the title runs in an imperfect inscription.’ ‘Bay-jah keeps up the
-character that Sallust gives his Vacca of being a town of great trade.’
-‘The walls are raised out of the ancient materials.’—Shaw’s ‘Travels in
-Barbary,’ p. 92.
-
-‘The ancient city was surrounded by a wall, flanked by square towers—no
-doubt this was originally constructed by the Byzantines—but were
-allowed by the Arabs to fall into decay. The only part in a relative
-state of preservation is the Kasba, a great part of which seems to me
-the original construction of Belisarius or Solomon.’ It contains ‘a
-large and lofty hall, about 15 paces long and 10 wide, with a vaulted
-roof supported on two square pillars.’—Lieut.-Col. Playfair, p. 234.
-(L.)
-
-[127] Adrumetus. ‘Herkla—the Heraclea of the lower empire, the
-Justiniana of the middle, and the Adrumetum of the earlier ages.‘ ‘It
-appears to have been little more than a mile in circuit.’ ‘That part of
-the promontory which formed the port seems to have been walled in quite
-down to the seashore; but the rest of it, to a distance of a furlong
-from thence, does not discover the least traces of ruins.’—Shaw’s
-‘Travels in Barbary,’ pp. 105, 106. (L.)
-
-[128] Ca-poudia, the Caput Veda of Procopius, the Ammonis Promontorium
-of Strabo, and the Promontorium Brachodes of Ptolemy—a low narrow strip
-of land which stretches itself a great way into the sea. Upon the very
-point of it we have the ruins of the city that was built there by
-Justinian, where there is likewise a high round watch-tower.’—Shaw’s
-‘Travels in Barbary,’ p. 111. (L.)
-
-[129] ‘Of the Vandals chosen by Belisarius, the far greater part, in
-the honours of the Eastern service, forgot their country and religion.
-But a generous band of four hundred obliged the mariners, when they
-were within sight of the Isle of Lesbos, to alter their course: they
-touched at Peloponnesus, ran ashore on a desert coast of Africa, and
-boldly erected on mount Aurasius the standard of independence and
-revolt.’—Gibbon, ch. xliii. (S.)
-
-Aurasius. The Auris Mountains. The inhabitants still retain some marked
-peculiarities which distinguish them from the surrounding people. (W.)
-
-[130] Septem or Ceuta.
-
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