The Senate-House.] In this Place they held their Senate, which, as Sozomen affirms, was built by Constantine the Great, where he commanded the same yearly Solemnity to be celebrated on the Calends of Jan. as was done at Rome. It was burnt down, upon a Sedition occasioned by an Attempt to banish St. Chrysostom out of the City, and was rebuilt, as Procopius tells us, with greater Splendor.
A Tribunal with Porphyry Steps.] This Tribunal was made of Porphyry Marble, which Word in Latin, signifies Purple, because Porphyry Marble is of a Purple Colour.
The Bagnio’s of Zeuxippus.] These Bagnio’s were famous for a Portico, which run round the Houses and Shops adjoining to them. There was a yearly Revenue assigned for lighting the Lamps of this Bagnio, and repairing them. Theodosius in Lib. de Op. Pub. writes thus; Because there are many Houses and Shops adjoining the Portico’s of Zeuxippus, we will and command, that the yearly Income of the said Houses and Shops, without any Pretence or Excuse to the contrary, be paid into our Imperial Bagnio, for purchasing Lights, and for the Repairs of the said Bagnio’s. This Passage is part of a Letter which he wrote to Severinus, Prefect of the City, (not Prætor) as it stands in the Codex Theodos. de Op. Pub. These Bagnio’s formerly stood near the Imperial Palace, and were afterwards called the Bagnio’s of the Numeri, as Nicephorus writes, Lib. IX. Cap. 9. Sozomen and Socrates take Notice of the same Bagnio’s. I believe they were first built by Zeuxippus, who persecuted the Christians at Byzantium, much about the Time of Nero; and who among other of his Severities, forced St. Andrew to fly to Argyropolis. If I mistake not, he was at that Time Lieutenant of Macedonia and Thrace. These Bagnio’s were enlarged and beautified by Severus the Emperor, for which Reason they were afterwards called the Bagnio’s of Severus. After this they were called Balnea Numerorum, because great Numbers of Soldiers use to bath there. Zosimus, in his second Book writes, that these Bagnio’s formerly stood in a Peninsula. In antient Times, says he, Constantinople had a Port at the End of the Bagnio’s, which were built by Severus the Emperor, when he was reconciled to the Byzantians, for opening the Gates of the City to Niger, his Enemy. Suidas says, that a Poet named Christodorus, celebrated the Statues and Images of Zeuxippus in Verse, among which he is very particular in the Praises of the Statue of Hesiod. Procopius, in his First Book, de Ædif. Justinian. tells us, that these Bagnio’s were rebuilt by Justinian, but were called the Zeuxippum, because in this Place they used to run their Horses in Pairs, as the Word Zeuxippus signifies in the Greek. St. Gregory Nazianzen takes Notice of them in his Oration to the Arians, and in another which he made concerning himself. I am not, says he, taking a Journey to a new Jerusalem, that is to the Zeuxippum; for that Place was laid in Ashes in the Reign of Justinian. The Bagnio’s of Severus, as Cedrinus relates, which were call’d the Zeuxippum, were consumed by Fire. In this Place was a very delightful Variety of Prospects. All the ingenious Contrivances of Art were here expressed in Marble and Stone, and the most elaborate Workmanship of Antiquity. In short, the Designs here were so matchless and inimitable, that they seemed to want nothing but a Soul to animate, and inform them. Among other surprizing Pieces of antient Skill, was the Statue of old Homer. The Figure was finished very naturally, and in his Looks might be observed a great Thoughtfulness, with a Mixture of much Uneasiness and Trouble. This Place was also beautified with brazen Pillars, which had been here set up in Honour of those great Personages, who had been renowned for their Learning or Virtue, through the whole World.
An Amphitheatre.] This stands near the Sea Shore. You must pass by it, as you go to the Imperial Palace, and the Port of Julian, between which Places there were formerly Lime Kilns, which were commanded to be filled up by Theodosius the Less, as the Reader may see in Lib. ult. Cod. Theod. We will and command, says he, that all Lime-kilns, standing on any Ground, between the Sea Shore, the Amphitheatre, and the Port of St. Julian, be entirely demolished, for the Benefit and Health of our most great and magnificent City, and by Reason of the Nearness they stand to our Imperial Palace; and we do hereby prohibit all Persons whatsoever for the future, to burn any Lime in those Places.
The Third Ward.
THE third Ward, at the Entrance of it, is a Level Ground, and stands, in Part, where the Circus is built; but descends, at the End of it, with a very great Declivity down to the Sea, and contains, the same Circus Maximus; the House of Pulcheria Augusta; the new Port; a Portico of a Semi-circular Figure, made after the Likeness of the Greek Letter Sigma, which was formerly wrote thus, C; the Tribunal of the Forum of Constantine; seven Streets; ninety four great Houses; five large Portico’s; eleven private Bagnio’s; and nine private Mills. It had one Curator, one Vernaculus, twenty one Collegiati, and five Vico-Magistri.
NOTES.
The House of Pulcheria Augusta.] This Lady was the Sister of Theodosius the Less, who continued for some Time unmarried. When her Brother was dead, she married Martian, and made him Emperor. Zonaras, Cedrinus, Zosimus, Nicephorus, and other Historians have mentioned many Things of her. She had also another House in the eleventh Ward.