The Strategium.] This, I look upon, to be the Place, where the General’s Troops liv’d, and pitch’d their Tents. Here was the Forum of Theodosius, and the Thebean Obelisk which was brought from Thebes in Ægypt to Constantinople, and there squat’d.
The Granaries of Troas.] These Granaries contain’d the Corn, and other Commodities which were brought from Troas; as those Granaries were call’d the Granaries of Alexandria, in which the Corn was laid up, that was brought from Alexandria. Troas is a Countrey of Phrygia, situate near the Hellespont, not far from Constantinople.
The Granary of Valens.] This was built by Valens. It is probably the same Granary, in which was placed the Statue of Manaim, who march’d his Army against the Scythians. There was kept here a brazen Bushel, which was the common Standard, by which Corn was bought, and sold. Valens commanded that twelve Bushels of Wheat should be sold at the Price of an Aureus, (in English Coin 17s. 1d. ob. qua.) and commanded a Sailor’s Hand to be cut off, who had eluded the Force of that Law by Tricks, and Evasions, and in Memory of the Fact, order’d a Brazen Hand to be hung up in the Granary.
They had also at Constantinople Store-houses where they reposited their Gold, and Silver, and Jewels. For Paulus a Lawyer informs us, that ’twas customary to lay up in Store-houses the most valuable Part of their Estates. Lampridius also mentions some Store-houses built by Alexander, where private Persons, who had no Conveniency in their own Houses, used to lay up their Gold, their Silver, their Jewels, and their Corn, and that the Masters of the Store-houses were obliged to keep them safe at their Peril.
The Prosphorian Port.] Here they used to unlade all kinds of Provisions; for the Word προσφορὸν in the Greek signifies any thing that is brought to Market.
The Stairs of Chalcedon.] These were a convenient Descent by Steps, where they went on Board, when they sail’d for Chalcedon, which lay over against Constantinople.
Two Flesh-Markets.] All kind of Provisions were sold here.