THE sixth Ward, upon the Entrance of it, is a short Piece of level Ground, all the rest is upon the Descent; for it extends itself from the Forum of Constantine to the Stairs, where you ferry over to Sycæna. It contains the Porphyry Pillar of Constantine; the Senate-house in the same Place; the Neorian Port; the Stairs of Sycæna; twenty two Streets; four hundred and eighty four great Houses; one large Portico; nine private Baths; one publick, and seventeen private Mills; it has also one Curator, one Vernaculus; forty nine Collegiati, and five Vico-Magistri.
NOTES.
The Porphyry Pillar of Constantine.] This Pillar stood in the Forum of Constantine, which was pav’d with square Stones. Zonaras, speaking of Nicephorus Phocas the Emperor, has this Passage: The People curse Nicephorus even to the pav’d Forum, in which is erected the round Porphyry Pillar. Cedrinus in his History tells us, that Constantine in the twenty fourth Year of his Reign, built a Forum with two Rostrums, or Pleading Desks made in the form of Pulpits, and that he plac’d in the Forum, a Pillar which he brought from Rome. It was one solid Piece of Porphyry Marble, and was bound with three Fasciæ, or Wreaths of Brass round it, with Inscriptions upon them. On the Top of it he erected his own Statue, with this Inscription, CONSTANTINUS. It blazed like the Sun, was made by the famous Phidias, and was brought from Athens. Upon the Pedestal of the Pillar were carved in Basso Relievo, the seven and twelve Baskets of Fragments, which were taken up in the Miracles of the Loaves and Fishes, and beneath were inscribed the following Verses.
To thee, O Saviour, Lord of th’ Universe,
Who rulest the unmeasurable Globe
With deepest Knowledge, I this People offer;
May they be thine; I conquer’d them for thee.
I lay m’ Imperial Sceptre at thy Feet,
With all the mighty Force and Pow’r of Rome.
Let thy good Providence with watchful Eye