| On the river Danube: | |
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| In the interior: | |
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| And others beyond number. | |
- Mysias,
- Erculente,
- Scatrina,
- Appiara,
- Exentaprista,
- Deoniana,
- Limo,
- Odyssus,
- Bidigis,
- Arina,
- Nicopolis,
- Zicideba,
- Poliscastellum,
- Cistidizus,
- Basternas,
- Metalla,
- Veripara,
- Spadizus,
- Marcerota,
- Bodas,
- Zisnudeba,
- Turules,
- Monteregine,
- Becis,
- Altina,
- Maurovalle,
- Justinianopolis,
- Therma,
- Gemellomuntes,
- Asilba,
- Cuscana,
- Cuscum,
- Fossatum,
- Bisdina,
- Marcianopolis,
- Scythias,
- Grapso,
- Nono,
- Trosmes,
- Naisduno,
- Rhesidina,
- Constantiana,
- Callatis,
- Bassidina,
- Beledina,
- Abrittus,
- Rubusta,
- Diniscarta,
- Tigra,
- Scedeba,
- Novas.
- 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.
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.