Iron money was coined at Byzantium for the home circulation, that the silver might be used for foreign trade and the purposes of war. It was current in the Peloponnesian war, and bore the Doric name Sidareos (Aristoph. Nub. 250; Pollux, vii. § 106, ix. § 78; Hesych. s. v.; Böckh, Econ. Ath. p. 596, trans.). None of this iron money is now extant. For coins of this city, see Eckhel, vol. ii. p. 26; Rasche, vol. i. p. 1636: Bandur. vol. ii. p. 456. The dialect of the district appears to have contained many Dorisms. (Dem. l. c.; Chandler, Inscript. Append. p. 95.) The origin of the Byzantine church is somewhat uncertain: the modern Greeks, in their zeal not to yield to the Latins the advantage of antiquity, attribute its foundation to the Apostle St. Andrew. It is certain that during the time of Severus there were many Christians at Byzantium. (Le Quien, Orient. Christ. vol. i. pp. 8, 196; Tertull. ad Scapul. v. 3; Le Beau, Bas Emp. vol. i. p. 300.) Ancient Byzantium was situated on the first of the seven hills upon which, rising one above another, the modern city stands; but its area occupied more than the first region of the later town. In all probability it extended over the three regions which lie behind the triangular space now filled by the Seraglio. According to Dionysius of Byzantium, its circumference was 40 stadia. (Comp. Zosim. ii. 30; Gyllius, de Top. Const. i. 2.) COIN OF BYZANTIUM. |
II. Foundation of Constantinople. It was upon this gently sloping promontory, which serves as a connecting link between the Eastern and the Western world, and which nature has intended for the centre of a great monarchy, that Constantine, after determining to remove the seat of empire from the banks of the Tiber, determined to fix the city which bore the name of its founder. The modern European, as well as the Arabic (Constanije) name of the city, preserves the memory of the first emperor of the East. The Turkish Istambul or Stambul, is a corruption of the Greek ἐις τὴν πόλιν. Like the ancient mistress of the world, its foundations were to be laid upon seven hills, and the emperor called it the New Rome,—a title which he confirmed by a law, engraved on a column of marble, in a place called the Strategion; but, however much his capital might outwardly resemble the elder Rome, it was not permitted to bear the name of the Eternal City. The foundations of the city were laid according to an Imperial edict (Theodos. Cod. xiii. 5. s. 7), in obedience to the commands of Heaven. On foot with a lance in his hand, the emperor led a stately procession which was to mark the boundaries of Constantinople. As he did not pause, the attendants, astonished at the enormous size of the future capital, asked him how far he intended to advance. Constantine replied "when He that goes before me shall stop." (Philostorg. ii. 9.) At a later period, the honour of having inspired the choice of a founder was attributed to the Virgin Mother, who became the tutelary guardian of the city. Constantinople arose, if not a Christian, certainly not a Pagan city. The ceremonial of the dedication exhibited that strange compound of religions of which Constantine himself was a type. After a most splendid exhibition of chariot games in the Hippodrome, the emperor was carried in a magnificent car through the most public part of the city, surrounded by his guards, in the attire of some religious ceremonial with torches in their hands. The emperor bore a golden statue of the Fortune of the city in his hands. The rites of inauguration lasted forty days, though the 11th of May, A.D. 330, is considered as the birth-day of the city.
III. Extent, Limits, and Population. |
Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography Volume I Part 1.djvu/677
Jump to navigation
Jump to search