Narrative of Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in the Seventeenth Century, Vol. IEvliya Çelebi
History
Narrative of Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in the Seventeenth Century, Vol. I
Evliya Çelebi
Caucasus, South -- Description and travel; Istanbul (Turkey) -- Description and travel; Turkey -- History
Its first name in the Latin tongue was Makdúniyyah (Macedonia); then
Yánkóvíchah in the Syrian (Suryání), from its founder Yánkó. Next
in the Hebrew (’Ibrí) Alkesándeïrah (Alexandria) from Alexander;
afterwards Púzenteh (Byzantium); then for a time, in the language
of the Jews, Vezendúniyyeh; then by the Franks Yaghfúriyyeh. When
Constantine had rebuilt it the ninth time, it was called Púznátiyám
in the language of the Greeks, and Kostantaniyyeh; in German
Kostantín-ópól; in the Muscovite tongue Tekúriyyah; in the language
of Africa, Ghiránduviyyeh; in Hungarian, Vizendú-vár; in Polish,
Kanátúryah; in Bohemian, Aliyáná; in Swedish (Esfaj), Khiraklibán;
in Flemish, Isteghániyyeh; in French, Aghrándónah; in Portuguese,
Kósatiyah; in Arabic, Kostantínah; in Persian, Kaïsari Zemín; in
Indian, Takhti Rúm (the throne of Rome); in Moghól, Hákdúrkán; in
Tátár, Sakálibah; in the language of the ’Osmánlús, Islámbúl. Towards
the sea it was never defended by a ditch, which is there superfluous,
but by a single wall; but to guard the entrance of the Bosporus and
Hellespont, and to increase the security of the city, the castles
called Kilídu-l-bahreïn (_i.e._ the key of the two seas), were built.
It is said to have had three hundred and sixty-six gates in the time of
Constantine, who left only twenty-seven open, and walled up the rest,
the places of which are still visible.
SECTION V.
_Concerning the circumference of Constantinople._
In the year 1044 (1634) when I was first come to years of manhood, and
used to walk with my friends all over Islámbúl, at the time that Sultán
Murád IV. had marched against (Riván) Eriván, and Kójah Baïrám Páshá
was left as Káyim-makám (viceroy), he used to visit my late father;
and, in the course of conversation, inquire about the history of
Islámbúl. “My lord,” said my father, “it has been built nine times, and
nine times destroyed; but had never, since it has been in the hands of
the house of ’Osmán, fallen into such decay as now, when waggons might
be any where driven through the walls.” He then suggested to the Páshá,
that this city, being the envy of the kings of the earth, and the royal
residence of the house of ’Osmán, it would be unworthy him to suffer
its walls to remain in that ruinous condition during the period of his
government; and that when the Sultán returned victorious from Riván, he
would be overjoyed on seeing “the good city,” his nest, as brilliant
as a pearl, and compensate this service by large remunerations, while
the name of the Páshá would also be blessed by future generations for
so meritorious a work. All who were present applauded what my father
had said, and he concluded by repeating the _Fátihah_. The Mólláhs
of Islámbúl, Iyyúb, Ghalatah, and Uskudár (Scutari), the Shehr emíní
(superintendent of the town), four chief architects, Seybánbáshí (the
third in rank among the officers of the Janissaries), and all other men
in office were immediately summoned together, with the Imáms of the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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