The present Inhabitants of _Constantinople_ tell you, that Old _Byzantium_ stood within the Compass of the first Hill in the Imperial Precinct, where the _Grand Seignor’s Seraglio_ now stands: but I am of Opinion, from what follows it will appear, that it was of a larger Extent. Our modern Writers describe its Situation thus; that it began at the Wall of the Citadel, stretched itself to the Tower of _Eugenius_, and that it rose gradually up to the _Strategium_, the _Bagnio_ of _Achilles_, and the _Urbicion_. From thence it pass’d on to the _Chalcopratia_, and the _Miliarium Aureum_, where there was another _Urbicion_ of the _Byzantians_: Thence it lengthen’d to the Pillars of _Zonarius_, from whence, after a gentle Descent, it winded round by the _Manganæ_ and the _Bagnio’s_ of _Arcadius_, up to the _Acropolis_. I am inclinable to credit all these Writers, excepting only _Eustathius_, who tells us, that the _Athenians_ made use of _Byzantium_, a small City, to keep their Treasure in. But _Zosimus_, a more ancient Historian, describes _Byzantium_ after this Manner: _It was seated_, says he, _on a Hill, which took up part of the_ Isthmus, _and was bounded by a Bay called_ Cheras, _and the_ Propontis. _At the End of the_ Portico’s _built by_ Severus _the Emperor, it had a Gate set up, upon his Reconciliation with the Inhabitants, for giving Protection to_ Niger _his Enemy. The Wall of_ Byzantium _extended itself from the Eastern Part of the City to the Temple of_ Venus, _and the Sea over-against_ Chrysopolis: _from the North it descended to the Dock, and so onward to the Sea, which faces the_ Black Sea, _and through which you sail into it_. This, says he, was the ancient Extent of the City; but _Dionysius_, a more ancient Writer than _Zosimus_, as appears by his Account, which was written before its Destruction by _Severus_, tells us, that _Byzantium_ contain’d in Compass at least forty Furlongs, which is a much greater Extent than the preceding Writers reported it. _Herodian_ informs us, that _Byzantium_, in the Time of _Severus_, was the greatest City in all _Thrace_. CHAP. III. _Of the Rebuilding of_ Byzantium _by_ Constantine the Great, _and the Largeness of it in his Time_.