_The_ Porta Aurea.] The _Greeks_ call it ὡραία both on the account of its own Beautifulness, and that of the neighbouring Buildings; so that it is a palpable Mistake in those who call it _Porta Neoria_ from the Dock, which is near to it. I take this to be the same Gate which _Zonaras_ mentions in his Life of _Leo_ the Philosopher. He calls it the Western Gate of the Golden _Triclinium_, from whence it is call’d the _Porta Aurea_, as is observ’d by _Nicetas_ in his Life of _Alexius Ducas, Marzulfus_, and in the _History_ of their Atchievements, after they had taken the City; as also by _Nicephorus Gregoras_, in his _Treatise_ entituled, _The Entry of_ Michael Palæologus _into the City_. In this Gate it is reported, the Elephants were stabled, which were much like those with which _Theodosius_ made his publick Entry into _Constantinople_, as ’tis mention’d by _Cedrinus_. Some Historians tell us, that they were transported to _Constantinople_ from the Temple of _Mars Atheniensis_. This Gate stood Easterly, facing the Sea, and as _Nicephorus_ observes, overlook’d the Imperial Citadel through the City to a great Distance, and that from thence you might look very far backwards into the Inland Countries. This Gate, in a direct Line, was distant from the Sea-shore fourteen thousand and seventy five Feet, so that the City was about three Miles in Length. _The_ Portico’s _of_ Troas.] I believe these _Portico’s_ took their Name either from the People of _Troas_, who, while they continued there, built them; or from some Part of the City so call’d, or because some Goods and Merchandize were imported thither from _Troas_, as I observed before of the Granaries of _Troas_. _A Column with winding Stairs on its Inside._] Upon this Pillar was erected the Statue of _Theodosius_, which, as _Zonaras_ writes, was near the _Porta Aurea_, and fell down in the Reign of _Leo Isaurus_. _Gyllius_ is of Opinion, that this was the Statue of _Arcadius_, that the Shaft of it, with the Pedestal and Capital, consisted of twenty one Stones; and adds, that the Battels of _Theodosius_ were carv’d upon it. The Thirteenth _Ward_. _The thirteenth_ Ward _is call’d the_ Sycæne Ward, _which is divided from the City by a narrow Bay of the Sea, and maintains an Intercourse with it by Boats, and small Vessels. It stands wholly upon the Side of it, except a broad Tract of Land, which lies Level, at the Foot of it, near the Sea-shore. It contains one Church, the_ Bagnio’s _and_ Forum _of_ Honorius; _A Theatre; A Dock for Ship-building; four hundred and thirty one great Houses; one large_ Portico; _five private_ Bagnio’s; _one publick, and four private Mills; with eight_ Gradus. _It has one_ Curator, _one_ Vernaculus, _thirty four_ Collegiati, _and five_ Vico-Magistri. NOTES.