Besides the Imperial _Portico_, which stood near the Library, there were also other _Portico’s_ at a little Distance from it, which reach’d from the Palace to the _Forum_ of _Constantine_. The first Fire, which happen’d in the Reign of _Justinian_, consumed the Palace and the Church of St. _Sophia_, both the long _Portico_’s, as far as the _Forum of Constantine_. _Cedrinus_ says, that besides these, it destroy’d also the _Chalca_ and the _Augusteum_. The Fire that happen’d afterwards in the Reign of _Basiliscus_, began at the _Chalcopratia_, burnt down the two adjoining _Portico’s_, all the neighbouring Buildings, the _Basilica_, in which was the Library, two _Portico’s_ which stood between the Palaces, and all the fine Ornaments of the _Lausus_. These _Portico’s_ have been often burnt, and as often rebuilt; first of all by _Justinian_, then by others, and last by _Domninus_, which is confirm’d by a modern Historian, who says, That when _Constantinople_ was taken by the _Gauls_ and the _Venetians_, the cover’d _Portico_’s of _Domninus_ reaching on both Sides of the Way, from the _Miliarium_ to the Forum of _Constantine_, were burnt to the Ground. Some say, That in the Time of _Constantine the Great_, _Eubulus_ built four double _Portico’s_, which were arch’d at Top, and reach’d from the Palace to the Land Wall of the City; one of which stretch’d as far as the Church of St. _Anthony_, at the End of the City, another from the Port of _Sophia_, to the Church named _Rabdon_; the other two extended themselves from the _Chalca_, and the _Miliarium_ to the _Forum_ of _Constantine_, the Street call’d _Taurus_, and the _Brazen Bull_. All of them were paved with square Marble, and adorn’d with infinite Numbers of Statues. These Relations, though they come from unknown Authors, who, as I have sometimes observed, have not so strictly adhered to Truth, yet seem to carry with them a good Face of Probability, since it is evident from Historians of more Veracity, how industrious _Constantine_ was in adorning the City; and ’tis no less evident from the _Treatise of the ancient Description of the Wards_, that _Constantinople_, in the Reigns of _Arcadius_ and _Honorius_, had no less than fifty two publick _Portico’s_, five of which the Author places in the fourth _Ward_, in which stood the _Basilica_, the Imperial _Portico_, and the _Portico_ of _Fannio_; besides which, he places four large _Portico’s_ in the sixth _Ward_. In the same _Ward_ he places another large _Portico_. He adds, that the seventh _Ward_ abounds with _Portico’s_, and that the eighth _Ward_ had six _Portico’s_ more. In the ninth _Ward_ were two large _Portico’s_. The tenth had six, the eleventh four. From which it is credible, that the _Portico’s_ stood very thick from the _Chalca_ to the Land Wall, but I cannot say they were contiguous beyond the _Taurus_. CHAP. XXIII. _Of the_ Miliarium Aureum _and its Statues, and of the_ Fortune _of the City, and her Statue_.