The Antiquities of Constantinople: With a Description of Its Situation, the Conveniencies of Its Port, Its Publick Buildings, the Statuary, Sculpture, Architecture, and Other Curiosities of That CityGilles, Pierre
History
The Antiquities of Constantinople: With a Description of Its Situation, the Conveniencies of Its Port, Its Publick Buildings, the Statuary, Sculpture, Architecture, and Other Curiosities of That City
Gilles, Pierre
Istanbul (Turkey) -- Antiquities; Istanbul (Turkey) -- Description and travel; Turkey -- Antiquities
I cannot omit taking Notice of the Church of St. _Mina_, because it
shews in what Part of the City the fourth _Ward_ stood, which contained
the _Basilica_, the _Augusteum_, and the Church of St. _Mina_. The
History of an unknown Author reports, that _Byzas_ formerly built a
Temple to _Neptune_, near the _Acropolis_, by the Sea, where, he says,
that in his Time stood the Church of St. _Mina_ the Martyr; though he
seems to contradict himself, where he says, that the Church of St.
_Mina_ was formerly the Temple of _Jupiter_, and that the Roof of it,
which was arched with Marble, was supported with two large Pillars.
So that I can conclude nothing from the Uncertainty of this Writer,
but that it seems more probable to me, that the Church of St. _Mina_
stood in those Parts of the _Acropolis_, in which formerly stood the
Temple of _Neptune_, as appears from _Dionysius_ an antient Writer of
_Byzantium_, who says, that a little above the _Promontory_ of the
_Bosporus_, was erected an Altar to _Minerva Egressoria_, and the
Temple of _Neptune_; and that below the Temple of _Neptune_ were the
_Stadia_, and the _Gymnasia_, where they diverted themselves with
martial Sports and Exercises, as I have shewn more at large in my
Treatise of the _Bosporus_. I am confirmed in this Opinion from the
Information of some of the Inhabitants now living, who told me, that
within the Imperial Precinct, formerly called the _Acropolis_, stood
the Church of St. _Mina_. The _Antient Description of the Wards of the
City_ tells us, that the Church of St. _Mina_ stood in the same Ward
with the _Stadia_, and the Stairs of _Timasius_. _Procopius_ writes,
_That at the Place called the_ Stadium, _near the Sea, where they
exercised themselves in martial Sports, the Emperor_ Justinian, _and
his Empress_ Theodora, _built some large Inns for the Entertainment of
Strangers_.
CHAP. XXV.
_Of the_ Lausus, _and its Statues; namely, a_ Venus _of_ Cnidos,
_a_ Juno _of_ Samos, _a_ Minerva _of_ Lindia, _a winged_ Cupid, _a_
Jupiter Olympius, _a_ Saturn, _Unicorns, Tygers, Vultures, Beasts
that are half Camels, and half Panthers; of the_ Cistern _of the
Hospital called_ Philoxenos, _and the_ Chrysotriclinium.
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