Byzantine Constantinople, the walls of the city and adjoining historical sites
John Stuart Mill · en
This opinion prevailed in Constantinople also in the sixteenth century,
for Leunclavius was informed by Zygomales that the Towers of Anemas were
the Towers of the Pentapyrgion,[538] the name given to the citadel
formed by the Walls of Heraclius and Leo.
NOTE.—For the illustrations facing respectively pp. 150, 156, and
for the lower illustration facing p. 162, I am indebted to the
kindness of my colleague, Professor W. Ormiston. The photographs
were taken on the 10th of July, 1894, shortly before the occurrence
of the severe earthquake which has made that day memorable in
Constantinople. Our situation in the chambers at such a time was not
enviable. But we learned that day what an earthquake meant in the
old history of the walls of the city.
[Illustration: View of the Interior of “The Prison of Anemas” Looking
North-West (Being The Substructures Supporting The Palace of
Blachernæ).]
There is nothing in this view opposed to the fact that the Tower of
Anemas stood in the city walls near the Palace of Blachernæ; and a
strong argument in its favour may be based upon the association of the
tower with the Xylo Porta by Leonard of Scio, when he relates to Pope
Nicholas how Jerome from Italy, and Leonardo de Langasco from Genoa, at
the head of their companions-in-arms, guarded the Xylo Porta and the
towers named Avenides (clearly Anemades): “Hieronymus Italianus,
Leonardus de Langasco, Genovensis, cum multis sociis, Xylo Portam et
turres quos Avenides vocant, impensis cardinalis reparatas,
spectabant.”[539] This statement is repeated by Zorzo Dolfin.[540]
The Xylo Porta, without question, was at Aivan Serai Kapoussi, to the
north of the Wall of Heraclius, and immediately beside the Golden
Horn;[541] and the towers which would most appropriately be entrusted to
soldiers defending that entrance are the towers nearest to it, _viz._
the three towers of the Heraclian Wall. At all events, the designation,
“turres Avenides,” as used by Leonard of Scio, must include them, even
if it comprised others also.
One thing is certain; the commonly accepted view that the towers N and S
represent, respectively, the historical Towers of Isaac Angelus and of
Anemas must, in one way or another, be corrected.
NOTE.
Two or three additional passages which bear upon the question under
discussion may be noticed, notwithstanding their vagueness.