Byzantine Constantinople, the walls of the city and adjoining historical sites
John Stuart Mill · en
_Ibid._, iii. p. 49; _ibid._, pp. 102, 103.
Footnote 983:
Anonymus, iii. p. 48. The name appears also under the forms Ψαμάθεα
(Codinus, p. 109); τῶν Ὕψωμαθίων (Phrantzes, p. 253); τοῦ Ψωμαθέως
(Constant. Porphyr., _De Administratione Imperii_, c. 43). The quarter
boasted of a palace and gerocomion, ascribed to St. Helena (Anonymus,
_ut supra_), a monastery (Constant. Porphyr., _ut supra_), and the
Church of the Theotokos Peribleptos (Soulou Monastir).
Footnote 984:
_De Cer._, pp. 562, 563.
Footnote 985:
Page 349.
Footnote 986:
Theophanes Cont., p. 223.
Footnote 987:
See account of his treatment at Constantinople in his fifteenth
Epistle.
Footnote 988:
Nicetas Chon., p. 347.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE HARBOURS ON THE SEA OF MARMORA.
The number of harbours found, at one time or other, on the southern
shore of the city formed one of the most striking features in the aspect
of Byzantine Constantinople. This was not due to any natural facilities
offered by that shore for the purpose. On the contrary, although the
outline of the coast is very irregular, it presents no bay where ships
may be moored for the convenience of commerce, or into which they can
find refuge from storms. The waves, moreover, cast up great quantities
of sand upon the beach. Hence, all the harbours on this side of the city
were, to a great measure, artificial extensions of some indentation of
the coast, and their construction and maintenance involved great labour
and expense. They ranked, in fact, among the principal public works of
the capital. But the interests of commerce with the regions around the
Sea of Marmora and with the Mediterranean were so great, and the
difficulty which vessels coming from those regions often found to make
the Golden Horn, owing to the prevalence of north winds, was so serious
as to outweigh all drawbacks or impediments, and secured for the
accommodation of the shipping frequenting this side of the city no less
than five harbours. These harbours were probably constructed in the
following chronological order: the Harbour of Eleutherius, known also as
the Harbour of Theodosius; the Harbour of the Emperor Julian, known also
as the New Harbour, and as the Harbour of Sophia; the Harbour of
Kaisarius, the same probably as the Neorion at the Heptascalon; the
Harbour of the Bucoleon; and the Kontoscalion. We shall consider them in
the order of their position on the shore, proceeding from east to west.
[Illustration: Map of the Shore of Constantinople on the Sea of Marmora
Between the Seraglio Lighthouse and Daoud Pasha Kapoussi.]
Harbour of the Bucoleon.