The Antiquities of Constantinople (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Renaissance Survey of Byzantine Monuments, Ottoman Istanbul Topography, and Classical RuinsBy Pierre Gilles
Length10h 9m
About this audiobook
The Antiquities of Constantinople is a foundational humanist survey of the city's ancient topography, monuments, inscriptions, churches, cisterns, columns, and imperial ruins. Written in a learned yet observant prose, it combines classical erudition with eyewitness description, attempting to reconcile Byzantine remains with Greek and Roman textual authorities. In the literary context of Renaissance antiquarianism, the book stands beside the great topographical studies of Rome, but turns that method toward a city newly transformed under Ottoman rule. Pierre Gilles, or Petrus Gyllius, was a sixteenth-century French scholar, naturalist, and traveler whose command of Greek and Latin equipped him to read Constantinople as both a physical site and a historical text. Sent eastward in the orbit of French royal and diplomatic interests, he encountered a city whose visible fabric preserved fragments of empire, theology, and conquest. His antiquarian curiosity, sharpened by direct exploration, gave the work its enduring authority. This book is recommended to readers of Byzantine history, classical reception, urban archaeology, and Renaissance scholarship. It rewards anyone interested in how cities survive through ruins, memory, and interpretation.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreHistory
Length10 hrs 9 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateDec 12, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
48Chap. XXIII. Of the Miliarium Aureum and its Statues, and of the Fortune of the City, and her Statue .
2THE PREFACE OF THE AUTHOR, Describing the Situation of Constantinople , the Conveniences of its Port, and the Commodities in which it abounds.
49Chap. XXIV. Of the Temple of Neptune, of the Church of St. Mina, (or Menna) of the Stadia, and the Stairs of Timasius.
3THE ANTIQUITIES OF Constantinople . BOOK I.
50Chap. 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.
4Chap. I. Of the Founders of Byzantium, and the different Successes and Revolutions of that City .
51THE ANTIQUITIES OF Constantinople . BOOK III.
5Chap. II. Of the Extent of Old Byzantium.
52Chap. I. Of several Places in the fifth Ward, and the second Hill; of the Neorium; of the Port nam’d the Bosporium; of the Strategium, and the Forum of Theodosius.
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6Chap. III. Of the Rebuilding of Byzantium by Constantine the Great, and the Largeness of it in his Time .
53Chap. II. Of the sixth Ward, and the remaining ancient Buildings of the second Hill.
7Chap. IV. Of the present Figure, Compass, Length and Breadth of Constantinople.
54Chap. III. Of the Porphyry Pillar, the Forum of Constantine, and the Palladium.
8Chap. V. A general Description of Constantinople.
55Chap. IV. Of the Senate-House; the Nympheum; the Statues of the Forum of Constantine; of the Philadelphium; the Musæum; the Labarum and Syparum; of the Death of Arius; of the Temples of Tellus, Ceres, Persephone; of Juno and Pluto.
9Chap. VI. Of the Situation of all the Parts of the City describ’d.
56Chap. V. Of the Seventh Ward.
10Chap. VII. Of the first Hill, of the Palace of the Grand Seignor, of the Church of St. Sophia, and the Hippodrom.
57Chap. VI. Of the Street called Taurus, the Forum of Theodosius, the Pillar of Theodosius with Winding Stairs, of the Tetrapylum, the Pyramidical Engine of the Winds, the Statues of Arcadius and Honorius, of the Churches of Hirena and Anastasia, and the Rocks called Scyronides.
11Chap. VIII. Of the first Valley.
58Chap. VII. Of the eighth Ward, and the Hind-part of the third Hill .
12Chap. IX. Of the second Hill.
59Chap. VIII. Of the ninth Ward; of the Temple of Concord; of the Granaries of Alexandria and Theodosius; of the Baths of Anastasia, of the House of Craterus; of the Modius, and the Temple of the Sun and Moon.
13Chap. X. Of the second Valley, which divides the second from the third Hill.
60Chap. IX. Of the third Valley, and the tenth Ward; of the House of Placidia, and her Palace; of the Aqueduct of Valentinian, the Bagnio’s of Constantine, and the Nympheum.
14Chap. XI. Of the third Hill.
61THE ANTIQUITIES OF Constantinople . BOOK IV.
15Chap. XII. Of the third Valley.
62Chap. I. Of the Eleventh Ward, and of the Fourth and Fifth Hills.
16Chap. XIII. Of the fourth Hill.
63Chap. II. Of the Church of the Apostles, the Sepulchre of Constantine the Great, the Cistern of Arcadius and Modestus, of the Palace of Placilla, and the Brazen Bull.
17Chap. XIV. Of the Fifth Hill.
64Chap. III. Of the Sixth Hill, and the Fourteenth Ward.
18Chap. XV. Of the Fifth Valley.
65Chap. IV. Of the Hepdomum, a Part of the Suburbs; of the Triclinium of Magnaura; of the Cyclobion; of the Statue of Mauritius, and his Armory; and of the Place called the Cynegium.
19Chap. XVI.
66Chap. V. Of the Blachernæ, the Triclinium of the Blachernæ, the Palace, the Aqueduct and many other Places of Antiquity .
20Chap. XVII. Of the Valley which divides the Promontory from the seventh Hill .
67Chap. VI. Of the Bridge near the Church of St. Mamas; of his Hippodrom; of the Brazen Lyon, and the Sepulchre of the Emperor Mauritius.
21Chap. XVIII. Of the seventh Hill.
68Chap. VII. Of the seventh Hill, the twelfth Ward, and of the Pillar of Arcadius.
22Chap. XIX. Of the Walls of the City.
69Chap. VIII. Of the Statues, and the antient Tripos of Apollo, standing in the Xerolophon.
23Chap. XX. Of the Gates of Constantinople, and the seven Towers of Old Byzantium.
70Chap. IX. Of the Columns now remaining on the Seventh Hill.
24Chap. XXI. Of the long Walls.
71Chap. X. Of the Thirteenth Ward of the City, call’d the Sycene Ward, of the Town of Galata, sometimes nam’d Pera.
25THE ANTIQUITIES OF Constantinople . BOOK II.
72Chap. XI. A Description of Galata; of the Temples of Amphiaraus, Diana, and Venus; of the Theatre of Sycæ, and the Forum of Honorius.
26Chap. I. Of the Buildings and Monuments of Old Byzantium and Constantinople, called New Rome.
73APPENDIX.
27Chap. II. Of the Ancient Monuments of the first Hill, and of the first Ward of the City .
74AN Explanatory Index .
28Chap. III. Of the Church of St. Sophia.
75A DESCRIPTION Of the CITY of Constantinople , As it stood in the Reigns of Arcadius and Honorius .
29Chap. IV. A Description of the Church of St. Sophia, as it now appears .
76A DESCRIPTION Of the WARDS of Constantinople .
30Chap. V. Of the Statues discover’d on one Side of the Church of St. Sophia.
77The first Region , or Ward .
31Chap. VI. Of the Pharo on the Promontory Ceras, and the Mangana.
78The Second Ward .
32Chap. VII. Of the Bagnio’s of Zeuxippus and its Statues .
79The Third Ward .
33Chap. VIII. Of the Hospitals of Sampson and Eubulus.
80The Fourth Ward .
34Chap. IX. Of the Statue of Eudoxia Augusta, for which St. Chrysostom was sent into Banishment .
81The Fifth Ward .
35Chap. X. Of those Parts of the City which are contain’d in the third Ward.
82The Sixth Ward .
36Chap. XI. Of the Hippodrom, its Obelisk, its Statues, and Columns.
83The Seventh Ward .
37Chap. XII. Of the Colossus.
84The Eighth Ward .
38Chap. XIII. Of some other Columns in the Hippodrom.
85The Ninth Ward .
39Chap. XIV. Of the Church of Bacchus, the Court of Hormisda, and the House of Justinian.
86The Tenth Ward .
40Chap. XV. Of the Port of Julian, and Sophia; of the Portico nam’d Sigma, and the Palace of Sophia.
87The Eleventh Ward .
41Chap. XVI. Of the Fourth Ward.
88The Twelfth Ward .
42Chap. XVII. Of the Forum called the Augustæum, of the Pillar of Theodosius, and Justinian, and the Senate-House.
89The Thirteenth Ward .
43Chap. XVIII. Of the Imperial Palace, the Basilica; of the Palace of Constantine, and the House of Entrance nam’d Chalca.
90The Fourteenth Ward .
44Chap. XIX. Of the Basilica, and the Imperial Walks .
91A Summary View of the whole City.
45Chap. XX. Of the Imperial Library, and Portico; as also of the Imperial Cistern.
92Some Account of the Suburbs as they are mention’d in the Codes and Law-Books.
46Chap. XXI. Of the Chalcopratia.
93Of the present Buildings of Constantinople.
47Chap. XXII. Of the Portico’s situate between the Palace, and the Forum of Constantine.
94Memorable Quotes
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