Appendix to the Works of Michael Psellus

APPENDIX TO THE WORKS OF MICHAEL PSELLUS

ANONYMOUS ON THE ANTIQUITIES OF CONSTANTINOPLE

BOOKS OR FOUR PARTS. (Ans. Banduri, *Imperium Orientale*, vol. I.)

The name of the author of these *Origins of Constantinople* is unknown; but it is argued from the iambics placed at the beginning and dedicated to the Emperor Alexius that he lived under Alexius Comnenus; from which it is also easy to believe that our writer was a monk by profession, since he there praises Alexius at length for his munificence and liberality towards monks (a). He therefore precedes Codinus by about three hundred and fifty years; Codinus, indeed, drew most of his information from our writer, but in many things he disagrees with him; nor does he observe the same order in describing the city. For Codinus, having observed no order, enumerates the buildings of Constantinople without assigning their location; but on the contrary, our Anonymous describes the city distributed into three parts in an orderly fashion; and indeed in the first book, the first part of the city, which began from the Palace of Chalce, and from the Milion to the Golden Gate; in the second book, the second part, which began from the Tzykanisterion, the Church of the Hodegetria, and the Mangana up to Blachernae; in the third book, the third part, which began from the other side of Saint Sergius and the palaces of Sophianae up to the western walls of the Great Gates. Likewise, in this same book, he treats of the suburban palaces and monasteries: concerning the Peratic monasteries and those across the strait. Finally, in the fourth book, our Anonymous treats of the structure of the Church of Saint Sophia, which appears in many respects different from the published accounts. The various readings for the most part, which are found in our Commentaries, were provided by Royal codex no. 3058.3 (which we call 2, to distinguish it from Royal codex no. 3028.4, from which we transcribed the first four books of the *Antiquities*, and which we call I) and the Colbert codex no. 3607. The style, moreover, of our Anonymous is varied and uneven, as one who, I judge, stitched together his work from various writers of the *Origins* or *Antiquities of Constantinople*, and from other chroniclers who flourished before him, according to the custom of the authors of that age. He drew, therefore, from the short work of Hesychius of Miletus, which is titled *Περὶ τῶν πατρίων*, or *On the Origins of Constantinople*, and from another short work of the same title and subject, by the author Christodorus, son of Pasniscus, of Coptos, whom Suidas and Eudocia Augusta praise in their *Ionia*, a work in manuscript often cited by us in our *Commentaries*. Perhaps also from other writers of the same subject, who are cited by Porphyrogenitus in book II of *De thematibus*, chapter 12; furthermore, from the author of the *Alexandrian Chronicle*, Theophanes, Cedrenus, and the remaining writers of Byzantine history. As for the rest, the peculiar words and phrases which our Anonymous uses are noted in our *Commentaries* in their proper places and explained (b).

(a) The arguments of Casimir Oudin, by which he wished to attribute these *Antiquities* to Michael Psellus in book II of *De scriptoribus ecclesiasticis*, are proven by Bauduri himself to be very uncertain and slipshod in his Preface to volume I of his *Numismata imperatorum*, Paris, 1718, folio.

(b) We cannot provide space for the entire volume of maximum size, as it is very diffuse.

ANONYMOUS ON THE ANTIQUITIES OF CONSTANTINOPLE

HERE BEGIN, WITH GOD, THE ANTIQUITIES OF THE CITY

Of the founder of Byzantium, and of the site and form of the walls of the same city

The other shape of the city reduced to a different form by Constantine the Great.

^A He added, therefore, a wall from the Tower of Eugenius as far as Saint Antony, and from the Topoi to the Church of the Holy Mother of God, called of the Rod; and it ascended to the Hexakionion. The land wall extended from the Milion and proceeded as far as the old gate of the Forerunner, and to the monastery of Dii and of Icasia; it extended as far as Bonos, and to the Saint Manuel, Sabel, and Ismael, the place where these saints were slain; from here it turned toward the place called Harmatius, and as far as Saint Antony, and bent toward the Tower of Eugenius. This wall endured for one hundred and thirty-two years, during the time of ten emperors. This is the shape of the city under Constantine the Great.

In what year and in what month the founding of the city of Constantinople was celebrated.

It should be known that in the five thousand eight hundred and thirty-fourth year of the world, in the third month of the fourteenth indiction, on the fourth day of the month of November, with the sun being in the sign of Sagittarius, and Cancer ascending, in the first year of the two hundred and seventy-sixth Olympiad, the foundations of the western walls of Constantinople were laid. And when in nine months they had completed the maritime and land wall, along with other urban buildings, on the eleventh of the month of May the dedication of the city took place, and it was named Constantinople.

Concerning the statue of Constantine the Great which was led into the Hippodrome on the birthday of the city. Concerning those who built the city of Constantinople together with Constantine; and concerning the principal buildings erected by the same Augustus in the city.

^B He also decreed that in the future, every year on the birthday of the city, his statue should be brought forth with the accustomed honor, in the presence of the circensian games, for the emperor ^C and the people to behold at the tribunal of the Hippodrome. These things were done in the twelfth year of the reign of Constantine the Great, with the assistance and approval in the construction of the God-guarded Constantinople of Euphratas (I mean the chamberlain), and Urbicius, and Olybrius the praepositus, Isidore and Eustorgius, and Michael the first vestiarius, both patricians, and Onotarsius the prefect, as Eutychianus the grammarian and first secretary, and Eutropius, a certain sophist who was Constantine’s secretary and was also present with the apostate Julian in Persia, as well as Troilus the rhetor (who held many magistracies with glory) and Hesychius the shorthand-writer, have recorded. These all were accurate ^D spectators and witnesses of those things which were done at that time.

In the twelfth year of his reign, he made, as has been said, the city of Byzas greater; he built also the palaces, from the Chalce, and from the Excubiti, and from the Scholae; and he raised there a temple of the Holy Apostles, and the dome of the Heptalychnos, which is preserved even until now within the Scholae; and the tribunal, and those things which are now called the Numera, and which belong to the same palace; furthermore, the nineteen Accubita, and the Stepsimum, and the temple of Saint Stephen, which he used as a winter bedchamber. He also built the Magnaura, and the Lord's

church, and the Genikon, and the Idikon, and the Vestiarium, and the Caballam, and the Sigma, and the Oatum, which lies toward the Nea, stretching as far as the so-called Iron Gate, and the palaces as far as the Geranium, and the Chrysoclavum, and the great bath of the Oeconomia, which is near the Tzycanisterion, which had seven receptacles and twelve porticoes, and a very large pool decorated with figures. And the seven receptacles were in memory of the seven planets; the twelve porticoes represented the temperatures of the twelve months; this stood until the time of the Lord Emperor Nicephorus Phocas. But John Tzimiskes destroyed it, and from its materials he built the Chalke, where he was also buried. ^B Desiring also to build a Hippodrome in imitation of Rome, he found the one of Severus and completed it, namely one part of the tiers, and the two rows of columns and the railings, and the sphendone itself, and the turning-posts, and the factions' seats. He collected all the bronze statues and images from various temples and cities and set them up for the ornamentation of the city; likewise the columns of the walkway, which he adorned with veneers, and having first held a chariot race, he completed the work. The one that has the winged feet was brought from the great Antioch; it is Bellerophon, whom they venerated there. As for the rest of the statues, how many and what they are, and where each came from, and why they were erected, we shall speak in detail at the end.

Concerning the four Roman magistrates and eight patricians whom Constantine the Great brought from Rome to Constantinople; and concerning the buildings erected by them in the same city of Constantinople; and concerning the Scythian expedition of Constantine the Great.

^C When, therefore, Constantine the Great wished his city to be inhabited, or rather wished the Romans to have the seat of the empire in Byzantium, he took their rings—one from every individual—and sent them to Sapor, the king of the Persians. Of these, four were magistrates: Romans, namely Adam, Protasius, Philoxenus, and Scombrus; and eight were patricians: namely Probus, Domninus, Salustius the prefect, Modestus, Eubulus, Darius, Maurus, and Rhodanus, who were sent on an expedition with a great army and spent sixteen months in Persia. Meanwhile, Constantine the Great, having sent envoys to Rome, summoned their wives. Now the envoys carefully observed the location and situation of each of their houses; namely, those houses that were on the seashore and those that were on the mainland; they also observed the stairs that were spiral. ^D Having therefore taken the families of these senators, they returned to Byzantium, and there built buildings of a similar form, and gave them to their families to inhabit. And so, when they had returned as victors from Persia with three hundred and sixty-five centenaria of tribute, the emperor gladly received them, and having made a banquet, he said to them, testing them: "Do you wish to depart for Rome?" They replied, "Not before two months

have passed. The emperor said, "This evening I shall give you your houses." For he had commanded Euphrates, his chamberlain, who had also made the Emperor a Christian, to restore to each of them his own house with his family. When they saw the doorways, the atria, and the staircases set in the same positions, and the same dimensions, form, and height—in short, everything ^A exactly as it was in Rome—they imagined that they were in Rome by some phantasm. But when they found their families as well, they were astonished. Having questioned them and learned exactly how the matter had transpired, then finally they believed that it was no phantasm, but the prudence of the emperor, who had compelled them to inhabit Byzantium even against their will. The places, moreover, were named after them.

Philoxenus built a cistern. Probus founded the temple of the Forerunner, which Constantine Caballinus changed into a workshop, called "the Probus" today. Domninus built a house in the district of the Maurian, in which Agricolaus used to dwell. Darius raised a house for Canatis, the wife of Sclerus. Maurus built a house, which is called "the Bellon." Rhodanus founded a sacred house dedicated to the Mother of God, surnamed "in the Heavens"; it belongs to Mamena. Sallustius built a house, which is called "the Condomytus." Modestus built a house at the Holy Apostles, called "the of Lamprus," which keeps the same name even now.

Eubulus founded three atria and four porticoes, that is to say, ^C vaulted cloisters, from the palace as far as the land walls; one of which began from the Tzycanisterium, the Mangana, the Acropolis, and the tower of Eugenius, and reached as far as Saint Antonius. The other began from the Daphne and the Sophian harbor, and proceeded as far as the church of the Mother of God called the Rhabdos. The remaining two porticoes stretched from the Chalce, the Milion, and the Forum as far as the Taurus, the Bous, and the Exocionium itself. Above the porticoes, moreover, there were walkways paved with square stone, and countless bronze statues for the ornament of the city. He also founded potteries and aqueducts from Bulgaria into the city. He also made vaulted sewers running beneath the entire city, equalling in depth the height of the porticoes, so that, from the stench arising from them, illnesses might not be generated, but all the foul filth might flow through them into the sea. These things, therefore, as has been said, were founded by Urbicius the praepositus, Sallustius the prefect, and the others, while he left to them six hundred centenaria of gold for the ^D building of the porticoes, the aqueducts, and the walls; but he himself led an army against the Scythians, and having subjugated them, he founded cities there: Persthlabas, Distra, Plistcubas, and Constantia. These were built in the space of two years and a half, under the supervision of Hermias. Furthermore, he constructed a church, commonly

^A called Harmatius, in which he placed his court and chariots after he had subjugated the Byzantines. In the name of his three sons he founded palaces, which are called the Constantinian and Constantian [palaces]. He also built the house of Tubaca and that of Iberitzes, which is called the Acropolite. As for the temples and the rest of the buildings which Constantine the Great erected, we shall speak of them later in the book *On Buildings*.

Concerning the earthquake by which the walls of the city of Constantinople were overthrown under Theodosius the Younger, and how they were restored by the same Augustus.

Concerning the Augustion.

Concerning the same Augustion. Why an equestrian statue holding a globe and a cross was erected.

advance further, for it will not benefit you." It is said, therefore, that this same Justinian was puffed up in his spirit by the deeds performed by Belisarius. ^A This Belisarius, having been sent by the emperor against the Persians and the other nations of the East, and having defeated them all, was then sent to Mauritania to attack Gelimer. There, as Pharan was watching and cutting off supplies, Gelimer fell into a great famine of grain, because in Mauritania grain is not sown, but they eat boiled emmer. Then, having sent letters, he requested of the emperor that he send him bread, a sponge, and a lyre. The emperor, being struck with astonishment at this, asked the messenger for what reason he requested these things. He replied, "Bread, because he desires food and wishes to eat; a sponge, to wash his whole body with his tears; and a lyre, to comfort himself in his calamities." Then the emperor, struck with admiration, sent the things requested. For this reason, then, Justinian, puffed up, set himself ^B on horseback upon a column. Later, however, moved by envy against the most valiant general Belisarius, he gouged out his eyes and ordered him to sit at the Lauri monastery, having given him an earthenware vessel so that those passing by might cast an obol into it.

Concerning the statues that are seen erected in the Chalke.

In the Chalke nearby, as it were before the ambulatory of the palace, the celebrated statue of Pulcheria has been erected: likewise also those of Zeno and Ariadne; there, furthermore, other two statues on foot stand upon a small column, adorned with the distichs of Secundus the philosopher. Opposite the arch of the same Chalke are seen two Gorgon heads, with the faces of women, and covered with gold. From the temple of Diana of Ephesus, eight statues were brought, four of which were placed ^C in the palace which is in the region of the Taurus—namely, those of Constantine, Julian, his wife, and his brother Gallus; the remaining four were placed on the left side of the Chalke. In the same place also a cross was placed by Justinian, and a gilded statue of Belisarius, and the statue of Tiberius the Thracian, who was hunchbacked, and the lean-shaped image of Justin the First; likewise, seven statues of his kinsmen, some of marble, others made of bronze. Furthermore, the two horses which stand above the heads of the Gorgons in the aforementioned arch, Justinian the builder of Saint Sophia brought there from the temple of Diana of Ephesus, and erected them upon a column, so that the horses might not seem unequal in beauty; and he placed a cross there so that it might stand more firmly. In the same place likewise is seen the bronze statue of Maximinus of immense size, ^D and also the statues of the whole family of Theodosius now still survive.

Concerning the statues of Maurice.

In the Chalke also are seen the statues of Maurice and his wife and his children, erected by the same Maurice, with hands extended, above the image of Christ; the remaining statues placed there were brought from the land of Attica: among which is one of a certain philosopher, as Ligurius relates. But after Maurice was killed by the tyrant Phocas, a certain deacon named Acatus, one of the followers...

^A of Eutyches the heretic, seeing his instructors defeated, also fled and seized a certain fortress called Serapion; this happened to be in the region of the Persians. He informed Perittius, the garrison commander, of the weakness of those dwelling in Chalcedon, adding that upon seizing it, he [the commander] would be able to subdue them at the first assault. Wherefore the aforesaid Persian without delay set out with seventy thousand soldiers and attacked Chalcedon with such speed that the citizens barely had enough time to transfer the holy relics of Saint Euphemia to Constantinople, against whom that impious traitor Acatus was especially eager to take revenge because she had shamed the writings of their Eutychian heresy, and because they had not been willing to grant that metropolis to the unfortunate Eutyches. Among other things which the Persians carried off by plundering at that time, there was also that golden image of the sun-god, called Cronus, which was worked in enamel, which was taken to Persia and honored as a god. ^B

Why the month of August is so called.

Of the Numera and the Chalce.

Of the bronze statue which was in the gate.

Why, when describing the city, he divides it into three parts, and from what place each part begins.

Of the palaces of the Bucoleon.

Theodosius the Younger founded. But Marcianus constructed a triclinium, which is called the Golden Triclinium.

Of the palace of the Quaestor. Constantine the Great built the palaces of the Quaestor at the Hippodrome.

Of Daphne. The suburb of Daphne was so called because a statue was placed there which was called Daphne. It was brought from Rome, and there was an oracle there; for there, too, the magistrates used to receive laurel crowns in the month of January.

Of the Hippodrome. The Hippodrome ^B takes its name from the fact that from Saint Constantine up to Irene of Athens, the emperors used to drive chariots there privately. Furthermore, Justinian built the Lausiacum.

Of the statue of Fortune. The statue of Fortune, which had been brought from Rome by Constantine the Great and stood above the arch of the palace, the Emperor Maurice crushed.

Of Magnaura. It is said, then, that while ^C Anastasius Dicorus was walking in the triclinium of Constantine the Great, called the Magnaura, in the twenty-seventh year of his reign and in the fourth month, lightnings and thunders occurred around the palace; and when all were terrified and fleeing from place to place, the emperor himself fled into one of the bedchambers which he had built, and there, overtaken by the wrath of God, he was found dead. They say, however, that after he had been buried in the church of the Holy Apostles, on the following day he cried out, “Have mercy, have mercy, and open.” But when the guards replied that another was already reigning, he said, “I do not care; take me to a monastery and make me a monk.” And they left him there. They say that some time later his tomb was opened, and he was found eating his own arms and the boots he was wearing; and he cried out in a loud voice, “O Mana, I am perishing from the aura.” And this voice was heard by some of his servants. And therefore his triclinium was called Magnaura, from *Mana* and from the fiery *aura*.

Of the temple of the Savior, which is in the Chalce. Romanus the Elder ^D built the temple of the Savior in the Chalce, with the altar, as it is seen now, furnished with two small columns; he also instituted twelve clerics there. John Zimisces, however, enlarged it and adorned it, expanding it with much gold and silver; and he appointed thirty-six clerics, assigning to them stipends and rations, and thirty coins to each. Moreover, he donated to the temple the sacred vessels, crowns, sceptres, platters, candelabra, and the imperial robes and vestments which he possessed by a special right. Likewise, he consecrated his immovable goods to it. From a military expedition he also brought the sacred image of the crucified Christ from Berytus, and the holy sandals of Christ and our God, [placed] in a chest [made] of gold and precious

^A stones. He also made his own sepulcher there, entirely of molten gold, in which he was also laid.

Concerning the statues that are above the Milion.

In the vault of the Milion are the statues of Constantine and Helena. There, the cross is also seen, looking toward the east, being carried by them; and in the middle of the cross is the Fortune of the city, which is a key-locked and enchanted mechanism, [protecting it] from every kind of [harm] without fail, and bringing victory against ^B all nations, so that they no longer have the strength either to approach or to touch these things in the city, but rather to keep at a distance and retreat as if defeated. In this same Milion, three statues are seen standing: that of Sophia, the wife of Justin the Thracian; of Arabia, their daughter; and of Helena, their granddaughter.

Concerning the statue of Theodosius.

In the said Milion, an equestrian statue of Theodosius stands, made of bronze, holding an orb in his hand; at its dedication he himself distributed a very large ^C grain ration to those in the city. The columns, with their bases, and likewise those in the Artopolia, and those of the Tzyccalarioi, and those existing in the Chalke, contain many histories, which he himself gilded for their adornment.

Concerning the temple of the Theologian.

Phocas the tyrant built the temple of Saint Phocas from the foundations in the Milion, but without roofing it. For there was the exchange of the horses of the public circuit, the place where he [Phocas] hamstrung the horses when he was beaten with a staff by the emperor Maurice, because he dared to tie to his lance the missive which he was bringing, having been sent ^D from the army in Longobardia for the sake of requesting their pay. On the day of the Hippodrome he complained, and having received permission to return, he took the horses and departed. But having lamed those that remained, he went to Longobardia while the welts of the blows still remained; for this reason he was promoted to the empire by the army. After he had returned and become emperor, he set up there two hamstrung horses, and square stone altars near the Saint Phocas which he himself had erected, naming it the Diippion; for he also fashioned there four images of Constantine and Helena made of gold tesserae. But Heraclius, having come and seized power, and having punished Phocas and burned him in the Forum of the Ox, adorned that temple, covered it with a roof, and having changed its name, dedicated it to the holy apostle and evangelist John, surnamed the Theologian.

Concerning Saint Theodore called Sphoracii.

The saintly Theodore of Sphoracii was built by the patrician Sphoracius in the times of Arcadius and his son, Theodosius. He built one [part of the] church in the area for the catechumens, and deposited three centenaria of gold there. And one hundred thirty-three years passed, for in the times of Maurice a certain part of the temple was burned and it was rebuilt by him, having built and

restored the oratory of Saint George. ^A Under the reign of Leo, son of Basil, a certain Roman, while visiting the temples of the city for the sake of prayer, noticed a stone carved with Latin letters on the arch; having read these, he indicated the hidden gold to the emperor. The emperor having sent with him and having received the deposit, he promoted him to the order of the illustrious, having given him thirty pounds of coined money as a reward. The same Sphoracius also erected the statue of the Forerunner, which is found in the conch of the temple of Saint Theodore.

Of the Octagon.

Of Lausus.

Of the Forum.

Of the statues existing in the arch of the vault of the Forum.

Of the cross placed in the northern part.

Of the two crosses which were deposited.

these two crosses, and the glass vessel of the ointment with which Jesus was anointed, and many other objects of marked significance, deposited by Constantine the Great, and secured by Theodosius the Great.

Of the Chariot of the Sun

Of the Senate

Of the deposited Palladium, and the Forum, and the column

Of the statues of the charioteers placed in the Senate, and of the ten baskets of crumbs

Of the statues which were once erected in the great church of Saint Sophia

^A number of which were those of Jupiter, of Carus the father, of Diocletian, of the twelve signs of the Zodiac, of the Moon, and of Venus. There was the star Arcturus, supported by two Persian columns, the South Pole, and the priestess of Minerva, having at her side Iris, prophesying without philosophy. They say that there existed also not a few statues of Christians; but from the many, a few are to be enumerated: those of Constantine the Great, of Constans, of Gallus, of Theodosius and Julian, and of Theodosius the younger, and of Arcadius his son, and of the consul Serapion: likewise three of Helena, the mother of Constantine: one of porphyry, distinguished with pearls; the second of silver tesserae upon a bronze column; the third of ivory, which Cyprus the rhetorician placed. Justinian, moved by faith and much zeal, gathered these which were dispersed throughout the city and built a most ample temple. But if any who are skilled in these matters should travel through the city for the sake of exploring, they will find not a few of them.

Concerning the statues which were placed in the right part of the Forum.

In the right part of the Forum toward the east, there stood twelve statues of porphyry marble, and as many Sirens covered in gold, which the populace call sea-horses. Now, however, only seven are seen, three of which have been placed at Saint Mamas. The other statues still survive.

Concerning the bronze image of the Fortune of the city, which stood in the eastern arch of the Forum.

The bronze Fortune of the city, with a modiolus, was placed in the eastern arch of the forum; Michael Rhangabe, as they say, ordered its hands to be cut off, so that the factions of the people might not be able to contrive anything against the emperors.

Concerning the cross whose inscription is, Holy, holy, holy.

It must be known that the cross, in the middle of which is read, "Holy, holy, holy," was dedicated by the prefect of the Forum; where also the statues of two angels, and those of Constantine himself and Helena, are preserved on the right and on the left. ^B In the eastern arch of the Constantinian Forum, moreover, is a cross covered in silver, having on its round extremities an apple, which Constantine erected there, in the form in which he had seen it in heaven. ^C But those which are seen gilded are those of his sons. ^D Likewise, in the left parts, a terrible elephant statue was placed, near the greatest statue, where a marvelous spectacle occurred. For when an earthquake happened, the elephant collapsed, and one of his hind legs was broken. The Taxeotae of the prefect, whose custom it was to guard the Forum, running up, raised the elephant, and found within it the bones of a whole human body, and a small box, upon which was inscribed: "I am not separated from the holy virgin Venus, not even in death." The prefect, moreover, brought that sign into the public treasury to be minted into coin. Besides those mentioned above, a pig was seen, denoting the clamor of the multitude, and nearby a nude statue, sign

^Aifying the impudence of those who buy and sell.

Concerning the structure that stood in the middle of the Forum

How he built the city, when he went into the Forum on foot with the nobles

Concerning the Artopolium

Concerning the cross erected on a column

may help be given to us." ^A There also stood four bronze gates for the four factions, and likewise four porticoes in a circle, and many sign-bearing statues; and these lasted until the time of Theophilus. From then on, it was called the Valley of Lamentation by him, and he ordered the slave-traders to offer domestic slaves for sale there.

Of the so-called Toxara.

The Toxara was the house of Toxaras the Manglabite, who killed the emperor Michael in the church of Saint Mamas.

Of the Holy Forty Martyrs.

The church of the Holy Forty Martyrs had previously been a praetorium. Tiberius the Thracian, ^B together with his wife Anastasia, having removed those who were held in confinement there, and having first cleansed the place and measured it, and having cast out the building debris, laid foundations to a depth of four cubits. When Tiberius had departed this life, his son-in-law Maurice, having attained the empire, completed the temple and dedicated it.

Of Saint Theodore, surnamed Carbonaria (Of the Coals).

Hilarion the patrician built the temple of Saint Theodore in the times of Leo the Armenian.

Of the Anemodulion.

The Anemodulion was erected by the impious Heliodorus in the times of Leo the Isaurian, who also set up the twelve signs of the winds. ^C The four great bronze works were brought from the fortress of Dyrrachium. A certain widow-woman had these as part of her dowry, having been taken from some temple. Heliodorus completed this with great skill and the numbers of astronomy.

Of the Forum of Taurus.

In the Forum of Taurus stands the statue of Theodosius the Great. It was originally of silver, and ambassadors of foreign nations were received there. Formerly, there existed there also a palace and a xenodochium (guest-house) of the Romans, towards the place they call Alonitzion. Above the great column stands Theodosius; and his sons—Honorius, indeed, upon the eastern stone arch, and Arcadius upon the western stone arch—are both above great square columns. In the middle of the forum's courtyard is an equestrian statue, which some say is of Jesus Nave (Joshua), and others of Bellerophon. It was brought from great Antioch. ^D The quadrangular stone base of that equestrian statue has inscribed the histories of the Rus who in the final days are to devastate the city, the impediment to which is that very small sign which is seen placed there, bound and kneeling. Furthermore, the left foot of the great horse signifies, by what is inscribed upon it, that same thing which is written there. In like manner also the great hollow column and the Xerolophos represent the final events of the city, and the captivities still to be recounted.

Of the Diaconissa.

The Diaconissa church was founded by Patriarch Cyriacus in the times of the emperor Maurice, his son-in-law. It was so named because the patriarch was still...

a deacon there, and his sister was a deaconess in the same place.

Of the Temple called that of the Curator.

Of the Philadelphion.

Of the cross that is in it, and the two sons of Constantine the Great, who are seated upon a throne.

Of the so-called Modion.

APPENDIX AD MICHAELEM PSELLUM.

Concerning the Same, More Clearly.

Manaim, a prefect of the military, after he had utterly defeated the Scythians, was judged worthy of a statue at the place they call the Horologion, where the columns stand and where there was an arch before the house which is called the Craterus. There exists in that same place a bronze Modius, or horologion, with two bronze hands fixed upon a spear. It should not be passed over in silence that this Modius was established under Valentinian, for then the use of the modius began for the first time among the Constantinopolitans. ^A And because he had fixed the price of silver, an argent coin was struck at the beginning, as Theodoretus explains more clearly. The bronze hands were added from that time on above; for when the emperor had ordained by law that the modius of grain should be sold heaped up, and did not wish anyone to oppose his edicts, a certain man, having scorned the laws and sold it by the level measure, lost his hands. ^B Whence both of those hands were fashioned, for both sellers and buyers, so that they might use heaped-up measures of grain. Likewise, above the arch, a statue of the same Valentinian was erected, holding a balance in his right hand. But it was removed for the payment of the agreed money, because it was made of silver.

Concerning the Amastrianum.

In this place called the Amastrianum, are seen a statue of the sun in a marble chariot, and of Hercules reclining; ^C likewise tortoises with birds, and fifteen dragons, and a marble statue standing, which had been brought from the region of Paphlagonia of a certain master, and another statue of a servant born in the region of Amastris, buried in urine and dung. But both statues were erected in the same place to demons. Likewise, an ornament of small columns was erected there in a semi-circular shape. For it was often observed that demons appeared there.

Concerning the Ox.

In the place called the Ox, a furnace of huge size had been built, bearing the figure of an ox’s head, in which criminals were also punished, ^D where Julian also burned many under the pretext of crimes. That furnace represented the figure of an ox and was very great to behold; at whose example a similar ox was built in the Neorion. The furnace remained intact until the time of Phocas. By Heraclius, however, it was melted down into bellows. In the same place, arches were erected, similar to those which are seen in the Xerolophos, and they contain images and histories carved in stone. Those, however, who pass through will find not a few things.

Concerning the Tract of Petrus.

In the tract of Petrus was the house of Petrus the patrician in the time of Justinian the Great. He also founded a temple and a hospice.

Concerning those things of the Exocionium.

The statue standing in the Exocionium upon a small column, towards the north, belonged to Constantine the Blind, the son of Irene.

Concerning the same.

The Exocionium was a terrestrial wall, which Con-

stantine the Great built; it lasted for thirty-two years, until the reign of Theodosius the Younger. Outside it stood a column having a statue of him, and for this reason, it is called the Exocionium, because it stood outside the wall. There were many statues there; the Emperor Maurice shattered them, because in place of them, those statues brought from Cyzicus stand on the pillars that are preserved today.

Concerning the Xerolophos

Concerning the Tetrapylon

Concerning the statue standing at the Sigma

Concerning Saint Stephen

Concerning the Studion

Concerning Saint Diomedes

Concerning the statues of the elephants set above the Golden Gate

brought from the temple of Mars in Athens by Theodosius the Younger, who built the land wall as far as the Blachernae; which he built in sixty days, the two factions of the people contributing eight thousand men each, the demarch of the Veneti party being Magdalas, and Charsius his brother [being demarch] of the Prasini party; and it was joined at the gate of Myriander, which was called Polyander, for it was so named because both parties were united there. ^B The other statues which are seen at the Golden Gate were erected by Vigilius, the first secretary and astronomer, together with the statue of his crowned wife, standing outside, which represents the figure of the city. Moreover, above and below are other images which can provide more accurate information to those skilled in such things.

ANONYMOUS: ON THE ANTIQUITIES OF CONSTANTINOPLE

BOOK SECOND

BEGINNING OF THE SECOND PART, OR ON THE TZYCANISTERIUM AND THE REST.

On the same.

A strange narrative concerning the same.

^A was called Iconium by Philodorus the Logist, because Perseus had shown there the image of the Gorgon. But the city had previously the name Danaeia; then it was filled with lamentations, and thus it was called Threnus. There also Perseus and Andromeda ended their lives; and upon the city gate both statues were erected. These statues arrived in the time of Constantine, after the church of the Antiochians was completed, and they were placed in the great bath of Constantine, near the Tzycanisterium.

Of the New Church

The New Church, the temple of the All-Holy Theotokos in the Forum, the church of St. Michael known as Tzeri, and St. Diomedes were built by Basil the Macedonian. ^B

Of the church called of the Hodegon

The temple of the Holy Theotokos called the Hodegon was built by Michael, whom Basil killed. Before this it was a house for many blind men, who had received their sight from the spring in that place, and because many other miracles happened there, it was called the Hodegon.

Of the bath of Zeuxippus

The bath of Zeuxippus was constructed by Severus, and he rigged it in such a way that it could be lit with glass lamps; and the water would boil with great intensity, as would the air of the bath. But some senseless people came and destroyed it; oh, what a loss!

Of the statue that is set up in the Armamentum

The statue that stands in the Armamentum ^C is of the soldier Phocas from the time of the emperor; in the seventh year of his reign, toward the end, he was anxious to raise it upon the column that had been built, and after he raised it, within a few days, he was cast out of his empire. At that time the holy Theodore of Sykeon was living.

Of the so-called Topoi

The so-called Topoi, which are near St. Lazarus, were called thus for this reason: when Basiliscus, the *drungarios* and patrician, rebelled against the emperor Zeno in the tenth month of the second year of his reign, he drove him out and held the empire for two years. But Zeno returned with a powerful army from great Antioch and came to the city with all warlike equipment. ^D When Armatius, favoring Zeno, betrayed the army of Basiliscus, Basiliscus took refuge with his wife and children in the ancient church of St. Irene. Zeno then ordered the place of judgment to be established, as well as the seats for the clergy and the senate; and when all had sat down there, he condemned Basiliscus and exiled him to Limnae, a place in Cappadocia, and shut him in a fortress; when the door had been sealed, they gave up their souls from hunger, thirst, and cold. And for this reason they were called Topoi, because of the judges and priests who had sat there. The buildings of the Triclinia, built by Constantine the Great, extended as far as that place.

Concerning Saint Lazarus.

Concerning Saint Demetrius.

Concerning the temple called Stiris.

Concerning the Mangana.

Concerning the Cynegion.

^A Philippicus the emperor, having been informed, ordered the same statue to be buried in that same place.

Of the bones of the giants.

Of the Pittacium.

Of the place of Eubulus.

Of the Holy Sampson.

Of Saint Tryphon.

Of the place of Protasius.

Of the Temple of the Theotokos of Urbicius.

Of the Strategion.

Of the small Strategion.

Of the Chalcopratia.

Of the sacred Repository which is visited in the same place.

Of Saint James.

Of the Basilica.

^A held an assembly. Likewise, in the same place, an elephant of immense size, erected by Severus, stood. There was a hill before the part of the steps, where also the guardhouse of the city watchmen stood. There also lived a silversmith who used unfair scales in his selling; when his workshop was overturned by the elephant, he threatened the guard of the elephant with death if he did not restrain the beast. The animal-keeper, however, did not yield, and the dishonest weigher killed him and gave him to the elephant to be devoured. But the beast, not yet tamed, carried him off as well. When Severus learned of this, he offered sacrifices to the beast and erected statues of the beast and its keeper in that same place. In the same spot also Hercules was worshipped, having received many sacrifices, who was later moved to the Hippodrome; for in the consulship of Julian, it was brought from Rome to Byzantium, and was introduced with ten other statues. ^B

Concerning the Temple of the Theotokos of the Patricia

Concerning the Bosporion

Concerning the Orphanotropheion of Saint Paul

Concerning the Neorion

Concerning the so-called Basilidou

Concerning the Arcadianae

-^Acadians, for he loved and benefited them greatly.

Of the Holy Anargyroi [the Unmercenaries] of Basiliscus

Of Saint Plato

Of the Digisteon

Of the Maurianum

Of the church of Saint Anastasia the Roman

^A faith's restoration, or because a pregnant woman who had fallen and died, rose again through the common prayer of the orthodox.

Of Saint Irene

Of the Church of the Theotokos called Carabitzin

Of the Old Church of Saint Irene, the Patriarchate

Of the Carpiani

Concerning the [Church] of Bassus

Concerning Saint Artemius

Concerning the temple of Saint Procopius called of the Chelone

Concerning Saint Procopius and Saint Metrophanes

Concerning Saint Procopius of the Chelone

Concerning the Mesomphalus

Concerning Saint Procopius called the Condylium

Concerning Saint John called Cinthelia

Concerning the temple of the Forty Saints at the Constantinian Baths, and concerning the Church of Saint Stephen

-^Amartyr Stephen were brought back, another small temple was built there, and they gave it the name of Saint Stephen.

Concerning the Dexiokrates District

Concerning the Church of the Holy Theotokos named [after] Cyrus

Concerning the gate named Contoscali

Concerning the Xenodochium of Theophilus

Concerning Zeugma

the remains of the holy protomartyr Stephen were translated there; mules were yoked to the carriage in that place, and they carried the body of the saint as far as the Constantinian baths.

Concerning the Church of the Holy Anargyroi, which is at Zeugma

Concerning the Church of Saint Elias

Concerning Saint Euphemia, called the Rock

Concerning the Gerocomium of Geragatha

Concerning the statues which are seen erected near the Taurus

Concerning the place called Harmatius

Concerning Saint Theophano, which exists near the Holy Apostles

Concerning the Church of Saint Mark near the Taurus

Concerning the bronze mosquito and other insects, which were magically consecrated by Apollonius of Tyana and placed above the western arch of the Taurus.

^A A bronze mosquito, a fly, and other small insects ^A stood above the western arch of the Taurus, having been magically set there by Apollonius of Tyana. And as long as they stood there, no flies, fleas, or mosquitoes entered the city. But the Emperor Basil, out of his own ignorance, brought them down and destroyed them.

Concerning the cistern, the gerontocomium, and the bath, which exist in the place called [the place of] the Ram.

The cistern [that is located] in the place called the Ram, along with the gerontocomium and the bath, was built by Stephen, the *parakoimomenos* of the Emperor Maurice, twelve years later; and he raised his own house into a church.

Concerning the church of St. Procopius, surnamed Vigilantia.

The church of St. Procopius, called Vigilantia, which is seen located in the Taurus, was once a palace built by Justinian the Great; and the temple was [part] of the palace. But [the buildings] recently destroyed by fire have been restored. Antonina, furthermore, the wife of Belisarius the *magister*, was a robe-dresser to Theodora, the wife of Justinian; and when she had remained a widow, she used to live there with Vigilantia, at whose persuasion the church of St. Procopius was built.

Concerning the [property] of Anthemius near [the church of] Cyrus.

The property of Anthemius was a house of his when he was *magister*, during the times of the Emperor Marcian, who crowned him, having given his own firstborn daughter to him in marriage.

Concerning [the property] of Gainas.

And [the property] of Gainas was the house of a patrician of that name, who in the times of Arcadius coveted the empire in the regions of Thrace, and was slain there. ^C

Concerning [that] of Megethia.

The [structure] of Megethia was raised by the lady Megethia during the times of Tiberius the Thracian.

Concerning St. Polyeuctus.

The church of St. Polyeuctus was raised by Juliana, daughter of Valentinian, the builder of the aqueduct. She built it in four years, with architects having been summoned from Rome. This Juliana was the sister of the wife of Theodosius the Great.

[Concerning the church of the Holy Theotokos called] Ponolytes.

The Holy Theotokos was called Ponolytes because she performed many healings there, and the pains of many were released.

Concerning the Theotokos of Areobindus.

The Holy Theotokos, [the one] of Areobindus, was raised by Peter, *magister* and *Curopalata*, the brother of Maurice. Now Areobindus, from whom the place received its name, flourished during the times of Justin the Thracian, the most powerful, and his house was there. Ninety-two years after that Areobindus, both the church and the bath were built.

Concerning Saint Anastasia the Pharmacolytria

Concerning the place called Leomacellum

Concerning the church called the Curator’s of the Mother of God

Concerning the Christocamera

Concerning Saint Anna called the Deuteron

Concerning the Chrysobalanton

The Monastery of the Spoude

^A protospatharius and gave birth. She made it a monastery and named it [the Monastery] of Spoude [Hastiness], because her labor had hastened her there, having been unable to reach the palace. She also built the church of St. Anne.

Concerning the gerocomium of Severus, and the temple built by his wife

The Monastery of the Metropolites

Concerning St. Euphemia of the Petrion

Concerning the Plateia

Concerning the [place of] Antiochus

Concerning the building called the Vetus Petrion

Concerning the Blachernae

Concerning the holy Soros

Concerning the holy Loutron

APPENDIX TO MICHAEL PSELLUS

Concerning the sacred bath of the Blachernae, rebuilt by Basil the Younger.

ANONYMOUS ON THE ANTIQUITIES OF CONSTANTINOPLE BOOK III

OF THE THIRD PART, AND OF THE STATUES WHICH WERE SEEN IN THE HIPPODROME

The Hyena was brought from the great city of Antioch by Constantine the Great. As for the remaining statues in the Hippodrome—both male and female, the various statues of horses, the columns of the turning posts (both stone and bronze), the bronze obelisks of the turning posts, the monolith sculptures, and the charioteer statues with their figured pedestals, and the columns of the porticoes with their capitals and bases, as well as those in the Sphendone, the chests, the systems, the shoes, and simply everything else—it is recorded whence each was brought. More importantly, all the histories of the last days and of the things to come are visible upon the bronze gates, which Apollonius of Tyana set up there for the eternal and indelible remembrance of future events. Similarly, he himself erected statues consecrated by magic throughout the whole city, and those who possess the skill of such occult arts will perceive that all of them are true. Furthermore, it is inscribed upon the tripods of the Delphic cauldrons and the equestrian statues for what reason they were placed there and what they signify.

Concerning the statue standing upon the small column in the Phiale.

The bronze, female-shaped statue standing upon the small column in the Phiale of the Hippodrome is that of Irene of Athens, which her son Constantine erected in her honor.

Concerning Saint Sergius.

The large buildings seen toward Saint Sergius are those in which the great Justinian lived when he was a patrician.

Concerning the place called Necra.

In the place called Necra, the bodies of those who were killed in the Hippodrome under the same Justinian were deposited, for they could not be buried elsewhere. He blocked the stairs from the outer gate to the Camelaucum, and thus they deposited the dead bodies there.

Concerning the remaining statues in the Hippodrome.

In the Neolaea, above the twisted columns, there stands a female statue sitting in a chariot, along with an altar with a calf; there are also four gold-gleaming horses. On the seat is a female charioteer holding in her right hand a small statue, [depicted in the] form of a runner. Some say that only the coupling was joined by Constantine the Great, while the rest is ancient and was not constructed by Constantine. For up until Theodosius the Great, it was a spectacle for the citizens in the Hippodrome that everyone, dressed in white chlamydes or cloaks, would lead that statue placed upon the chariot (or carriage) with white candles from the railings all the way to the imperial throne. This was done every year on the birthday of the city. Furthermore, there were likewise placed upon the columns there statues of Adam and Eve, and of Prosperity and Famine.

Concerning the Church of Saint Euphemia, which stands in the Hippodrome.

Concerning the Church of Saint John the Forerunner, called "of Illus."

Concerning the same church called "of Illus."

Concerning the place called Phocolisthum.

them, had them affixed to gallows in that place. Because of this, the place was named Phulcolestum.

Concerning the place called Contaria at Saint Thecla

Concerning the monastery of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, called Hormisdas

Concerning the place called Buccinum

Concerning the Sophian Harbor

by Philippicus; for they contained notes of future events.

Of the Hayloft, which is in the place called Buccinum

Of the Contaria, which are near Saint Thecla

Of the Temple of Saint Michael the Archangel, called Adda's

Of the Iron Column

Of the Harbor of Eleutherius

Of the statues which are near Saint Agathonicus

^A when she crowned her brother Basiliscus, her son-in-law Zeno having been put to flight.

Of the Church of Saint Agathonicus

Of Saint Julian

Of the Archstrategos, which is at Saint Julian

Of the Palaces of Eleutherius

Of the Church of Saint Panteleemon the Great

Of the Tract of Claudius

Of the Tract of Narses

Of Saint Thomas

Of the Chrysocamera

^A of Bardas Caesar, the uncle of Michael, son of Theophilus, it was stolen.

Of the Psarelaion

Of the quarter called Psamatha

Of the palaces in that place

Of the gate of St. Aemilianus

Of the cisterns and the aqueduct

Of the cistern of Aspar

Of the cistern of Bonos

Of the Mocisian cistern

On the Cistern of Philoxenus

On the great Basilica cistern, and the smaller one

On the gates of Charsius and Xylocercos

On the Polyandros gate

On the monasteries

On the Prasini

On the hospice of Florentius

On the monastery of Romanus

On the monastery of Dalmatus

On the monastery called Cucorobii

On the monastery of Saint Zoe, which is at the Mocisian cistern.

On Saint Luke.

On the monastery of Saint Mocius.

On the same.

On the monastery of Libs.

On the old church of Saint John the Forerunner.

Following [this], a certain patrician built the temple of Saint Eleutherius during the time of the Emperor Arcadius.

On the monastery of Saint Philip.

On Saint Manuel

On the Holy Notaries

On the Church of the Theotokos in the Sigma

On what is called the Caniclei

On the monastery called Euphrosyne the Libadia

On the Xylinites

On the Icasia

On Saint Domnina of the Alexandri

On the Dius

On the Myroceratum

Mauricius the emperor. But many historians say that the horn of oil with which the prophet Samuel anointed the kings of the Jews hung in this same monastery, and from this it received such a name.

On the Monastery of Procopius

On the Monastery of the Augusta

^B

On the monasteries of Bethlehem and of the Gastria

On the monastery of Xylocercus, St. Mamas

On the monastery of Chora

On Saint Romanus

^A of the prophets who lie there, she brought and deposited it there. Now the holy men, both Joseph the poet and his brother Theodore the Studite, dwelled there composing canons in the time of Leo the Armenian, five hundred years after the foundation of the church; for these were the poets.

Of the Monastery of Martinakios.

Of the Monastery of the Holy Cosmas and Damian, called that of Paulinus.

Of the western wall of the Great Gates, restored in the time of the Emperor Leo.

Of the sea walls.

Of the tower called the Centenarium.

Of the monasteries outside the city.

Concerning the Heptamon (The Seventh)

Concerning the Spring

Concerning the monasteries beyond the strait, and concerning the monastery of Picridius

Concerning the so-called Armamentarium (Arsenal)

Concerning the Castellum (Castle)

Concerning the place called Hierium

Concerning Saint Irene surnamed Galata

kerata, for there was a bronze arch there, and above it stood a statue having four horns on its head. ^A Wonders were worked through it. For if anyone had a suspicion about his wife's modesty, he would go there and approach the statue, and the statue would immediately turn around in a circle three times; but if she were beyond suspicion, the statue would stand unmoved. And in this way, cuckolds were exposed.

Concerning Saint Mamas

Concerning the bridge that is at Saint Mamas

Concerning the joined columns

Concerning the Hosios

Concerning Saint Phocas

Concerning the monastery of Damian

Concerning the Anaplous

Concerning Saint Tarasius

Concerning Sosthenion

Concerning the church with the golden tiles.

Concerning the monasteries which are situated across the strait, and concerning the monastery called Malelia.

Concerning the monastery called Pelamida.

Concerning Saint George.

Concerning the palaces of Hiereia.

Concerning the palaces of Bryas.

Concerning the palaces of Damatrys.

Concerning the port of Eutropios.

Concerning the astonishing feat of an elephant in the city.

Concerning the images standing on the great porphyry column.

Along with the icon of the Theotokos, and of the infant Jesus Christ himself in the flesh, as Angyrianus the chronicler in his tenth book, and Anastasius, have handed down to us.

Concerning the Smyrnion

^A The place called the Smyrnion, near the Tetradision portico and close to Saint Theodore of Sphoracius, has toward the north a subterranean hollow of ten cubits, and nine statues. ^B Of these, three are of Constantine the Great, of his wife Fausta, and of Hilarion the praepositus; the fourth is of his son called Crispus, whom the chroniclers Herodotus and Hippolytus say was beheaded because he came under suspicion with regard to Faustus, his stepmother. For this reason, he ordered that she be suffocated within a hot bath, and his son be beheaded without trial because of the suspicion. ^C And so, his mother Helena, not bearing the destruction of the young man, who had already attained the rank of Caesar, was distraught at the summary judgment. Constantine the Great, having set up a statue of such a son, and because he repented and grieved, wept for forty days and forty nights, neither washing his body nor reclining [on a bed]. He made his statue out of pure silver, overlaying it with much gold, ^D and engraved the letters upon it: MY SON UNJUSTLY KILLED. Having set this up and offering repentance, he besought God for those things in which he had transgressed. The remaining statues are of Severus, Harmatius, Zeuxippus, Vigilantius who built the Vigilantia, and Eleutherius who built the palaces in the Senate. All these were set up by him. The Arians, however, finding them during the time of Valens, buried them in the earth.

Why the maritime walls of the city are not consumed

When Constantine the Great was founding the city, and the place being rocky, as he intended to level it for the purpose of building the porticoes and courts, the stone-cutters and masons, having cut the tops of the rocks, rolled the stones lying outside the walls from Saint Barbara to the Palace and the Sophianae, and from [the harbor of] Eleutherius to the Golden Gate; and within these same stones he fixed the walls, for the interval and foundation of the wall, so that the sea surging and striking against the rocks might flow more gently toward the walls.

A certain narrative by Arsenius the monk of the monastery of Strongylus, which was situated in a cave or on a crag

Not long ago, in these present years, a strange and remarkable thing occurred. For some persons, having set sail from the coastal part of the Stenos, and making their voyage toward a small island for the purchase of necessary supplies, when the condition of the sea was calm, and they were sailing quietly along the beach on the eastern side, those sailors and passengers who were in the small boat heard the cry of an eagle crying out loudly, and wailing gravely in danger of its life, and, by the dispensation of God, the...

one who had helped it was being invoked. Those six men from the small boat, having rowed to the shore and pulled up, got out—the rest having remained in the ship—and following the cry of the bird, they approached it and saw, alas, the eagle being encircled by a serpent, bound by its feet and wings, such that it was on the point of becoming food for the reptile. The men, having fallen into a quandary and being at a loss as to how they might drive away the serpent and kill it while keeping the eagle unharmed, returned with great speed to the ship, which was not far away. Having seized shears, swords, and other bronze weapons, as well as the tools of the coppersmiths which they were carrying with them, they departed together with their companions who had remained in the small boat. Thus equipped, they ran to assist the bird. Finding the serpent still wrapped around the eagle in the same way as before, they stood around it; and since they were unable to strike its coils with a sword for fear of killing the eagle, it occurred to them to seize with the shears the vertebra of the spine which was protruding and covering the eagle from the outside. ^B This having been done skillfully, others together with the craftsman gripped the serpent firmly and squeezed it. It, however, unfolded itself even against its will, and was moving its tail, stretched out toward the ground, to aid itself, until it was killed by those standing around. The eagle then withdrew a little and wished to move its wings but could not, so badly had it been treated by the serpent. The sailors and passengers left the eagle and returned to the ship, very joyful that they had preserved the bird unharmed. They set sail again, and they had not yet covered two stadia (as the monk affirmed with an oath) when, not long after they had begun to sail, both the sailors and the passengers saw the same eagle flying above them, and descending from the sky into the depths of the sea, taking up a lauraca—a fish of enormous size—and dropping it into the ship. Astonished at this spectacle, they gave thanks, as was fitting, to God, who had instilled such prudence and intelligence even into birds. To Him be glory unto the ages. Amen. They did not see the eagle again after that. ^C

The Origin or History of the Most Holy Great Church of God, namely, Saint Sophia.

In the reign of the emperor Anastasius, Deuterius, the Arian bishop of Byzantium, dared to say: "This man is baptized in the name of the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit"; and immediately the baptismal font dried up. The barbarian [who was being baptized], seized by fear, fled naked, so that the miracle became known from this. ^D When two bishops, during the reign of Anastasius, were disputing about dogma, one of whom was Orthodox and the other an Arian; and the Arian was skilled in dialectic, while the Orthodox was not skilled in dialectic, but was pious and faithful; the Orthodox proposed that, having omitted

disputation was entered into by both in the pyre, and thus it was proved whose religion was superior. Since the Arian refused, the orthodox man entered the pyre and remained in the flames for some time; after he came out from the fire, he continued to speak and remained unharmed. ^A Justin the Thracian, that great man, reigned for nine years; he was most valiant in wars, and he drew into familiarity with himself Vitalian, whom he created a general, and granted him the power to speak freely with him about any matter. Vitalian, however, was treacherously killed by the citizens, who were hostile to him on account of the aforementioned sedition he had stirred up. Justin also slew Amantius the praepositus, who had built and adorned the temple of Saint Thomas of Amantius; it is said that he had given money to Justin, who was the count of the excubitors under Anastasius, so that he would proclaim his own nephew Theocritus as emperor, for he also slew those who had conspired with him to seize the empire. ^B In his time, the events involving Saint Aretha in the city of Negra took place, as well as the expedition of Elesbaan, king of the Ethiopians, against the Homerites. It was also decreed by him that we should celebrate the feast of the Hypapante or Meeting; from which time a star appeared in the sky above the Golden Gate, shining as if from the palace for twenty-six days and as many nights. A most terrifying earthquake also occurred, which Constantinople felt in various places. Great Antioch, however, suffered an indescribable disaster, so that the city was almost entirely swallowed up and became a common grave for its inhabitants. The wrath of God was so great that fire erupting from the earth piteously burned even those who had survived. ^C Furthermore, the city of Pompeiopolis in Mysia was split open, and half of it, together with its inhabitants, was swallowed by the earth; and the men buried beneath the earth cried out, "Have mercy!" In the same reign, a certain woman of gigantic stature appeared from Cilicia, who exceeded all tall men by one cubit and was remarkably stout of body. Because of the novelty of the sight, those who saw her in the workshops and houses each gave her an obol. The same emperor, moved by human compassion for the city of Antioch and for those who remained after such a disaster, thought of restoring it. He grieved so much for it that, having laid aside his diadem and purple, he clothed himself in sackcloth and ashes and mourned for many days. He died, having left his nephew Justinian as his successor to the empire. His body was deposited in the monastery of Augusta, enclosed in a sarcophagus with his wife Euphemia, in which sarcophagus letters were also found. ^D The throne of the archbishopric was held at that time by John, surnamed the Cappadocian. Justin recalled all the pious and orthodox priests whom Anastasius had unjustly exiled. During his reign, when the river Scirtus, which flows through the middle of Edessa, had flooded, it submerged the city itself along with its inhabitants; but when the waters had subsided, there was found

water subsided. After the waters ceased, a stone tablet was found on the riverbank inscribed with hieroglyphic signs, containing this: "The river Scirtus shall leap, and its leaps shall be harmful to the citizens." ^A

A certain Eulialus, who had gone from being rich to being poor, when he was passing from life, left Justin as his heir in his will, on the condition that he raise his three daughters, who were left behind at a tender age, and provide them with a dowry, and pay all his debts to his creditors, and redeem all his promissory notes from them. All of these things Justin fulfilled with royal munificence, to the great admiration of everyone who heard of the story.

Justinian, therefore, reigned for thirty-nine years; he held the consulship in the middle of the city, and distributed much money. He issued the Novellae constitutions; and he brought forward a law concerning bishops, xenodochia, stewards, and orphanotrophoi, so that they might not bequeath more in their wills than they possessed before entering their office. He also completed the public bath in the region of the Dagistæi, which the emperor Anastasius had begun to build. Moreover, Antioch did not cease shaking from earthquakes until it appeared to a certain religious man to write upon the lintels, "Christ is with us, stand." When this was done, the wrath of God ceased; and from that time the city was called Theopolis, or the City of God. ^B

During his reign a popular sedition arose, in which they burned down Saint Sophia and the house of Saint Sampson with the infirm, and the entrance to the palace, the "chalcostegum," called the "Chalce" from that time to this day because it was roofed with gilded bronze tiles; they also burned two porticoes as far as the Forum. They heaped insults upon Emperor Justinian, and proclaimed the patrician Hypatius, having crowned him on the emperor's throne in the Hippodrome. This tumult was quelled by Belisarius, Mundus, and Narses, who slew thirty-five thousand in the Hippodrome, along with Hypatius himself. ^C

Justinian indeed restored the Great Church of God, and made it far larger and more beautiful than it had been before, and he introduced troparia, or verses, to be chanted in it: "Only-begotten Son and Word of God, who being immortal, chose to become incarnate for our salvation." Furthermore, the Hypapante, or the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, began to be celebrated then, whereas before it had not been numbered among the feasts of the Lord. Since I have made mention of the Great Church, I shall narrate in detail how it was built from the beginning, and by whom. And the matter stands thus. ^D

ANONYMOUS ANTIQUITIES OF CONSTANTINOPLE

ANONYMI DE ANTIQUITATIBUS CPOLITANIS LIBER QUARTUS

Continens historiam et descriptionem templi Sanctæ Sophiæ.

Constantinus Magnus primum condidit Sanctam Sophiam, figura oblonga, Ariani sub Theodosio Magno ejusdem ecclesiæ tectum incendunt. A Rufino magistro post biennium restauratur. Anno V Justiniani imperatoris, in seditione populi comburitur ædes Sophiana, et ad eam a fundamentis excitandam animum applicat idem Augustus.

^A Magna ecclesia Sancta Sophia condita fuit hoc modo. Primum quidem exstruxit eam Magnus Constantinus, oblonga figura, Sancti Agathonici et Sancti Isaacii similem; confectoque opere multas in ea statuas erexit. Hoc porro ædificium annos quatuor et septuaginta intactum mansit. Magno autem Theodosio imperante, quo tempore secunda synodus Constantinopoli celebrata est, Ariani, commota seditione, hujus ecclesiæ tectum incenderunt, Nectario tum patriarcha: qui vir sanctissimus inde egressus in ecclesia Sanctæ Irenæ veteri consedit, quam item ecclesiam Magnus Constantinus excitaverat. Exinde annis duobus Sancta Sophia tecto caruit. Imperatoris vero Theodosii jussu, Rufinus magister eam cylindricis fornicibus operuit. Elapsis autem a Theodosio triginta quinque, a Constantino Magno octoginta quinque annis, Justiniani imperatoris anno quinto, post cædem illam ^B in Hippodromo factam, qua triginta quinque hominum millia perierunt, ut superius narratum est, quod dum factionum partes Hypatium, patricium ac factionis Venetæ tribunum, imperatorem salutassent; quinto, inquam, ejus imperii anno cepit consilium, Deo instigante, exstruendi templi, quale nunquam ex Adami tempore excitatum fuerat.

Marmora, columnæ reliquave materia opportuna ad templi structuram, ex variis orbis provinciis, jussu imperatoris advehuntur Constantinopolim. Plutarchus Justiniano ab epistolis et historiographus. Columnas Romanas octo Marcia Romana vidua ad imperatorem mittit. Octo vero alias prasini coloris Constantinus prætor advexit Epheso. Reliquæ vero columnæ ex variis locis transferuntur; atque intra septem annos cum dimidio universa materia congeritur.

^C Scripsit itaque ducibus, satrapis, judicibus, provinciarum quæstoribus, jubens singulos accurate scrutari ac perquirere, num columnas, fulcra, peristylia, tabulas et clathratas januas, ac quidquid materiæ construendis templis opportunum, reperire possent. Tum ii, quibus id muneris fuerat demandatum, quidquid ex idolorum templis, ex antiquis balneis ac ædibus, ex qualibet orientis, occidentis, septentrionis et austri provincia exque omnibus insulis colligi potuit, ad imperatorem Justinianum miserunt. Columnas quidem Romanas octo, ut narrat Plutarchus primus a secretis et fide dignus scriptor, Marcia quædam Romana vi-

- ^A -rgin, which she had received as a dowry, sent in like manner to Justinian. They had stood at Rome in the Temple of the Sun, which Aurelian, the Roman emperor who betrayed himself to the Persians, had built. The eight green columns, truly stupendous, cut and polished, were brought by Constantine, the praetor, from Ephesus. The aforementioned Marcia wrote to the emperor as follows: "I am sending columns of equal length, weight, and breadth for the salvation of my soul." The remaining columns, some from Cyzicus, some from the Troad, and others from the Cyclades islands, were brought by the emperor's prefects. At last, the material that was needed was collected over the course of seven years and a half.

In the twelfth year of his reign, Justinian razed to the foundations the aforementioned church that had been built by Constantine the Great, ^B and set aside its rubble, for there was no use for it given the vast and measureless supply of material that had been prepared. He also began to purchase neighboring houses, and first that of a certain widow named Anna; the house was appraised at eighty-five pounds of gold. When she was unwilling to sell it to the emperor, she said, "Even if you were to offer me fifty centenaria of gold, I would not give them up." The emperor sent many of his nobles to entreat the woman, but when nothing was accomplished, he finally came himself and suppliantly asked the woman to accept payment for the house. Then she, upon seeing the emperor, fell at his feet and said in the manner of a suppliant: "I will accept no price from you for the house, but I ask that I, too, might receive a reward on the day of judgment for the temple you are preparing to build, and that I might be buried near my house." The emperor promised that she would be granted burial there after the building was finished, granted that she had ceded her own land, and that her memory would be kept perpetually. The site of her house is the entire skeuophylakion. ^C In the place where the house of Antiochus, the eunuch and doorkeeper, had first stood, the Holy Well, the sanctuary, and the ambo are being constructed up to the middle of the temple. By these stratagems the aforementioned Antiochus was compelled to the sale of his own house.

For the Holy Well, as they call it, and the entire area of the sanctuary and the ambo up to the middle of the temple, was the house of Antiochus the eunuch and doorkeeper; it was appraised at thirty-eight pounds. Since he was aggrieved that his house should be sold for less than a fair price, the emperor—who was a lover of horses and averse to inflicting injustice—was uncertain what he should do. However, Strategius the magister, the prefect of the imperial treasury and spiritural brother of the emperor himself, promised the ^D emperor that he would accomplish the matter by some artifice. The aforementioned doorkeeper, Antiochus, was a great lover of the circus games. Therefore, when the circus games were imminent, the magister Strategius threw the doorkeeper into prison. On the very day of the games, he began to shout from his cell: "Let me see

- ^A -olently demanding that he be permitted to see the games, "and I shall do the emperor's bidding." He was led therefore to the tribunal of the Hippodrome where the emperor was seated, and there he sold his houses, with the quaestor and the entire senate subscribing. This was done before the horses were set in motion. It was the custom of old that as soon as the emperor had ascended to the tribunal, the charioteers would begin the horse race. But because there was a delay at that time while the eunuch's houses were being sold, a custom henceforth prevailed that in the circus games, once the horses had gone out, the chariots would make a small delay.

The right side of the gynaeconitis up to the pillar of Saint Basil, as well as a part of the temple, was the house of the eunuch Chariton; the left side, up to the pillar of Saint Gregory the Wonderworker, was the house of a certain Xenophon, a shoemaker by trade, who was called the "prince of the lower regions" while he was being honored by the charioteers in the Hippodrome. The area of the temple, the four nartheces, the baptistery, and the remaining surrounding buildings were the houses of the patrician Damian of Seleucia. ^{B C} The entire right part of the gynaeconitis up to the pillar of Saint Basil, as well as a part of the temple, were the houses of the eunuch Chariton, surnamed Chenopolus, which were sold with good grace. The left part of the gynaeconitis, up to the pillar of Saint Gregory the Wonderworker, were the houses of a certain Xenophon, a shoemaker by trade. When these houses were put up for sale, he asked the emperor not only for a double price for his cheap shack, but also requested that on the day of the circus games the charioteers of the four factions should honor and venerate him. Since the emperor had ordered this to be done for the laughter of the spectators, he also decreed that in perpetuity during the circus games, he should sit in the middle of the barriers, and that his back should be venerated by the charioteers for laughter and mockery before they mounted their chariots: a thing which has been practiced to this very day. He is indeed called the "prince of the lower regions." He is dressed in a white chlamys interwoven with fine linen. The area of the temple, the four nartheces or porticoes, the baptistery, and what is situated around them, were the houses of the patrician Damian of Seleucia, which he surrendered to the emperor with great joy, having had them valued at ninety pounds.

The foundations of the Trullus are laid upon the Stephanean rock. Patriarch Eutychius offers prayers for the construction of the church. A round oratory near the clock, sacred to John the Baptist, is built, as are porticoes extending from the great palace to the church of Hagia Sophia. One hundred master architects; ten thousand workmen. How the mortar was mixed.

^D Emperor Justinian measured the place, and having found the Stephanean rock from the bema down to the lower apse, he laid the foundations of the great Trullus upon it. From the apse, however, to the outermost narthex, he laid the foundations in marshy and muddy soil. Having set out to build the foundation, he summoned the patriarch Eutychius to offer prayers for the structure of the church. Then the emperor, with his own hands, taking lime with the potsherd and giving thanks to God, was the first of all to cast it into the foundation. Before beginning the structure of the temple, he first built a round oratory with a golden ceiling, adorned everywhere with beautiful stones, named after John the Forerunner.

- ^A -cino horologio, which is now called the Baptistery, and near to this the buildings of the Metatorium, where he would stay with his nobles and often take his meals. He also built the entire portico that serves as the passage from the Great Palace to the Great Church, so that he could approach the building of the temple daily without being seen by anyone. There were, moreover, one hundred master architects, each of whom had one hundred workmen under him, so that they reached the number of ten thousand. Fifty masters with their companies built the right side, and the other fifty built the left side in the same manner, so that through a kind of rival diligence the building might rise more quickly. The shape of the temple had been shown to the emperor in a dream by an angel of the Lord. The chief architect was a mechanical engineer, adept at rearing temples. For the liquid, they boiled barley in cauldrons and mixed its broth with lime and potsherds instead of water. That barley liquid was viscous, mucilaginous, and tenacious. In a similar way, they cut up willow bark and threw it into the cauldrons with the barley, and they prepared square masses fifty feet long, as wide, and twenty feet thick; they laid these into the foundations neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm for the sake of ^B the tenacity of the binding agent: upon these foundations, thus laid with equal length and breadth, they placed enormous stones; one could see them hold together like iron.

The first account of expenditures. Master Strategius is appointed to pay out the money. The emperor, in the afternoon hours, with Troilus the chamberlain as his companion, approaches the structure in his customary attire to stimulate the craftsmen and laborers with promises.

When the foundations had been raised two cubits from the ground, as the aforementioned author, who committed the account of the expenditures to writing, states, the total sum amounted to four hundred and fifty-two centenaria. Silver miliaresia were brought out from the palace and deposited in the horologium, and as many as were transporting stones received one silver coin daily, so that no one might work sluggishly or with weariness, or utter curses. But one of those who were carrying stones, having become angry and sorrowful, fell to the ground and was crushed. The aforementioned Strategius, the spiritual brother of Emperor Justinian, disbursed the money. After the columns were raised, the emperor, abstaining from his midday sleep, and with great care and concern, would inspect the stone-polishers, the quarriers, the stonemasons, and all the ^C builders, accompanied by Troilus the chamberlain, and he would stimulate them to labor diligently by means of his promises. And for this reason, once or twice a week, beyond their established wage, he would generously give each of them now one coin, now two. As often as he came to inspect [the work], he was dressed in a thin, white linen garment, carrying a thin head-cloth on his head, and in his hand he held a rod made of thin wood.

Ignatius, the prince of architects. To his son, above the porticoes of the right side, appears an angel in the form of a eunuch, who indicates that the temple should be named Saint Sophia. The boy, enriched with wealth and dignity, is relegated to the Cyclades islands, and why.

Furthermore, having raised the uppermost [arches] of both the right and left [side], those

- ^A -turi, on the left and right sides, and having built over these Scyphic arches, the autocrat determined that the miliarisia should be brought out from the palace on a Saturday; for it was the sixth hour of the day, and Strategius ordered the laborers and craftsmen to go to their meal. As the aforementioned mechanical engineer, Ignatius, was descending, he left his son above in the upper galleries on the right side, so that he might watch over all the tools for the construction. The boy was about fourteen years of age. While the boy was sitting there, a eunuch appeared to him, dressed in splendid clothing, beautiful in appearance, just as if he had been sent from the palace, and he said to the lad: "For what reason do the laborers not quickly complete the work of God, but have left it and gone away to eat?" The boy said to him: "My lord, they will arrive quickly." When he said again, "Go and speak to them; for I am eager for the work to be completed quickly," and the boy said that he could not go away, for fear that the tools might be lost, the eunuch said: "Go in haste, and call them to come quickly; and I swear to you, my child, by the Holy Sophia, the Word of God, which is now being built, that I shall not depart from this place until you return; for I have been ordered to minister here and to keep guard." Having heard these things, the boy departed at a run, leaving the angel of the Lord in the upper structure to keep guard. When the boy had descended and found his father, the chief builder, along with the others, he explained everything. The father took the boy and brought him to the emperor; for the emperor was there, eating at the oratory of Saint John the Forerunner in the Horologion. ^B When the emperor heard the boy's words, he summoned all the eunuchs and pointed them out to the lad, saying, "Is it not one of these?" The boy said: "It is none of them, nor does any of them have the appearance of the one whom I saw in the temple." Then the emperor understood that it was an angel of the Lord, both from his speech and his oath—especially since the boy affirmed that he was clad in white, his cheeks emitted fire, and his appearance was ever-changing. The emperor greatly glorified God, saying, "God is indeed pleased with this work, and I have been very anxious about what name I should call the temple." And from that time on the church was called Holy Sophia, which is interpreted as the Word of God. And having considered the matter, the emperor said: "I shall not permit the boy to return, so that the angel of the Lord may keep watch eternally, as he said when he came down under oath. For if the boy should return and go into the structure, the angel of the Lord might also depart, just as he prophesied to the lad: 'Until you return.'" After the emperor had consulted with the leading men of the senate and the ecclesiastical pastors, they said to him: "Do not send the boy back to the building, so that the angel may keep watch over the temple by God's command until the end of the world, according to the oath by which he bound himself." ^C The emperor, having enriched the boy and honored him with great dignity, sent him into exile to the Cyclades islands, with the consent of his father. The statement of the angel occurred on the right side of the pier of the upper arch, for those ascending to the dome. ^D

^A When the builders had reached the second porticoes, and had erected the upper columns and arches, and had covered the surrounding parts, the emperor began to be vehemently distressed due to the scarcity of money. Now as he stood in the upper part of the structure, intending to build the *Trullus*—it being Saturday and the day already drawing to a close—that eunuch in white raiment appeared to the anxious emperor and addressed him thus: "Why are you distressed, Lord, on account of money? Give orders for some of your nobles to come quickly in the morning, and I shall provide you with as much stamped gold as you shall require."

On the following day, the eunuch came and found the emperor, who was going to inspect the structure. The emperor sent Strategius, and the quaestor Basilides, and the patrician Theodore, surnamed Colocynthis (who was also the prefect), with about fifty servants, twenty mules, and twenty-seven pairs of saddlebags. Having taken these, the eunuch went out through the Golden Gate, and when he arrived at the *tribunalia*, the men who had been sent saw stupendous palaces. Dismounting from their horses, they were led by the eunuch up an admirable staircase. Then, with a bright bronze key, he opened a chamber. As Master Strategius narrated, the entire floor was paved and filled with stamped gold. Taking a shovel, the eunuch put four *centenaria* of gold into each bag—namely, eighty *centenaria* in total—and with such a gift he sent them back to the emperor. Having closed the chamber in which the stamped gold was kept before their very eyes, he said to them: "Carry this to the emperor so that he may expend it on the work of the building." The eunuch was then left behind there. ^B They carried the gold to the emperor, and the emperor, struck with astonishment, said to them: "To what place did you go, and who is the eunuch?" They related everything to him in order: the location of the buildings, and the immense quantity of gold lying in the chamber. The emperor eagerly awaited the return of the eunuch; but when he did not come, he sent his foot-servant to him. When the servant found the location where they had seen the palaces to be empty and vacant, he returned and reported everything to the emperor. Struck with awe and understanding the situation, he said: "Truly it was an angel of God, and a miracle has occurred so that we might know and greatly glorify God."

^C By divine prompting, the *bema* is illuminated by a triple arch or vault. All the piers, both inside and outside, are fastened with iron rods and coated with oil and lime, and in this way the incrustations of various marbles are fitted.

^D When they were about to complete the sacred *bema* and to introduce light through the arches fitted with glass, the emperor ordered the architect that the *muax* (dome) should be a single arch; then, changing his mind, he ordered it to be built with two lights, by means of two arches. This was because the wall, being supported by no wooden beams such as had been used in the narthex and on the sides of the temple, could not sustain the weight. The rest of the craftsmen argued that a single arch was sufficient to illuminate the *bema*, and the chief builder was anxious as to what he should do, because at one time the emperor would say for one arch to be built, and at another time for two, and...

^A when the work was completed, you stand by me, saying, "Let the *bema* be illuminated by three arches, because of the faith in the Trinity." The emperor, knowing that on that day and at that hour he had not stirred a foot out of his palace, said, "I know for certain that it was an angel of the Lord who spoke to you; and do as you have been told." Now all the tiles inside are bound together by iron bars, held fast to one another so as to be immovable; and the plaster for all the tiles is of oil and lime, and upon this they set the diverse facings of marble. ^B

*From the island of Rhodes bricks are brought for the structure of the Dome. Relics of the saints are stored in twelve of them. Priests offer prayers for the stability of the church. The joints and the remaining ornaments are covered in gold. The pavement of the temple is adorned with precious marbles. He also decorated the walls with various marbles, and constructed them with huge and precious stones.*

The emperor sent Troilus the cubiculary, Theodore the patrician, and Basil the quaestor to the island of Rhodes; and they made there, with clay, bricks of equal weight and equal size, inscribing them thus: "God has founded her, and she shall not be moved; God shall help her early in the morning" (Ps. XLV, 6). And having measured their bulk, they sent them to the emperor. The weight of twelve of those bricks is equal to the weight of one of ours, because that clay is very light, sponge-like, porous, and white. Hence a historical tradition is current that the Dome is made of pumice; but it is not so, although it is very light. ^C Then they built the four arches of huge size; and then, beginning to construct the Dome in a circular form, they placed twelve bricks, and between the twelve bricks the priests would offer prayer for the constitution of the church; and the builders would make an opening for every twelve bricks, putting into the holes venerable and holy relics of various saints, until the Dome was finished. It stood lofty in a new and unusual style of construction. ^D And then, having finished those elegant and magnificent marble facings, they covered the joints of the marbles with gold, as well as the capitals of the columns and the reliefs, and likewise the peristyles of the porticoes of the second and third stories. Finally, everything was covered and decorated with pure gold; the leaf of the gilding was two fingers thick. He also decorated all the ceilings, both those from the upper portico of the second story, and those from the sides and the surrounding areas, and the four narthexes, up to the surrounding courtyards, in most splendid fashion with encaustic gold work; likewise he gilded the upper porticoes, co—

the columns, and the marble incrustations. He decorated the pavement of the temple also with various precious marbles; and after polishing the sides and the outer and surrounding parts, he paved them with very large, precious white stones. ^A The holy sanctuary he fashioned of gleaming silver. He wrapped all the walls and columns with silver, together with the doors; everything was of silver and gilded. He set four tables in the holy sanctuary upon the columns, and these too he gilded. The seven bases of the priests, upon which they sit as they ascend, together with the throne of the archbishop and the four silver columns, he also gilded, setting them on either side. And as he proceeded to enter into the chancel which is called the Cyclion, which is situated below the steps, this he called the Holy of Holies. He also erected columns of huge size, silvered and overlaid with gold, together with the ciborium and the lilies. The ciborium he made of encaustic silver. ^B Above the ciborium he set a sphere of solid gold, having a weight of eighteen hundred pounds, and one hundred and sixteen gold lilies suspended; and above them, a gold cross with precious and very rare stones, which cross had a weight of seventy-five pounds of gold. And he devised such a machine when he desired to make this holy table more excellent and more precious than gold itself; he summoned many skilled men and revealed his plan to them. But they said to him: "Let us cast into a furnace gold, silver, precious stones of every kind, pearls, jacinths, copper, amber, lead, iron, tin, glass, and every other kind of metal." These things, having been crushed in mortars and combined, they poured into a casting vessel; and after they were melted by fire, removed by the craftsmen, they were cast into a mold; and the holy table became a cast, priceless mixture. ^C And so he set it in place; beneath it he set columns of solid gold, and these also [adorned] with precious stones; and the surrounding borders, where the priests stand to kiss the holy table, he also made entirely of silver, gilded. And he covered the sea of the holy table with priceless stones and overlaid it with gold. For who could behold the appearance of the holy table and not be amazed? Or who could contemplate it for long, since it shines variantly with diverse colors; and it seems at one moment to reflect the brilliance of gold, at another of silver, and at another to glow like a sapphire, and, to speak in a word, to emit rays of manifold colors, according to the nature of the stones, the marbles, and all kinds of metals? ^D He also made doors at the lower and upper levels of the Church of Saint Sophia of carved ivory, gilded, three hundred and sixty-five in number. Other doors were of silver, gilded. The wood of the ark. Justinian considers paving the floor with solid gold. Within a space of eight years and four months, the Church of Saint Sophia is built. He also made doors at the lower and upper levels of ivory, decorated with carvings and gilded,

numbering three hundred sixty-five. In the first entrance of the baptistery he adorned amber gates, and in the narthex, amber gates of moderate size. In the second narthex he made ivory portals and three entrances; two were of moderate size, and the middle one far the largest, of silver, dipped in gold; and he gilded all the gates. Inside the three entrances, instead of new wood, he placed timbers from the Ark. Wishing also to pave the floor with solid gold, he was restrained by certain mathematicians, saying: "In future times, needy operators will come who will level the temple to the ground"; and upon their advice he desisted from this intention. ^B Every day the emperor scattered two thousand miliarisia into the dust; and when the workers finished their day's labor, in the evening they would sift the dust and find for themselves the miliarisia. This the emperor did for the joy and motivation of the people. And indeed the material, as I said before, was collected over seven and a half years and set aside. The temple was built and finished by the aforementioned ten thousand men, with diligence and much haste, in eight years and four months, so that the total time was sixteen years.

The ambo had a golden dome adorned with precious stones. The Cross and the other ornaments of the ambo were golden and distinguished by small gems. He constructed the ambo with a solea; the ambo had, moreover, a golden dome with stones and pearls. The cross of the ambo was of one hundred pounds in weight, decorated with carbuncles and round pearls. Solid golden canopies occupied the upper parts of the ambo in place of columns.

The mouth of the well is brought from Samaria; the bronze trumpets from Jericho. The Cross is in the skevophylakion. Relics are placed in the columns.

The mouth of the well was brought from Samaria; therefore it was called the Holy Well, because Christ spoke to the Samaritan woman beside it. As for the four bronze trumpets which he set in the Holy Well, he had them brought from Jericho, which the angels were holding at that time, in order to imitate what happened of old when the walls of Jericho fell down. ^C The venerable Cross which stands today in the skevophylakion is the measure of the stature of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was measured most accurately by faithful and noteworthy men in Jerusalem. For this reason he covered it with silver and stones, and gilded it; and unto this day it works healings, drives away diseases, and casts out demons. In every column of the upper and lower levels he has a holy relic enthroned.

He made also vessels of solid gold for the twelve feasts, different ones for each, both of holy Gospels, and wash-basins, jars, chalices, and patens; he made everything of solid gold with stones and pearls; the number of vessels was forty-two thousand. ^D Vessels and other ornaments are fashioned to the number of forty-two thousand. Some are purely golden, others adorned with small gems. He enriched the churches with possessions and other revenues. The number of priests and singers is great. He took care that many and various things, which pertained to the worship of the twelve solemn feast days, should be made entirely of gold, namely holy Gospels, wash-basins, jars, chalices, patens, and dishes: all made of gold and adorned with pearls and gems.

^A There were three hundred gold-thread veils inlaid with precious stones for the altar or the holy chambers; one hundred crowns, so that each might have its own solemnity. The gold covers for the chalices or cups, adorned with pearls and gems, were forty-two thousand in number. There were twenty-four copies of the Gospels, each weighing two centenaria; thirty-six gold thuribles, decorated with carbuncles, weighing forty pounds. Six thousand gold polycandelabra clusters for the ambo, the bema, both women’s galleries, and the narthex, all of solid gold. For the use of the temple, he assigned three hundred and sixty-five estates from Egypt, India, and the whole of the East and West; and it was guarded by imperial decree that, at each of the individual festivals, one thousand measures of oil, three hundred measures of wine, and one thousand loaves of the proposition be given. In a similar manner, he established the daily rotas of the priests, assigning to that lot one thousand people, including both priests and others down to the lowest rank of those serving the temple, and one hundred choir-singers, divided into two fortnights. The surrounding cells were assigned to the clergy according to their individual rank; for the female singers, two ascetic cells were provided as a residence. ^B

Cruces seven, each of one centenarian in weight. Gold candelabra of various types and adorned with stones; some to serve the altar, others to be carried by hand. Expenses incurred for the construction of the ambo and the solea. He also had seven crosses fashioned, each weighing one centenarian, magnificently adorned with various precious stones, such that they were valued at eight centenaria. Likewise, two gold candelabra to be carried by hand, set with gems and very large pearls, and these were appraised at five centenaria of gold. Also two other gold candelabra to be carried by hand, of huge, sculpted size, the feet of which were of solid gold, valued at one hundred and eleven pounds of gold. He also made four different candlesticks inlaid with stones, and decreed that they should stand upon the gold and cold [?] candelabra. Other pieces he also had made to serve the altar. For the ambo, there was allocated an expenditure which was exacted from Egypt alone, amounting to three hundred and sixty-five centenaria of coins. ^C These he expended on the ambo together with the solea, which was the money he had received by contract up to two thousand [centenaria]. For the great Constantine had decreed that three thousand six hundred centenaria be paid by the barbarian Persian kings and by many other nations.

Justinian began and finished building the Sophian temple. He called them the four nartheces and the four rivers flowing from paradise. The sea on the right side of the right women's gallery, and the Leontarium, the place where the priests washed. The Metalorium room.

Now Justinian alone began to build the temple and finished what he had begun, with no one else contributing either to the expenses or to a portion of the labor. ^D It was a most beautiful spectacle to behold the varied beauty of the temple, for it flashed on all sides with gold and silver. Nor was the pavement less admirable to those arriving, which, by the joining of every kind of glistening marble, seemed, as if in the sea and in rivers, to have waters flowing. For he called the four boundaries of the temple the four rivers that flow out of paradise; and he made a law that whoever was separated for their sins should stand in them. He made by the phiale in a circle the fountain-rooms.

^A, and also stone lions spewing water for the washing of the people. On the right side of the right gyneceum, he constructed a sea [a basin] a span in depth, so that the water might rise, and one staircase above the sea so that the priests might pass through. He set up reservoirs for rainwater, and carved twelve lions, twelve leopards, and twelve deer, so that from their throats water should be spewed out by means of a mechanism, for the priests alone to wash themselves. He called the place the Leontarium; and the Metatorium, which he erected there as a beautiful, gold-adorned bedchamber, so that when he went out from the temple, he might sleep there. As for the splendor and the excess of beauty of the temple, gilded and silvered from the ceiling to the floor, who could recount it? ^B

Justinian on the twenty-second day of November enters the temple of Sophia in solemn procession with the patriarch. On the following day he makes the opening of the temple, and what largesse he bestowed upon the people then.

When the temple and the holy vessels and offerings were completed, on that very day, the twenty-second of the month of November, he entered from the Palace with a procession through the arched way of the Augusteion which leads to the Horologion, sitting upon a chariot with four horses, and he sacrificed a thousand oxen, six thousand sheep, six hundred deer, a thousand swine, and ten thousand hens and as many chicks. And on that same day, in the space of three hours, he bestowed upon the poor and needy thirty thousand modii of wheat. And when this was done, the Emperor Justinian entered the temple accompanied by the cross and the Patriarch Eutychius. And having slipped away from the hands of the patriarch at the imperial doors, he ran alone up to the ambo; and extending his hands to heaven, he said: "Glory to God, who has deemed me worthy to accomplish such a work; I have vanquished you, Solomon." And after entering, he bestowed consular largesse, and he had the magister Strategius pour out three centenaria upon the floor for the people. And on the following day he performed the opening of the temple, having sacrificed as many or more burnt offerings; and for fifteen days, up to the Holy Theophany, he invited everyone and distributed largesse, and gave thanks to God. And in this way he completed the work he had desired.

^C When the dome of the Church of Sophia had collapsed in the second year of Justin, it crushed the ambo, the solea, and the floor. ^D The newer dome, built by the great Justinian, and the much-blessed and wondrous ambo, together with the solea and the patterned floor of the temple, lasted for seventeen years. After the death of Justinian, Justin, his nephew, took hold of the empire, and in his second year, on the fifth day of the week, at the sixth hour of the day, it happened that the dome fell, and it crushed the wondrous ambo, and the solea, and the sardonyxes, and the zambyks, and the sapphires, and the pearls, along with the gold columns [or "the gold-adorned chests"]. The arches, and the columns, and the remaining structures remained unshaken. The same emperor, having summoned the mechanics who had worked there, inquired of them what was the cause of the collapse of the dome. What your uncle, in-

his haste, did was to remove the wooden supports that were in the dome, and it dried out quickly; and because he had made it high so that it might be visible from everywhere; and because the workmen, while cutting down the scaffoldings, were throwing them down, and from their weight the foundations were shaken, and the dome did not receive its proper curing. Thus the workmen spoke to the emperor. They said to him: "If you command, Master, that the dome be made flatter in the form of a convex cymbal, send to the island of Rhodes, as your uncle did, and command that bricks be prepared there from the Rhodian clay, of equal weight and stamp to the original ones." And the emperor gave the order, and they brought the bricks from Rhodes just as before. Thus then, the dome was built again, but with fifteen cubits removed from its former height, and it was fashioned in the manner of a drum; fearing that it might fall again quickly, they left the timbers and the rams of the supports for a whole year, until the experts perceived that the dome's construction was firmly settled. Since they could not build the ambo and the solea with equal cost and magnificence, they built them of much lower value, out of stones and silver-clad columns, with silver railings in a circle and a solea. The emperor did not wish to place a dome on the ambo, as he said, on account of the great expense. And for the floor, as he was not able to find such variegated and very large slabs, he sent Manasses the patrician and praepositus to the island of Proconnesus, and he prepared marble there, which bore the color of the earth, as well as other slabs of a green color, which represent the rivers flowing into the sea. ^{B C} When they were taking down the scaffoldings of the dome and wanted to bring down the timbers, they filled the church with water up to a depth of eight cubits, and the foundations were not shaken. Those who say that Justin the Thracian, his uncle, built anything in it are mistaken; for there are three: Justin the Thracian, Justinian the builder, and after him Justin, the son of his sister, concerning whom the account treats more fully in the Chronicles, and the reader will find it. Therefore, under Justinian, who was the builder of the temple, the fifth synod was celebrated against Severus in the tenth year of his reign; and in the twenty-first year of his reign, the dedication of the Great Church was celebrated. But after the death of Theodora his wife, the dedication of the Holy Apostles was celebrated; at which time such a plague occurred in Constantinople that the dead remained unburied, because the biers of the churches and of the houses did not suffice for carrying them out. When the emperor had ordered one thousand biers to be made, and even those were not enough, he ordered many carts and pack animals to be prepared, so that the dead might be carried out in them. This most grievous contagion persisted for two months. ^D