CHAP. 46 On the fummit of the pillar, above one hundred XVII. and twenty feet from the ground, ftood the colof fal ftatue of Apollo. It was of bronze, had been tranfported either from Athens or from a town of Phrygia, and was fuppofed to be the work of Phidias. The artist had represented the god of day, or, as it was afterwards interpreted, the emperor Conftantine himself, with a fceptre in his right hand, the globe of the world in his left, and a crown of rays glittering on his head ". The Circus, or Hippodrome, was a stately building about four hundred paces in length, and one hundred in breadth ". The space between the two meta or goals was filled with statues and obelisks: and we may still remark a very fingular fragment of antiquity; the bodies of three ferpents, twisted into one pillar of brass. Their triple heads had once fupported the golden tripod which after the 'defeat of Xerxes, was confecrated in the temple of Delphi by the victorious Greeks ". The beauty of the Hippodrome has been long fince defaced by the rude hands of the Turkish conquerors: but, under the fimilar appellation of Atmeidan, it still ferves as a place of exercise for their horfes. From the throne, whence the emperor viewed the Circenfian games, a winding staircase defcended to the palace; a magnificent edifice, which fcarcely yielded to the refidence of Rome itself, and which, together with the dependent courts, gardens, and porticoes, covered a confiderable extent of ground upon the banks of the Propontis between the Hippodrome and the church of St. Sophia. 49 phia". We might likewife celebrate the baths, which ftill retained the name of Zeuxippus, after they had been enriched, by the munificence of Conftantine, with lofty columns, various marbles, and above three score ftatues of bronze ". But we should deviate from the defign of this history, if we attempted minutely to defcribe the different buildings or quarters of the city. It may be fufficient to observe, that whatever could adorn the dignity of a great capital, or contribute to the benefit or pleasure of its numerous inhabitants, was contained within the walls of Conftantinople. A particular description, compofed about a century after its foundation, enumerates a capitol or fchool of learning, a circus, two theatres, eight public, and one hundred and fifty-three private, baths fifty-two porticoes, five granaries, eight aqueducts or refervoirs of water, four spacious halls for the meetings of the fenate or courts of juftice, fourteen churches, fourteen palaces, and four thoufand three hundred and eighty-eight houses, which, for their fize or beauty, deferved to be diftinguished from the multitude of plebeian habitations ". CHAP. XVII. The populousness of this favoured city was the Popula next and most ferious object of the attention of tion. its founder. In the dark ages which fucceeded the translation of the empire, the remote and the immediate consequences of that memorable event were ftrangely confounded by the vanity of the Greeks, and the credulity of the Latins ". It was afferted, and believed, that all the noble families of Rome, the fenate, and the equefian order, Vol. III. 3 XVII. CHAP. with their innumerable attendants, had followed their emperor to the banks of the Propontis; that a fpurious race of strangers and plebeians was left to poffefs the folitude of the ancient capital; and that the lands of Italy, long fince converted into gardens, were at once deprived of cultivation and inhabitants". In the courfe of this hiftory, fuch exaggerations will be reduced to their juft value: yet, fince the growth of Conftantinople cannot be afcribed to the general increase of mankind and of industry, it must be admitted, that this artificial colony was raifed at the expence of the ancient cities of the empire. Many opulent fenators of Rome, and of the Eaftern provinces, were probably invited by Conftantine to adopt for their country the fortunate fpot which he had chofen for his own refidence. The invitations of a master are scarcely to be diftinguished from commands; and the liberality of the emperor obtained a ready and cheerful obedience. He beftowed on his favourites the palaces which he had built in the several quarters of the city, affigned them lands and penfions for the fupport of their dignity and alienated the demefnes of Pontus and Afia, to grant hereditary eftates by the cafy tenure of maintaining a house in the capital ". But thefe encouragements and obligations foon became fuperfluous, and were gradually abolished. Wherever the feat of government is fixed, a confiderable part of the public revenue will be expended by the prince himself, by his minifters, by the officers of justice, and by the domeftics of the palace. The XVII. moft wealthy of the provincials will be attracted CHAP. by the powerful motives of intereft and duty, of amusement and curiofity. A third and more numerous clafs of inhabitants will infenfibly be formed, of fervants, of artificers, and of merchants, who derive their fubfiftence from their own labour, and from the wants or luxury of the fuperior ranks. In less than a century, Conftantinople dif puted with Rome itself the pre-eminence of riches and numbers. New piles of buildings, crowded together with too little regard to health or convenience, scarcely allowed the intervals of narrow ftreets for the perpetual throng of men, of horses, and of carriages. The allotted space of ground was infufficient to contain the increafing people; and the additional foundations, which, on either fide, were advanced into the fea, might alone have composed a very confiderable city 57 The frequent and regular diftributions of wine Privileges, and oil, of corn or bread, of money or provifions, had almost exempted the poorer citizens of Rome from the neceffity of labour. The magnificence of the first Cæfars was in fome measure imitated by the founder of Conftantinople " but his liberality, however it might excite the applaufe of the people, has incurred the cenfure of pofterity. A nation of legislators and conquerors might affert their claim to the harvefts of Africa, which had been purchased with their blood; and it was artfully contrived by Auguftus, that, in the enjoy ment of plenty, the Romans should lofe the me mory of freedom. But the prodigality of Conftan CHAP. Dedica tion A. D. 330 or 334 tine could not be excufed by any confideration 61 62 60 privileges of Italy " and bestowed on the rifing city the title of Colony, the first and most favoured daughter of ancient Rome. The venerable parent ftill maintained the legal and acknowledged fupremacy, which was due to her age, to her dignity, and to the remembrance of her former greatness" 63 As Conftantine urged the progress of the work with the impatience of a lover, the walls, the porticoes, and the principal edifices were completed in a few years, or, according to another account, in a few months**: but this extraordinary diligence should excite the lefs admiration, fince many of the buildings were finished in fo hafty and imperfect a manner, that, under the fucceeding reign, they were preferved with difficulty from impending ruin ". But while they difplayed the vigour and freshness of youth, the founder prepared to celebrate the dedication of his city". The games and largeffes which crowned the pomp of this memorable feftival may easily be fuppofed: |