[Footnote13:SeeDucange，C。P。l。i。parti。c。16，andhisObservationssurVillehardouin，p。289。ThechainwasdrawnfromtheAcropolisnearthemodernKiosk，tothetowerofGalata；andwassupportedatconvenientdistancesbylargewoodenpiles。]
BetweentheBosphorusandtheHellespont，theshoresofEuropeandAsia，recedingoneitherside，enclosetheseaofMarmara，whichwasknowntotheancientsbythedenominationofPropontis。ThenavigationfromtheissueoftheBosphorustotheentranceoftheHellespontisaboutonehundredandtwentymiles。
ThosewhosteertheirwestwardcoursethroughthemiddleofthePropontis，amtatoncedescrythehighlandsofThraceandBithynia，andneverlosesightoftheloftysummitofMountOlympus，coveredwitheternalsnows。^14Theyleaveontheleftadeepgulf，atthebottomofwhichNicomediawasseated，theImperialresidenceofDiocletian；andtheypassthesmallislandsofCyzicusandProconnesusbeforetheycastanchoratGallipoli；
wherethesea，whichseparatesAsiafromEurope，isagaincontractedintoanarrowchannel。
[Footnote14:ThevenotVoyagesauLevant，parti。l。i。c。14
contractsthemeasureto125smallGreekmiles。BelonObservations，l。ii。c。1。givesagooddescriptionofthePropontis，butcontentshimselfwiththevagueexpressionofonedayandonenight'ssail。WhenSandy'sTravels，p。21talksof150furlongsinlength，aswellasbreadthwecanonlysupposesomemistakeofthepressinthetextofthatjudicioustraveller。]
Thegeographerswho，withthemostskilfulaccuracy，havesurveyedtheformandextentoftheHellespont，assignaboutsixtymilesforthewindingcourse，andaboutthreemilesfortheordinarybreadthofthosecelebratedstraits。^15ButthenarrowestpartofthechannelisfoundtothenorthwardoftheoldTurkishcastlesbetweenthecitiesofSestusandAbydus。ItwasherethattheadventurousLeanderbravedthepassageofthefloodforthepossessionofhismistress。^16Itwasherelikewise，inaplacewherethedistancebetweentheoppositebankscannotexceedfivehundredpaces，thatXerxesimposedastupendousbridgeofboats，forthepurposeoftransportingintoEuropeahundredandseventymyriadsofbarbarians。^17Aseacontractedwithinsuchnarrowlimitsmayseembutilltodeservethesingularepithetofbroad，whichHomer，aswellasOrpheus，hasfrequentlybestowedontheHellespont。Butourideasofgreatnessareofarelativenature:thetraveller，andespeciallythepoet，whosailedalongtheHellespont，whopursuedthewindingsofthestream，andcontemplatedtheruralscenery，whichappearedoneverysidetoterminatetheprospect，insensiblylosttheremembranceofthesea；andhisfancypaintedthosecelebratedstraits，withalltheattributesofamightyriverflowingwithaswiftcurrent，inthemidstofawoodyandinlandcountry，andatlength，throughawidemouth，dischargingitselfintotheAegeanorArchipelago。^18AncientTroy，^19seatedonaaneminenceatthefootofMountIda，overlookedthemouthoftheHellespont，whichscarcelyreceivedanaccessionofwatersfromthetributeofthoseimmortalrivuletstheSimoisandScamander。
TheGreciancamphadstretchedtwelvemilesalongtheshorefromtheSigaeantotheRhaeteanpromontory；andtheflanksofthearmywereguardedbythebravestchiefswhofoughtunderthebannersofAgamemnon。ThefirstofthosepromontorieswasoccupiedbyAchilleswithhisinvinciblemyrmidons，andthedauntlessAjaxpitchedhistentsontheother。AfterAjaxhadfallenasacrificetohisdisappointedpride，andtotheingratitudeoftheGreeks，hissepulchrewaserectedonthegroundwherehehaddefendedthenavyagainsttherageofJoveandofHector；andthecitizensoftherisingtownofRhaeteumcelebratedhismemorywithdivinehonors。^20BeforeConstantinegaveajustpreferencetothesituationofByzantium，hehadconceivedthedesignoferectingtheseatofempireonthiscelebratedspot，fromwhencetheRomansderivedtheirfabulousorigin。TheextensiveplainwhichliesbelowancientTroy，towardstheRhaeteanpromontoryandthetombofAjax，wasfirstchosenforhisnewcapital；andthoughtheundertakingwassoonrelinquishedthestatelyremainsofunfinishedwallsandtowersattractedthenoticeofallwhosailedthroughthestraitsoftheHellespont。^21
[Footnote15:SeeanadmirabledissertationofM。d'AnvilleupontheHellespontorDardanelles，intheMemoirestom。xxviii。p。
318—346。Yeteventhatingeniousgeographeristoofondofsupposingnew，andperhapsimaginarymeasures，forthepurposeofrenderingancientwritersasaccurateashimself。ThestadiaemployedbyHerodotusinthedescriptionoftheEuxine，theBosphorus，&c。，l。iv。c。85，mustundoubtedlybeallofthesamespecies；butitseemsimpossibletoreconcilethemeitherwithtruthorwitheachother。]
[Footnote16:TheobliquedistancebetweenSestusandAbyduswasthirtystadia。TheimprobabletaleofHeroandLeanderisexposedbyM。Mahudel，butisdefendedontheauthorityofpoetsandmedalsbyM。delaNauze。SeetheAcademiedesInscriptions，tom。vii。Hist。p。74。elem。p。240。
Note:ThepracticalillustrationofthepossibilityofLeander'sfeatbyLordByronandotherEnglishswimmersistoowellknowntoneedparticularlyreference—M。]
[Footnote17:SeetheseventhbookofHerodotus，whohaserectedaneleganttrophytohisownfameandtothatofhiscountry。
Thereviewappearstohavebeenmadewithtolerableaccuracy；butthevanity，firstofthePersians，andafterwardsoftheGreeks，wasinterestedtomagnifythearmamentandthevictory。Ishouldmuchdoubtwhethertheinvadershaveeveroutnumberedthemenofanycountrywhichtheyattacked。]
[Footnote*:GibbondoesnotallowgreaterwidthbetweenthetwonearestpointsoftheshoresoftheHellespontthanbetweenthoseoftheBosphorus；yetalltheancientwritersspeakoftheHellesponticstraitasbroaderthantheother:theyagreeingivingitsevenstadiainitsnarrowestwidth，Herod。inMelp。
c。85。Polym。c。34。Strabo，p。591。Plin。iv。c。12。whichmake875paces。ItissingularthatGibbon，whointhefifteenthnoteofthischapterreproachesd'Anvillewithbeingfondofsupposingnewandperhapsimaginarymeasures，hashereadoptedthepeculiarmeasurementwhichd'Anvillehasassignedtothestadium。Thisgreatgeographerbelievesthattheancientshadastadiumoffifty—onetoises，anditisthatwhichheappliestothewallsofBabylon。Now，sevenofthesestadiaareequaltoabout500paces，7stadia=2142feet:500paces=2135feet5
inches。—G。SeeRennell，Geog。ofHerod。p。121。AddUkert，GeographiederGriechenundRomer，v。i。p。2，71。—M。]
[Footnote18:SeeWood'sObservationsonHomer，p。320。Ihave，withpleasure，selectedthisremarkfromanauthorwhoingeneralseemstohavedisappointedtheexpectationofthepublicasacritic，andstillmoreasatraveller。HehadvisitedthebanksoftheHellespont；andhadreadStrabo；heoughttohaveconsultedtheRomanitineraries。HowwasitpossibleforhimtoconfoundIliumandAlexandriaTroas，Observations，p。340，341，
twocitieswhichweresixteenmilesdistantfromeachother?
Note:CompareWalpole'sMemoirsonTurkey，v。i。p。101。Dr。
ClarkeadoptedMr。Walpole'sinterpretationofthesaltHellespont。ButtheoldinterpretationismoregraphicandHomeric。Clarke'sTravels，ii。70。—M。]
[Footnote19:DemetriusofScepsiswrotesixtybooksonthirtylinesofHomer'scatalogue。TheXIIIthBookofStraboissufficientforourcuriosity。]
[Footnote20:Strabo，l。xiii。p。595，[890，edit。Casaub。]Thedispositionoftheships，whichweredrawnupondryland，andthepostsofAjaxandAchilles，areveryclearlydescribedbyHomer。
SeeIliad，ix。220。]
[Footnote21:Zosim。l。ii。[c。30，]p。105。Sozomen，l。ii。c。
3。Theophanes，p。18。NicephorusCallistus，l。vii。p。48。
Zonaras，tom。ii。l。xiii。p。6。ZosimusplacesthenewcitybetweenIliumandAlexandria，butthisapparentdifferencemaybereconciledbythelargeextentofitscircumference。BeforethefoundationofConstantinople，ThessalonicaismentionedbyCedrenus，p。283，andSardicabyZonaras，astheintendedcapital。Theybothsupposewithverylittleprobability，thattheemperor，ifhehadnotbeenpreventedbyaprodigy，wouldhaverepeatedthemistakeoftheblindChalcedonians。]
WeareatpresentqualifiedtoviewtheadvantageouspositionofConstantinople；whichappearstohavebeenformedbynatureforthecentreandcapitalofagreatmonarchy。Situatedintheforty—firstdegreeoflatitude，theImperialcitycommanded，fromhersevenhills，^22theoppositeshoresofEuropeandAsia；theclimatewashealthyandtemperate，thesoilfertile，theharborsecureandcapacious；andtheapproachonthesideofthecontinentwasofsmallextentandeasydefence。TheBosphorusandtheHellespontmaybeconsideredasthetwogatesofConstantinople；andtheprincewhopossessedthoseimportantpassagescouldalwaysshutthemagainstanavalenemy，andopenthemtothefleetsofcommerce。Thepreservationoftheeasternprovincesmay，insomedegree，beascribedtothepolicyofConstantine，asthebarbariansoftheEuxine，whointheprecedingagehadpouredtheirarmamentsintotheheartoftheMediterranean，soondesistedfromtheexerciseofpiracy，anddespairedofforcingthisinsurmountablebarrier。WhenthegatesoftheHellespontandBosphoruswereshut，thecapitalstillenjoyedwithintheirspaciousenclosureeveryproductionwhichcouldsupplythewants，orgratifytheluxury，ofitsnumerousinhabitants。Thesea—coastsofThraceandBithynia，whichlanguishundertheweightofTurkishoppression，stillexhibitarichprospectofvineyards，ofgardens，andofplentifulharvests；andthePropontishaseverbeenrenownedforaninexhaustiblestoreofthemostexquisitefish，thataretakenintheirstatedseasons，withoutskill，andalmostwithoutlabor。
^23Butwhenthepassagesofthestraitswerethrownopenfortrade，theyalternatelyadmittedthenaturalandartificialrichesofthenorthandsouth，oftheEuxine，andoftheMediterranean。WhateverrudecommoditieswerecollectedintheforestsofGermanyandScythia，andfarasthesourcesoftheTanaisandtheBorysthenes；whatsoeverwasmanufacturedbytheskillofEuropeorAsia；thecornofEgypt，andthegemsandspicesofthefarthestIndia，werebroughtbythevaryingwindsintotheportofConstantinople，whichformanyagesattractedthecommerceoftheancientworld。^24
[SeeBasilicaOfConstantinople]
[Footnote22:Pocock'sDescriptionoftheEast，vol。ii。partii。
p。127。Hisplanofthesevenhillsisclearandaccurate。Thattravellerisseldomunsatisfactory。]
[Footnote23:SeeBelon，Observations，c。72—76。Amongavarietyofdifferentspecies，thePelamides，asortofThunnies，werethemostcelebrated。WemaylearnfromPolybius，Strabo，andTacitus，thattheprofitsofthefisheryconstitutedtheprincipalrevenueofByzantium。]
[Footnote24:SeetheeloquentdescriptionofBusbequius，epistol。i。p。64。EstinEuropa；habetinconspectuAsiam，Egyptum。Africamqueadextra:quaetametsicontiguaenonsunt，maristamennavigandiquecommoditatevelutijunguntur。A
sinistraveroPontusestEuxinus，&c。]
Theprospectofbeauty，ofsafety，andofwealth，unitedinasinglespot，wassufficienttojustifythechoiceofConstantine。Butassomedecentmixtureofprodigyandfablehas，ineveryage，beensupposedtoreflectabecomingmajestyontheoriginofgreatcities，^25theemperorwasdesirousofascribinghisresolution，notsomuchtotheuncertaincounselsofhumanpolicy，astotheinfallibleandeternaldecreesofdivinewisdom。Inoneofhislawshehasbeencarefultoinstructposterity，thatinobediencetothecommandsofGod，helaidtheeverlastingfoundationsofConstantinople:^26andthoughhehasnotcondescendedtorelateinwhatmannerthecelestialinspirationwascommunicatedtohismind，thedefectofhismodestsilencehasbeenliberallysuppliedbytheingenuityofsucceedingwriters；whodescribethenocturnalvisionwhichappearedtothefancyofConstantine，ashesleptwithinthewallsofByzantium。Thetutelargeniusofthecity，avenerablematronsinkingundertheweightofyearsandinfirmities，wassuddenlytransformedintoabloomingmaid，whomhisownhandsadornedwithallthesymbolsofImperialgreatness。^27Themonarchawoke，interpretedtheauspiciousomen，andobeyed，withouthesitation，thewillofHeavenThedaywhichgavebirthtoacityorcolonywascelebratedbytheRomanswithsuchceremoniesashadbeenordainedbyageneroussuperstition；^28
andthoughConstantinemightomitsomeriteswhichsavoredtoostronglyoftheirPaganorigin，yethewasanxioustoleaveadeepimpressionofhopeandrespectonthemindsofthespectators。Onfoot，withalanceinhishand，theemperorhimselfledthesolemnprocession；anddirectedtheline，whichwastracedastheboundaryofthedestinedcapital:tillthegrowingcircumferencewasobservedwithastonishmentbytheassistants，who，atlength，venturedtoobserve，thathehadalreadyexceededthemostamplemeasureofagreatcity。"Ishallstilladvance，"repliedConstantine，"tillHe，theinvisibleguidewhomarchesbeforeme，thinkspropertostop。"^29Withoutpresumingtoinvestigatethenatureormotivesofthisextraordinaryconductor，weshallcontentourselveswiththemorehumbletaskofdescribingtheextentandlimitsofConstantinople。^30
[Footnote25:Daturhaecveniaantiquitati，utmiscendohumanadivinis，primordiaurbiumaugustiorafaciat。T。Liv。inprooem。]
[Footnote26:Hesaysinoneofhislaws，procommoditateurbisquamaeterasnomine，jubenteDeo，donavimus。Cod。Theodos。l。
xiii。tit。v。leg。7。]
[Footnote27:TheGreeks，Theophanes，Cedrenus，andtheauthoroftheAlexandrianChronicle，confinethemselvestovagueandgeneralexpressions。Foramoreparticularaccountofthevision，weareobligedtohaverecoursetosuchLatinwritersasWilliamofMalmesbury。SeeDucange，C。P。l。i。p。24，25。]
[Footnote28:SeePlutarchinRomul。tom。i。p。49，edit。Bryan。
Amongotherceremonies，alargehole，whichhadbeendugforthatpurpose，wasfilledupwithhandfulsofearth，whicheachofthesettlersbroughtfromtheplaceofhisbirth，andthusadoptedhisnewcountry。]
[Footnote29:Philostorgius，l。ii。c。9。Thisincident，thoughborrowedfromasuspectedwriter，ischaracteristicandprobable。]
[Footnote30:SeeintheMemoiresdel'Academie，tom。xxxvp。747
—758，adissertationofM。d'AnvilleontheextentofConstantinople。HetakestheplaninsertedintheImperiumOrientaleofBanduriasthemostcomplete；but，byaseriesofveryniceobservations，hereducedtheextravagantproportionofthescale，andinsteadof9500，determinesthecircumferenceofthecityasconsistingofabout7800Frenchtoises。]
Intheactualstateofthecity，thepalaceandgardensoftheSeragliooccupytheeasternpromontory，thefirstofthesevenhills，andcoveraboutonehundredandfiftyacresofourownmeasure。TheseatofTurkishjealousyanddespotismiserectedonthefoundationsofaGrecianrepublic；butitmaybesupposedthattheByzantinesweretemptedbytheconveniencyoftheharbortoextendtheirhabitationsonthatsidebeyondthemodernlimitsoftheSeraglio。ThenewwallsofConstantinestretchedfromtheporttothePropontisacrosstheenlargedbreadthofthetriangle，atthedistanceoffifteenstadiafromtheancientfortification；andwiththecityofByzantiumtheyenclosedfiveofthesevenhills，which，totheeyesofthosewhoapproachConstantinople，appeartoriseaboveeachotherinbeautifulorder。^31Aboutacenturyafterthedeathofthefounder，thenewbuildings，extendingononesideuptheharbor，andontheotheralongthePropontis，alreadycoveredthenarrowridgeofthesixth，andthebroadsummitoftheseventhhill。
ThenecessityofprotectingthosesuburbsfromtheincessantinroadsofthebarbariansengagedtheyoungerTheodosiustosurroundhiscapitalwithanadequateandpermanentenclosureofwalls。^32Fromtheeasternpromontorytothegoldengate，theextremelengthofConstantinoplewasaboutthreeRomanmiles；^33
thecircumferencemeasuredbetweentenandeleven；andthesurfacemightbecomputedasequaltoabouttwothousandEnglishacres。Itisimpossibletojustifythevainandcredulousexaggerationsofmoderntravellers，whohavesometimesstretchedthelimitsofConstantinopleovertheadjacentvillagesoftheEuropean，andevenoftheAsiaticcoast。^34ButthesuburbsofPeraandGalata，thoughsituatebeyondtheharbor，maydeservetobeconsideredasapartofthecity；^35andthisadditionmayperhapsauthorizethemeasureofaByzantinehistorian，whoassignssixteenGreekaboutfourteenRomanmilesforthecircumferenceofhisnativecity。^36SuchanextentmaynotseemunworthyofanImperialresidence。YetConstantinoplemustyieldtoBabylonandThebes，^37toancientRome，toLondon，andeventoParis。^38
[Footnote31:Codinus，Antiquitat。Const。p。12。HeassignsthechurchofSt。Anthonyastheboundaryonthesideoftheharbor。
ItismentionedinDucange，l。iv。c。6；butIhavetried，withoutsuccess，todiscovertheexactplacewhereitwassituated。]
[Footnote32:ThenewwallofTheodosiuswasconstructedintheyear413。In447itwasthrowndownbyanearthquake，andrebuiltinthreemonthsbythediligenceofthepraefectCyrus。ThesuburboftheBlanchernaewasfirsttakenintothecityinthereignofHeracliusDucange，Const。l。i。c。10，11。]
[Footnote33:ThemeasurementisexpressedintheNotitiaby14，075feet。ItisreasonabletosupposethatthesewereGreekfeet，theproportionofwhichhasbeeningeniouslydeterminedbyM。d'Anville。Hecomparesthe180feetwith78Hashemitecubits，whichindifferentwritersareassignedfortheheightsofSt。
Sophia。Eachofthesecubitswasequalto27Frenchinches。]
[Footnote34:TheaccurateThevenotl。i。c。15walkedinonehourandthreequartersroundtwoofthesidesofthetriangle，fromtheKioskoftheSeragliototheseventowers。D'Anvilleexamineswithcare，andreceiveswithconfidence，thisdecisivetestimony，whichgivesacircumferenceoftenortwelvemiles。
TheextravagantcomputationofTournefortLettreXIofthirty—tourorthirtymiles，withoutincludingScutari，isastrangedeparturefromhisusualcharacter。]
[Footnote35:Thesycae，orfig—trees，formedthethirteenthregion，andwereverymuchembellishedbyJustinian。IthassincebornethenamesofPeraandGalata。Theetymologyoftheformerisobvious；thatofthelatterisunknown。SeeDucange，Const。l。i。c。22，andGylliusdeByzant。l。iv。c。10。]