Byzantium means Istanbul
The
first thing one thinks of when hearing the word "Byzantium" is Constantinople,
or Istanbul as it is known today. For years upon years Istanbul was encircled by Byzantium
walls, and these walls are actually one of the leading examples of Byzantium architecture.
The greatest part of these walls is still standing today. It was base of these walls that
the city was able to withstand the siege of the Avar, the Arabs, the Bulgarians, the
Sassanids, the Russian and the Ottoman armies. The walls are decorated with towers. The
portion of the walls which stretches from the Marmara Sea to the Tekfur Palace has 96
large towers. The walls have seven large gates other than the additional entryways used
from military purposes. The gates to the city are Edirnekapi, Sulukule kapisi, Topkapi,
Mevlevihane Kapi, Silivrikapi, Belgrade Kapi, and Yedikule Kapisi. According to some
historians these walls are similar to the Hittite walls which surrounded the capitol of
Hattusa.
Unchanging
Byzantine Elements
The
most important area in Constantinople was the Field of Augustinian. Today the Field of
Augustinian consists of the park in front of the Hagia Sophia, and the Hippodrome off to
the side which today is the site of the German Fountain and the park which then stretches
down towards the sea. Several Byzantine monuments, including the Byzantine Palace, used to
be situated in this area. The Hippodrome within the Field of Augustinian was initially
only used for chariot races. Gradually, however, this area began to be used for other
social functions. The construction of the Hippodrome was begun in the preByzantine period
by the Roman emperor, Septimus Severus, and it was completed during the period of
Constantine, the first emperor of the Byzantines. Some of the remains of this work can be
seen today. Three monuments in the center of this field still remain in place.The first of
these monuments is the obelisk in the Sultanahmet Square. This pink granite stone was
carved for the Egyptian pharaoh, Tutmosis III, as a symbol of victory and the stone is
inscribed with hieroglyphics. Constantine brought this obelisk to Istanbul in the year
330. It lay on the ground for sixty years until Teodosius had it erected and gave it its
present form. The immensity of the feat of transporting this stone is immediately
understood when it is viewed in its upright position.
Near
this obelisk stands the Burmese Column. This column was built to stand before the Temple
of Apollo in Delphi and symbolizes the victory of the Greeks over the Persians. This
monument actually had three legs, but 1,500 years ago the Byzantine Emperor Constantine
had one of these legs brought to Istanbul and erected on this site.
The
remaining third monument is a obelisk which has had its bronze covering ripped away.
Another monument that used to stand in this area was a sculpture of four horses. This
monument was taken from Istanbul to Venice and today this four-horsed figure with gold
ornamentations stands before the church of San Marco in Venice.
Not
far away is found the Cemberlitas or the "Hooped Column." This column is one of
the most important examples of Byzantine art and it was constructed of various blocks
placed one on the other. When it was first made, it bore the of the statue of the Emperor
Constantine dressed as Apollo. It is known that the stone uprighted when it was stuck by
lightening. Its statue having been demolished, the Emperor Manuel Komnenos had it plated
with marble and it remains like this today. Two more monuments of the Byzantine period are
the Kiztasi (The Girl's Stone) in the Faith neighborhood. This obelisk was built to honor
the Emperor Marcianus. Another monument stands in Sarayburnu and this was built in memory
of Cerrahpasa Arkadius.
