Saksagan
The Marble Group of the Lion and the Bull
The famous marble sculpture of the lion attacking the bull is a key piece of evidence in locating the Harbour of the Bucoleon in...
Purpose of Manuel’s Wall
The wall built by Emperor Manuel Comnenus was constructed to strengthen the defenses of the Palace of Blachernae, which had become the preferred residence...
Joining Old and New Walls
If the western spur of the Sixth Hill was already protected by walls when the Theodosian Walls were built (in the early 5th century),...
Confusion About the City’s Old Defenses
One of the biggest problems with the idea that the walls around the western spur of the Sixth Hill were simply part of the...
Reconstruction of the Walls
Who Was in Charge?
The question of how long it took to rebuild the walls of Constantinople is not the only issue raised by the...
The Strength of Constantinople’s Walls
As an inscription on the fortifications of Constantinople proudly declared, the city’s walls were not just any walls—they were extraordinarily strong. The inscription, which...
A Natural Disaster and a Dangerous Time
The walls of Constantinople, though strong, soon suffered serious damage—not from an invading army, but from a powerful force of nature. In the year...
Widespread Social Unrest
Everywhere in the Ottoman Empire, social life is in a sad state. We hear about riots and killings in many places. In Albania and...
Rising Tensions Between Bulgaria and Turkey
The cause of conflict in the Balkans often begins with Turkey, though it is rarely admitted. Bulgarian fighters sometimes cross the Turkish border. When...
Trouble Brewing in Macedonia
The situation in Macedonia, also called Eastern Rumelia on some maps, is growing worse each year. Sadly, this crisis has not attracted much attention...
