Du Cange and the Meaning of the Hebdomon
Unlike Gyllius, Du Cange was unable to accept the loose interpretation given to the Greek phrase referring to the Hebdomon. He insisted on what...
A Misguided Search for the Hebdomon
Guided by his unusual interpretation of Sozomen’s account, Gyllius began a determined effort to identify the exact location of the Hebdomon. He was an...
The Lion and Bull Monument
The Venetian historian Sagrado, in his Memorie Istoriche de Monarchi Ottomani (1677), provides a detailed account of the famous Lion and Bull sculpture in...
Pietro Zen’s Detailed Description
The Venetian envoy Pietro Zen, in a report sent to his government in 1532, provides a detailed description of the famous Lion and Bull...
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...
