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...
The Influence of the Church of Saint George
The Name “Braz Saint George”
From the Church of Saint George at the Mangana, medieval writers derived the name “Braz Saint George” for the Sea...
The Church and Monastery of Saint George at the Mangana
Location South of the Kynegion
A short distance south of the Kynegion stood one of the most important religious institutions of Byzantine Constantinople: the Church...
Değirmen Kapısı and the Southern Sea Walls
Moving South from the Gate of Saint Barbara
When we continue southward from the Gate of Saint Barbara, we come to another entrance in the...
The Bazaars of Stamboul A Truly Turkish Experience
One of the most fascinating places in Constantinople (now Istanbul) is the bazaars of Stamboul, the old city. These marketplaces are uniquely Turkish and...
The Guilds of Constantinople A Living Tradition
In Constantinople (now Istanbul), many tradesmen and craftsmen still belong to traditional guilds. These guilds were once common all over Europe but disappeared in...
The Historic Khans of Constantinople
In old Constantinople (now Istanbul), there were around 180 khans — large, stone buildings designed to house traveling merchants. These structures are usually two...
Identifying the Gate of Melantiados
There is good reason to believe that the gate known as Porta Melantiados (Πόρτα Μελαντιάδος) or Pyle Melandesia (Πύλη Μελανδεσίας) is the same as...
Gate of Selivria
The Gate of Selivria (Selivri Kapısı) and Its Historical Importance
The next major public gate in the Theodosian Walls is known today as Selivri Kapısı....
