Constantine the Great; the reorganisation of the empire and the triumph of the church (1905) (14750749286)

Saint Helena with the Cross by Lucas Cranach the Elder
Identifier: constantinegreat00firt (find matches)
Title: Constantine the Great; the reorganisation of the empire and the triumph of the church
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors: Firth, John B. (John Benjamin), 1868-1943
Subjects: Constantine I, Emperor of Rome, d. 337 Church history -- Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600
Publisher: New York, London, G.P. Putnam's Sons
Contributing Library: Columbia University Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN



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to insecure foundations and badmaterials. The cynical JuHan compared the city ofConstantine to the fabled gardens of Adonis, whichwere planted afresh each morning and withered aneweach night. Doubtless there was a substantial basisof fact for that bitter jibe. Yet, when all allowances are made, it was a mar-vellous city which Constantine watched as it rosefrom its foundation. Those who study the archae-ology of Constantinople in the rich remains whichhave survived in spite of Time and the Turk, aresurprised to find how constantly the history of theparticular spot which they are studying takes themstraight back to Constantine. Despite the multi-tude of Emperors and Sultans who have succeededhim, each anxious to leave his mark behind him instone, or brick, or marble, Constantinople is still thecity of Constantine. In the centre, he laid out theAugustaeum, the ancient equivalent, as it has wellbeen pointed out, of the modern Place Imperiale.It was a large open space, paved throughout in
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ST. HELENA AND THE CROSS. BY CRANACH. LICHTENSTEIN GALLERY, VIENNA. The Foundation of Constantinople 269 marble, but of unknown shape, and historians havedisagreed upon the probability of its having beencircular, square, or of the shape of a narrow rect-angle. It was full of noble statuary, and was sur-rounded by an imposing pile of stately buildings.To the north lay the great church of Sancta Sophia;on the east the Senate House of the Augustaeum,so called to distinguish it from the Senate House ofthe Forum ; on the south lay the palace, entered byan enormous brazen gate, called Chalce, the palaceend of the Hippodrome, and the Baths of Zeuxip-pus. The street connecting the Augustaeum withthe Forum of Constantine was known as Miai), orMiddle-street, and was entered on the western side.In the Augustaeum, which later Emperors filled withfamous statues, there stood in Constantines day asingle marble column known as the Milion—fromwhich were measured distances throughout the Em-pire,—a