constantinople Posts

7 Outstanding Examples of Byzantine Architecture

The capital of the empire was the city of Constantinople, in modern-day Istanbul, Turkey. Byzantine emperors commissioned extravagant churches - the bigger the better - and the architectural advancements of the time had already allowed it.

These Great Cities Were Once the World's Largest

Constantinople Population: 600,000 (In 600 AD) Present day population: 13,120,596 Constantinople was the seat of the Byzantine Empire, and named after the great emperor, Constantine the Great, who re-inaugurated the city from what was ancient Byzantium in 324 AD.

Some of the World's Great Cities Had Humble Beginnings...

Istanbul Istanbul started life as a Greek colony called Byzantium, then later became the seat of the Byzantine Empire, named Constantinople after Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, prior to its capture by the Ottomans in 1453, after which time it became known as Istanbul (a corruption of Constantinople

How Columbus's Life Was Saved By the Moon

In 1453, the Ottoman Turks took Constantinople and forbade Christian traders to find new routes to the East. Columbus' newly discovered lands were a good solution to this problem.

The Artist and The Horse: 10 Stunning Works of Art

This statue, however, wasn't melted into coins because the man in the statue was mistaken for Constantinople, the first Christian Emperor. Thankfully, this standard for equestrian statues has survived. It was erected in 175AD, and remains to be ideal for equestrian statues. 2.

12 Gorgeous Churches That Reveal France's Beautiful Past

Sacre-Coeur Paris’s Sacré-Coeur is a Basilica built in the ancient Romano-Byzantine style best typified in the world-famous Hagia Sophia Cathedral of Constantinople (or Istanbul).

Thinking of Visiting Ukraine? Don’t Miss These 10 Sites!

Golden Gates, Kiev "Golden Gates" is the name chosen for the main entrance gates to a fortification system built in Kiev in the 11th century, in imitation of the Golden Gate in the city of Constantinople. The building was subsequently dismantled and rebuilt by the Soviet authorities in 1982.

Choo-Choo! 10 Top Cities to Tram or Trolley Through!

Istanbul, Turkey The former capital of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, Constantinople, or as the victorious Turkish began to pronounce it, Istanbul, is another example of the mixed identities you can witness in many of the world’s great cities.

These Towers Are All Utterly Remarkable in their Own Ways

The fortification is actually Genoese, built during the time when Constantinople (now Istanbul) was a Genoese colony. You can enjoy spectacular views of the Bosphorus Strait from the restaurant and café at the top. [related_articles] 12. 

A Deep Dive into Trevi Fountain’s 2,000-Year History

The longest Roman aqueduct was the Aqueduct of Valens which supplied Constantinople; it was 426 km (264 miles) long! The massive water system of Rome was serviced by hundreds of workers who cleaned lime buildup and debris from aqueducts and lead pipes.

The Mystery Behind These Lost Treasures Will Fascinate You

Some say it was melted or dismantled by the occupiers or completely destroyed by the fire that was set, while others claim that the Romans succeeded in saving it and took it to their eastern capital, Constantinople.

Have You Been to these Award-Winning Destinations?

Istanbul, Turkey Originally known as Byzantion, the city at the crossroads of Europe and Asia was elevated to capital of the Eastern Roman Empire in the 4th Century by Constantine the Great, who lent the city its name (Constantinople).

6 Unexpected Ways People Became Roman Emperors

After the division of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire (also called the Eastern Roman Empire) formed in 330 AD with its capital in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). Let’s speed up a few centuries to the death of the Byzantine emperor Leo IV the Khazar in 780 AD.

6 Toughest Viking Warriors Who Left Indelible Imprints

A few years later, Harald traveled to Constantinople where he joined the Byzantine emperor’s esteemed Varangian Guard. In the years to follow, he acquired a good amount of wealth and became a prominent military commander. By the mid-1040s, Harald decided to return to Scandinavia.