The seat of Turkish jealousy and despotism
is erected on the foundations of a Grecian republic: but it
may be supposed that the Byzantines were tempted by the
conveniency of the harbour to extend their habitations on
that side beyond the modern limits of the Seraglio. The new
walls of Constantine stretched from the port to the
Propontis across the enlarged breadth of the triangle, at
the distance of fifteen stadia from the ancient
fortifications: and with the city of Byzantium they inclosed
five of the seven hills, which to the eyes of those who
approach Constantinople appear to rise above each other in
beautiful order. About a century after the death of the
founder the new buildings, extending on one side up the
harbour, and on the other the Propontis, already covered the
narrow ridge of the sixth and the broad summit of the
seventh hill. The necessity of protecting those suburbs from
the incessant inroads of the barbarians engaged the younger
Theodosius to surround his capital with an adequate and
permanent inclosure of walls.
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