BYZANTIUM, an ancient city of Thrace, situated on the Bosphorus, N. Lat. 41°, E. Long. 29°. It stood on a promontory of a nearly triangular form, commanding, to the right, a view of the Propontis, or sea of Marmora ; in front, the narrow channel of the Bosphorus, with the cities of Chalcedon and Chrysopolis, on the Asiatic coast ; and to the left, fertile eminences, and a gulf, which re treating inland not less than six English miles, served for a most commodious harbour. The river Lycus, formed by the conflux of two small streams, fell into it, and this harbour was altogether so excellent, that it is at this day, according to some, called the Porte, by way of eminence ;* and was universally considered as combining more of the advantages of strength, convenience, and beauty, than any other harbour in the world. So much was t his the case, that the inhabitants of Chalcedon, on the Asiatic side of the strait, were denominated by the oracle the blind, cocci, (Tacit. ?n. b. xii. c. 63.) because their founders had, a short time before the building of _Byzantium, (when they had their choice of the two sides,) been so stupid or blind as to prefer the Asiatic. The harbour, at its mouth, was only about 500 yards broad, but in most other places a mile, and capable of floating vessels of any size.
Byzantium occupied the place where the capital of the eastern empire afterwards stood, and where the capi tal of the Turkish empire now stands. About seven miles to the north of the city, viz. at the place where stood the celebrated temple of Mercury, and where Darius con nected the two continents by a bridge of boats, the chan nel of the Bosphorus was so narrow, that two persons, placed the one in Europe and the other in Asia, could easily make themselves heard by one another. The citadel stood on the point of the promontory. The walls of the city were built of huge square stones, so skilfully jointed as to have only the appearance of a single block, and they were much loftier on the land side than towards the water, where the waves and projecting rocks formed a natural delence. They were strengthened by numerous
towers, seven of which are said to have been so artfully constructed, that the least noise made in any one of them was immediately communicated to all the rest. Ancient authors inform us, that, in the fourth century before the Christian xra, this city had a gymnasium, as well as many other public buildings, and possessed almost every convenience and luxury which we usually find among a rich, numerous, and active people. Xenophon says, they had a forum spacious enough to contain a small army drawn up in order of battle, and in this forum, De mosthenes says, the people used to assemble to confirm or reject the decrees of their senate.
A considerable territory belonged to Byzantium, which was abundantly productive of grain and fruits. Aristxus, Pliny, and Tacitus, inform us, that immense quantities of fish, (though of what kind they do not say.) were wont to be caught in the harbour. Vis pisciunt inriumera, says the latter, Ponto eranyzens, et obliquis subter undas saxis exterrita, amiss° alterius littoris jlexu, hos ad pertus dc fertunt Spring and autumn were the principal seasons for taking these fish. In spring they were proceeding northward into the colder regions of the Euxine Sea, and in autumn returning southward into the Mediterranean. This fishery, according to Aristxus, brought a large re venue to the city, which likewise enjoyed an active and, flourishing commerce. The excellence of its harbour, sheltered on every side from storms, attracted thither numerous vessels from all the nations of Greece ; and its situation at the mouth of the strait enabled it to subject to heavy duties, or to stop altogether, those merchants of more southern states who carried on a trade with the Euxine. Hence the importance attached to the friend ship of this city by the Athenians and Lacedxmonians, and their constant'endeavours to engage it in their inte rests.