BYZANTIUM, bi-z:in'shi-fun (Gk. 7101% Byzantion). A city which stood on the Thracian Bosporus, at the east end of the Pro pontis. It was founded about it.c. GO, by Dorian colonists. probably from Megara, and rapidly rose in importance as a seat of com merce. Its position was at once secure and en chanting; it commanded the shores of Europe and Asia. and had magnificent facilities fur trade. After a time of subjugation under Darius Hystaspis. Byzantium was occupied by the Spartan general Pausanias. Later the city joined the De]ian League. and its importance is shown by its large contributions. At the time of the Samian revolt (B.c. 440), Byzan tium seems to have tried to withdraw. but reappears in the tribute lists two years later, and remained loyal to Athens until n.c. 411, when it joined Sparta. Retaken by Alcibi ades (n.c. 409), it was again captured by Ly sander after the battle of .Egospotami. Spar tan tyranny led to a change of feeling, and about B.c. 390 Thrasybulus, the Athenian, re established the democracy, and before B.C. 378 Byzantium concluded a treaty of alliance with Athens. This friendship was of short duration, and finally, in n.c. 357. Byzantium leagued itself with Chios. Rhodes, and King Mausolus II. of Calla. in the Social War. In B.C. 341-40 Philip of Macedon advanced against the city. and, under the influence of Demosthenes, the citizens once more joined Athens. Under Alexander the (4reat and his successors. Byzantium retained
its independence, but for some years after B.c. 278 was subject to a heavy tribute imposed by the Celts. The duties imposed to meet this burden led to a war with Rhodes, in which the city was supported by Attains I. of Pergamum. During the Roman wars Byzantium seems to have supported Rome. and. as a result, in spite of some suffering in the Mithridatie wars, en joyed considerable prosperity. In the civil war between Sept imins Severus and Pescennius Niger. Byzantium sided with the latter. It was, therefore, besieged by Sevenis, and, after a brave defense of three years' duration, was cap tured in A.D. DM and reduced to ruins. Severus, repenting the desolation which he had made, re built a part of the city, ornamented it with baths, porticoes, etc., and restored to the in habitants their ancient privileges. In A.D. 3:30, after the defeat of Licinius, Constantine made the city the capital of the Roman Empire, under the name of Constantinople (q.v.).
third letter in the Latin, as in all alphabets, like the Romance and English, that are derived from it. In position the letter c corre sponds to the Greek gamma(P) from which its form is actually de rived through curvature or rounding. Its shape is ultimately traceable, it is thought, to a glyphie pictograph for a throne. See ALPHABET.