Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 2.djvu/253

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 235 stretched twelve miles along the shore from the Sigaean c II A P. to tlie Rhaetean promontory ; and the flanks of the ^^^"' army were guarded by the bravest chiefs who fought under the banners of Agamemnon. The first of those promontories was occupied by Achilles with his invin- cible Myrmidons, and the dauntless Ajax pitched his tents on the otlier. After Ajax had fallen a sacrifice to his disappointed pride, and to the ingratitude of the Greeks ; his sepulchre was erected on the ground where he had defended the navy against the rage of Jove and of Hector ; and the citizens of the rising town of Rhae- teum celebrated his memory with divine honours". Before Constantino gave a just preference to the situ- ation of Byzantium, he had conceived the design of erecting the seat of empire on this celebrated spot, from whence the Romans derived their fabulous origin. The extensive plain which lies below ancient Troy, towards the Rhaetean promontory and the tomb of Ajax, was first chosen for his new capital ; and, though the undertaking was soon relinquished, the stately re- mains of unfinished walls and towers attracted the notice of all who sailed through the straits of the Hellespont*. We are at present qualified to view the advantageous Advantages position of Constantinople ; which appears to have been ti„ "lef^" formed by nature for the centre and capital of a great monarchy. Situated in the forty-first degree of lati- tude, the imperial city commanded, from her seven hills ^, " Strabo, 1. xiii. p. 595. The disposition of the ships which were drawn upon dry land, and the posts of Ajax and Achilles, are very clearly de- scribed by Homer. See Iliad ix. 220. ^ Zosiin. 1. ii. p. 105; Sozomen, 1. ii. c. 3; Theophanes, p. 18-, Nice- phorus Callistus, 1. vii. p. 48 ; Zonaras, torn. ii. 1. xiii. p, 6. Zosimus places the new city between Ilium and Alexandria ; but this apparent difference mav be reconciled by the large extent of its circumference. Before the foundation of Constantinople, Thessalonica is mentioned by Cedrenus, (p. 283.) and Sardica by Zonaras, as the intended capital. 1 hey both suppose, with very little probability, that the emperor, if he had not been prevented by a prodigy, would have repeated the mistake of the blind Chalcedonians. y Pocock's Description of the East, vol. ii. part ii, p. 127. His plan of the seven hills is clear and accurate. That traveller is seldom so satisfactory.