A HIDDEN TREASURE FROM CONSTANTINOPLE-
IN ROME CONSTANTINE THE GREAT DEFEATED HIS RIVAL MAXENTIUS AT THE BATTLE OF THE MILVIAN BRIDGE IN 312 AD.THEN DEFEATED LUCINIUS IN 313 AND REUNITED THE EAST AND THE WEST.THEN BY THE DECLARATION OF THE EDICT OF MILAN IN 313 GAVE EVERY CITIZEN OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE TO WORSHIP THEIR GODS FREELY.
THIS WAS THE FREEDOM CHRISTIANS NEEDED.HE RELOCATED HIS EMPIRE IN THE EAST AND SPENT SIX YEARS BUILDING HIS NEW CITY FROM BYZANTIUM TO CONSTANTINOPLE. WHEN CONSTANTINE THE GREAT INAUGURATED NEW ROME ON THE 11TH.OF MAY 330; AS CONSTANTINOPLE HE HAD STARTED MERELY FROM SCRATCH.OLD ROME HAD TOO MUCH OF A HISTORIC BAGGAGE.CHRISTIANITY WAS BORN IN JERUSALEM AND SPREAD OUT TO THE WORLD FROM NEW ROME.HIS MOTHER HELENA HAD VISITED JERUSALEM AND BROUGHT SOME OF THE HOLY RELICS TO CONSTANTINOPLE.
DURING THE RECONSTRUCTION OF NEW ROME CONSTANTINE INVITED ROMAN SENATORS TO COME AND SETTLE IN THIS NEW CITY.HE GAVE THEM LAND AND WHEAT FOR FREE SO THEY RELOCATED.ONE OF THE PALACES THAT WAS BUILT ON THE HISTORIC PENINSULA WAS BY SENATOR PHILOXENUS; REMAINS OF WHICH ARE ARE UNDER THE ISLAMIC FINE ARTS MUSEUM OPPOSITE FROM THE BLUE MOSQUE TODAY.
LOCATED BY THE SIDE OF THE OLD HIPPODROME THE PALACE OF THIS SENATOR HAD A CISTERN TODAY KNOWN AS BİNBİRDİREK CISTERN AND WAS COMPLETED BY 330. THE PALACE COVERED QUITE A LARGE AREA AND TODAY I WANT TO BRING YOU TO THE ROMAN BATH OF PHILOXENIUS WHICH IS UNDER AN OTTOMAN HOUSE THAT IS ALMOST TWO HUNDRED YEARS OLD.THIS 1600 YEAR OLD ROMAN BATH IS THE BASEMENT OF ICI HEADQUARTERS.I PREPARED THIS PANEL ON THE WALL WHERE I STAND WHICH OUTLINES''HIGHLIGHTS FROM ANATOLIAN HISTORY AND TURKISH CARPET HISTORY''.
HOPEFULLY YOU WILL VISIT THESE PREMISES SOME DAY AND SEE THE SECRETS OF OUR PAST WITH YOUR OWN EYES AND TRULY FEEL THE CONCEPT OF A HIDDEN TREASURE.
MY NEXT BLOG WILL BE ANOTHER HIDDEN TREASURE FROM TROY TO CONSTANTINOPLE.