The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1878-01-02
CONSTANTINOPLE.

CONSTANTINOPLE.
The Walls OF CSnstantInOrIe- Palaces
ahd ReiIcs-8f the Green EritisfF6--
Pagan Ternp1es-RcmaIfs er
| the NEUROLOGICAL Period.
In view of the stirring events transpir-
ing in the east, caused by the terrible
conflict now being waged between the
Moslem and the Musco7ite, all iDforma-
tion, historical, archaeological, descriptive
or otherwise, of the grand objective point
of the Russians, C5nstahtinople, can not
but be interesting to the general reader.
Beginning at the walls Of Constantinople,
we would remark that they are in a
fearful state Of dilapidation, which, how
ever, adds to the histofic interest with
which they inspire every visitor. At the
Seven Towers is the famous g Golden
Gate" through which the emperors of
the lower Greek empire sailed forth to
make war upon their northern foes, and
into which they returned in triumph
after their victories.
The next most interesting portion of
the walls is that near the " Cannon" gate,
where the last emperor, Constantine
Paleologus, fell when the capital became
the property of its coDqueror, Moham-
med H., 1454, May 80, just 38 years
before the discovery Of America by
Columbus.
The vicinity of this gate is deep
ravine, and there the fatal attack was
made which resulted so disastrously to
the Greeks. The turret where the
emperor fell and was lost even to his
own people, stands prominently at the
base Of the valley, overgrown with fig
trees and evergreen ivy, the sole monu-
nents of so much devoted patriotism and
self-sacEifce.
At the northeast extremity of the
walls are still in excellent preservation
the palaces of the Greek emperors.
Beneath the ruined palaces is the prison
wherein so many princes of the great
Greek imperial family suffered slow deaths
il darkness. Most Of them had their
eyes put out by hot irons, and some even
were deprived of their tongues the
policy Of bafbarotis Christian times.
Beyond the extremity OF the Golden"
LJorr +hara ara E,u,, st.c,,,,- 1c Fz.T
water that flow into the Port, near the
mouths of which stood a Pagan temple
Above and around the Port is the city of
Scutari, formerly known as Chrysopolis,
or the Golden City, and just below is
that of Cadi Kiery, or ChaIcedon, the
scene of one of the most interesting of
the great ecumenical councils of Chris
tianity.
In the latter city the goddess Proser-
pine and the God Apollo were worshiped,
each in their respective temples, on the
sites of which are now the Christian
churches, Catholic and Greek, both
erected to the mother Of God. Not far
from these Jason rested his crew of the
Argo before pushing on to the shores OF
Colchis in search of the golden fleece.
Near by is an elevation where once stood
the temple dedicated to Apollo, in which
the Wearied mariners from Greece offered
up prayers to this god.
Rowing up the Bosphorus, we pass the
hills Of Buyukdere, where Godfrey de
Boullion and his army Of crusaders we're
encamped. Beyond are the heights
where once stood temple to Jupiter
Uranus, where the Argenauts stopped to |
offer up their devotions to the great God
Of visible nature. Hard by is the scene
of the conflict Of Pollux with Amycus
-" the king of the country"-and in the
heights a giants grave is
shown, where the latter is supposed to be
buried. There grew the I Grazing Laurel, y
which spread misfortune among the
crews Of vessels In the remote times OF
Beyond i the far-famed
Cyerian rocks, on which still stand the
remains of a Koman pagan altar, where
sacrifices were offered 70 the power OF
Neptune il That portion Of bis aquatic
domain.
On the heights Of Roumeli Hisssr
stands the Robert college, which was
oundsd and endowed by an American,
lfr. G. r. Robert, wealthy merchant Of
New York, the corner stone of the same
oeing laid on the 4th Of July, 1869
Wear its site vas an altar erected to the
god Of Mercury, or Hermes, after whom
he promontory above was called Mount
Hsrmeon. On the summit of this and
he opposite hiII, On the Asiatic shore,
tood two heathea temples, the one
.rected to ser4pis and the other to ;
Jupiter Pluvius. Long alter tile disap.
of these two raonaments Of the |
leathen age, where the presens antigua
"a and useless Turkish castles 81 Europe /
lad Asia now stand, existed, ii he year
2tS, two others erected hy the sever.
ixns III the lower Greek empire for the
lurpose 81 commanding The narrowsst
,ortian Of the B0sphoFns, which Is
.ct over 500 PAGES ia width, It was