Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-27
Era Of "orand Comnenus."

The Roman emperor Justinian built the
original castle and gave the city Its water
supply. But most Of the ruins date from
the empire which was founded In 1904
by Alexius I, grandson OF the Byzantine
emperor Andronicus I, who assumed the
title Of Grand Comnenus."
Alexius had twenty successors. and the
empire lasted until 1881. In the mean
time Trebizond, according to the his
torians, was famed for its magnifcence,
the court for its luxury and elaborate
ceremonials, while at the same time it
was frequently hotbed OF intrigue and
immortality.
THE imperial family was renowned for
their beauty. and the princeeses were
sought as brides not only by the Byzan-
tine emperors, but by the Moslem rulers
of Persia and the chiefs of the. Mon
gols and Turkomans. The grand COM
nent were patrons OF art and learning;
valuable manuscripts and the city was
adorned with splendid buildings.
1.-The writer's Of that time speak with
enthusiasm Of its lofty towers. OF the
churches and monasteries in the suburbs.
and especially of the garden. orchards
and olive groves"
It is dificult to believe all this. But
the ruins are here. and the mute walls OF
crumbling stone would probably con-
firm the statements II they could speak, t.
ruins at the top of hill, which 10 said
to have played an important part in the
history OF the city and was the scene OF
a crisis which ended the empire. There Is
back nearly thousand years and con-
tains the tombs of several emperors OF
Trebixond and a monument to Solomon,
one OF the early kings OF the neighbor-
ing state Of Georgia, now a Russian
province.
Church Of St. Sophia.
About two miles west Of the town is
the church Of st. Sophia, which was built
been a magnificent structure. judging
from what remains. II has been q
mosque for several centuries, but is sell
dom used these days.
The pavement of many-cOlored marble
is beautiful. The walls are decorated
with pictures in MOSAIC like those in tine
mosques at Saloniki. although the van
because they represent Christian saints
and martyrs.
In the vestioule until 1s4S was a fine
fresco representing the Emperor Alexius,
his mother. tho Dowager Irene. and his
wife, the Empress Theodore, all clad in
their imperial robes. but it mysteriously
disappeared while the church was beng
repaired and has never been recovered.
There are many other relics OF ancient
times which we would like to know more
about. But there 10 no one to tell US and
the Psychologists have neglected this part
Of the world.
Asylum Of xenophon.
To a historical student perhaps the
most interesting fact about Trehixond is
that 1t was the end Of the mastery re-
treat Of the famous ten thousand" un-
der command Of xenophon, a newspaper
man. whose story is told in the 'Anaba-
SIS" which every schoolboy who has
ever studied Greek knows more or less
about.
Darius. the great King Of Persia. had
two sons. Artaxerxes and Cyrus. The lat
the kingdom, and four hundred years be-
fore Christ organized an army In Greece
and marched aGainst his brother at Bah
ylon. xenophon accompanied the ex
petition as war Correspondent
troops scattered. leaving 10000 Greek
mercenaries, who had accompanied him,
to look after themselves In a desert be-
tween the Tigris and the Euphrates
rivers. Thsir commanders became rattied
Thereupon Xsnophen showed what
newspaper men are capable OF doing
when responsibility falls upon them by
fo srs"t ma leading il back through an
unknown country with marvellous skill.
He had never served % soldier. but,
like every other newspaper man. he was
q master Of the science Of war.
The retreat OF the ten thousand Is one
OF the greatest military achievements In
history Although he had no supplies and
was compelled to forage on the country.
OF topography Of the country, Keno
phon condvcted the ten thousand across
Armenia and over the mountains to
TreMs0nd. where the people received him
with generous hospitality and assteted
back 70 Greece.
II is worth coming oil the way up the
Black sea 70 tread the soil that was made
historic by thfs accomplished war CORE
spondent.
American Consulate.