paganism in constantinople i had a concern about the statement between and constantine built a new imperial capital at byzantium on the bosphorus it came to be named for him constantinople the city had no pagan temples i found a bbc article see this link that states constantine founded a new city named after himself constantinople christian writers played up the idea that this was to be a 'new rome' a fitting christian capital for a newly christian empire but they had to find ways to explain the embarrassing fact that in this new supposedly christian city constantine had erected pagan temples and statues this is contrary to what i've always read but this is the bbc saying this interesting point to clarify can anybody comment on whether the bbc is simply in error or whether there might actually be some truth to this