Page:Destruction of the Greek Empire.djvu/276

240 DESTEUGTION OF THE GEEEK EMPIEE took the place of Apollo when the empire became Christian. 1 Between the two gates exists a valley, about a hundred feet below their level, which is drained by a small stream called the Lycus. The distance between the two gates is seven eighths of a mile. The double walls of Theodosius connect them, while in front of the Outer Wall was an enclosure with the usual breastwork forming the side of the foss. The Lycus enters below these walls through a well-constructed passage still in existence, and flows through the city until it empties itself into the Marmora at Vlanga Bostan. The tower beneath which it has been led is halfway between the Adrianople Gate and Top Capou. About two hundred yards to the north of this tower is the Fifth Military Gate or Pempton, spoken of sometimes by the Byzantines as the Gate of St. Kyriake, from a church within the city which was close to it, called the Bomanus Gate by the writers on the siege, and on old Turkish maps described as Hedjoum Capou or the Gate of the Assault. 2 The foss has a number of dams at irregular distances down each side of the valley. In its lowest part no dams were necessary. 3 The walls between Top Capou and the Adrianople Gate were known as the Mesoteichion, and the name seems to have been applied also to the whole of the valley. The por- tion of the walls on either side of the Adrianople Gate, or perhaps those only, on the high ground to the north of it, was known as the Myriandrion — a name which was applied occasionally to the Gate itself. From a tower to which Leonard gives the name Bactatinian, near where the Lycus entered the city, to Top Capou, the walls were described as the Bachaturean. Though the two magnificent Theodosian walls were as 1 This was destroyed in the time of Suliman and replaced by a mosque which is called after his daughter Miramah, though the Greeks were allowed to build a church of St. George almost alongside it. 2 Dr. Mordtmann is my authority for this statement. See note in the Appendix on the position of the Komanus Gate. 3 Paspates claims that there was always water in the foss during a siege, though it was of no great depth. See p. 42 of his UoKiopKia rrjs Kwirrav- rtvovir6€cos. It is remarkable, however, that no mention is made of water by the contemporary writers on the last siege.