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A New Vision That Explains the First
After Saint John’s next vision, the meaning of the earlier vision becomes clearer. In the Book of Revelation, John describes a second beast that...
The Imperial Cult as a Political Issue
For Christians in the Roman Empire, refusing to offer sacrifice to the emperor was not only a religious decision. In Roman eyes, it was...
Meat Sacrifices and Public Ceremonies
In the ancient pagan world, religious ceremonies often included animal sacrifices. After the sacrifice, the meat was shared among the people. This practice allowed...
The Assembly at the Campus
When the day of the imperial proclamation arrived, all those concerned with the event gathered on the Campus at the Hebdomon. This included soldiers,...
Valens and the Development of the Harbour of the Hebdomon
Emperor Valens showed special interest in the suburb of the Hebdomon, not only by using it for important state ceremonies but also by improving...
Public Punishment and Imperial Justice at the Hebdomon
The Hebdomon was not only a place of military gathering and ceremony, but also a site where public executions were carried out. When executions...
Tekfour Serai and the Palace Question
Gyllius mentions Tekfour Serai under the name of the Palace of Constantine. He also recognizes that there was a Palace of the Magnaura located...
Du Cange and the Meaning of the Hebdomon
Unlike Gyllius, Du Cange was unable to accept the loose interpretation given to the Greek phrase referring to the Hebdomon. He insisted on what...
A Misguided Search for the Hebdomon
Guided by his unusual interpretation of Sozomen’s account, Gyllius began a determined effort to identify the exact location of the Hebdomon. He was an...
Theodosian Walls
A Response to a Growing City
The Theodosian Walls were built because Constantinople grew rapidly in both population and importance. The city had originally been...
