Saksagan
The Palace of the Porphyrogenitus
An Imperial Residence
The ruins of a Byzantine palace, today commonly called Tekfur Sarayı, are located next to the Porta Xylokerkou (now near Edirnekapı) in...
Prayers Outside the Mosque
While the Sultan prayed inside the mosque, strips of matting were rolled out onto the pavement outside. The pilgrims, who had gathered to see...
The Heavy Responsibility of Protection
The Minister of War holds one of the most dangerous jobs in the empire. He is fully responsible for the safety of the Sultan....
Unusual Deliveries Before the Ceremony
After the carriages passed, two large covered vans arrived. They looked like the kind used to move furniture in the United States. The vans...
The Price of Prosperity in Ottoman Europe
Wealth Attracts Trouble
In the Ottoman-controlled provinces of Europe, no man was free to improve his life. Whenever someone saved money or gained property, they...
A Land of Constant Conflict
For many centuries, the territory now known as Bulgaria was fought over again and again. Until the end of the 14th century, Christian kingdoms...
The Great Turk and His Capital
The Lost Provinces
The next conflict in Europe may again take place in the Balkan Peninsula. This region lies south of Austria-Hungary. It is bordered...
Cistern Construction in the Middle and Late Byzantine Periods
Cisterns as a Response to the Decline of Water Supply
During the middle and late Byzantine periods, Constantinople faced a gradual decline in its water...
The Use of Spolia in Byzantine Cisterns
Unfinished and Reused Capitals in Cisterns
In many Byzantine cisterns, archaeologists have discovered a wide range of unfinished column capitals, some damaged and some still...
Reconsidering the Use of Spolia in Byzantine Constantinople
What Is Spolia and Why Was It Used?
In Byzantine Constantinople, the use of spolia—that is, recycled architectural elements from older buildings—became very common. This...
