Chrysopolis
Chrysopolis ( Greek Χρυσόπολις "golden city") was an ancient place on the south side of the Bosporus across from Constantinople , today the Üsküdar district of Istanbul . In antiquity, as in the Byzantine and Ottoman times, its port was of great importance as one of the most important crossings between Asia Minor and Europe.
The place is probably in the 6th century BC. Was founded. Although it was called "the largest city in the West" by Emperor Justinian I , despite this name it was never a polis , but a part of the city of Chalcedon .
Even in ancient times, the meaning of the name could no longer be explained with certainty. Some sources believe that it goes back to the fact that the Persians had a collection point for gold donations from the Greek cities here. More often, however, the explanation is that Chrysos was buried here .
On September 18, 324, Emperor Constantine I defeated Licinius in the battle of Chrysopolis with his fleet .
In the Middle Ages the place was known under the name Skutarion ( Scutari ), from which the Turkish name Üsküdar developed .
The Chrysopolis monastery is known because the former imperial secretary Maximus the Confessor entered there in 613/14 ( BBKL ) and 630 (Stadlers Heiligenlexikon) and was elected abbot. He stayed there until he had to flee from the Persians to North Africa in 626 and 640 respectively.
The Byzantine Emperor Michael III. (842–867) was buried in Chrysopolis, but then by Leon VI. transferred to Constantinople.
1003 the patriarch exiled Sergios II. Symeon the New Theologian , according Chrysopolis, where he joined the village Paloutikon in a dilapidated oratorio hl of. Marina was dedicated, settled down. Even after his rehabilitation he stayed and built a new monastery there. Coordinates: 41 ° 2 ′ N , 29 ° 1 ′ E
literature
- George Long: Chrysopolis . In: William Smith : Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London 1854.