TURKEY ISTANBUL - THE PERIOD OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

THE ROYAL PURPLE YEARS OF ISTANBUL: THE PERIOD OF THE BYZANTINE 

EMPIRE

Royal purple is the colour of the Byzantine imperial family. The Byzantine emperors called themselves “the Royal Purple Blooded “, they were born in purple decorated rooms, and they wore purple mantles when they were enthroned and they were buried in purple sarcophagi; so their whole lives were identified with purple.

The purple years of Istanbul may be considered to have started in 330 when EmperorCosntantine declared the city the capital of his empire. Until 1453, when it was conquered by the Ottomans, the city had served as the capital of the Byzantine Empire. During the sovereignty of Byzantine Empire it was adorned with several works of art to become the most magnificent city of the world, even in those years when the Byzantines themselves were enfeebled.

When the Roman Empire needed a base to stage its campaigns towards the East, there was not much need to explore further afield: Istanbul’s unique location and strategic position made it the best choice. The capital was first called “New Rome” and indeed the city is quite similar to Rome. 

Both ciities were based on seven hills; the original settlement area of Istanbul was surrounded on 3 sides by the Sea of Marara and the Golden Horn, while Rome was surrounded by the River Tiber; the layout of both cities looks like a scalene triangle. Perhaps those features were influential in choosing the location of “New Rome “ . However, physical similarities were not deemed enough and so every resource of the empire was drawn up to enhance the magnificence of the new city.

Byzantium was in fact a continuation of Rome and the Byzantines called themselves “Romans” even until the day their empire came to an end. Yet there was a significant difference between the Byzantines and their ancestors: Christianity. 

In Byzantium, Roman temples were replaced with churches. Displaying unique examples of Byzantine painting and architecture, these building were scattered across the historical peninsula as well as in other parts of Istanbul. Some of the most important Byzantine masterpieces in Istanbul are public buildings such as the hippodrome, water cisterns, places, through fares and public squares and the city walls.

The identity of Istanbul that began to be formed by the Byzantines was further shaped during the period of Ottoman Empire.