The details given in the patriarch’s later letter are, it is true, not fully in agreement with what he had written earlier in Ancient and Modern Constantinople. However, these later statements are far clearer and much more detailed than the earlier account. More importantly, they were written for the express purpose of correcting mistakes in his former work. For this reason, scholars have accepted them as the patriarch’s most reliable and authoritative explanation of the matter.
Because the subject is of great historical importance, and because the patriarch’s letter is not widely known, the passages most closely related to the question have been carefully examined and summarized here. They provide valuable insight into the true location and nature of the ancient harbour remains discovered in 1819 Clarifying the Meaning of the Patriarch’s Statement.
Location of the Harbour According to the Patriarch
In his letter, the patriarch explains that the harbour constructed by Emperor Michael Palaiologos was not situated directly at Koum Kapoussi itself, but lay between the Gate of Kontoscalion (Koum Kapoussi) and the Gate of Vlanga (Yeni Kapou). He further states that this harbour was built inside the line of the sea walls for greater security. This clarification already marks a departure from the impression given in his earlier book.
The patriarch then describes a dramatic event that led to the rediscovery of the ancient structure. In the year 1819, a large fire broke out in the area occupied by Ottoman residents. This fire destroyed buildings in that quarter and exposed the remains of a circular enclosure belonging to the ancient harbour.
Description of the Harbour Wall
The uncovered structure was a circular harbour wall built of massive stone blocks. According to the patriarch, the wall consisted of three layers of very large stones carefully placed one above another. The stones were well cut and fitted together like slabs. Each block measured approximately three cubits in length, two cubits in width, and one cubit in thickness Sofia Sightseeing Tours.
The two lower rows of stones were made of the common limestone found near the Bosporus, pale in color. The uppermost row, however, was constructed of marble brought from the Island of Marmora, which gave the structure a more imposing and durable finish. This careful combination of materials reflects the importance of the harbour and the skill of Byzantine engineering.
Official Investigation of the Discovery
After the discovery became known, the Ottoman government ordered an official investigation. The patriarch was instructed to examine the remains and report his findings. He did not go alone but was accompanied by respected members of the Greek community, whose presence added credibility to the inquiry.
They began their journey at Kadriga Limani and passed through the parishes of St. Kyriake and St. Elpis. Continuing beyond Koum Kapoussi, they followed the line of the sea walls until they reached the area near the Gate of Yeni Kapou at Vlanga.
Identification of the Harbour
At this location, the patriarch and his companions saw a circular enclosure made of stone and marble extending beneath the remains of a burned Ottoman bath, a large house, and nearby buildings. From this evidence, the patriarch became convinced that the structure was indeed the harbour described by Pachymeres—namely, the Neorion of the Kontoscalion, facing toward Vlanga.
He further explains that after the Ottoman conquest, the entire area was filled in, leveled, and raised to create new building ground. As a result, the original harbour basin disappeared from view. The iron gates through which ships once entered the harbour were removed and destroyed, leaving only buried traces of the ancient structure.
The patriarch’s later letter provides the clearest and most accurate account of the harbour discovered in 1819. Although it corrects errors in his earlier work, it brings written testimony into harmony with archaeological and topographical evidence. Thanks to this fuller explanation, the true position and nature of the ancient harbour can now be understood with far greater confidence.
