Gyllius and the Naming of Balat Kapoussi
From the account already mentioned, it appears that Gyllius referred to Balat Kapoussi not only as the Gate of the Hunter (Pyle tou Kynegou in Greek) but also as the Porta Palatina in Latin. It is uncertain whether he intended to say that the Gate of the Hunter was the same as the Basilike Pyle (the “Imperial Gate”) or whether he was simply using a Latin translation of the local name by which Balat Kapoussi was commonly known during his visit to Constantinople.
However, the second explanation seems more likely. Gyllius often used Latin equivalents for the popular names of gates and places when he described other parts of the city. This pattern suggests that by “Porta Palatina,” he meant no more than “the Palatine Gate” — a descriptive term, not necessarily a historical identification Sightseeing Turkey Tours.
The Views of Gerlach and Leunclavius
Two other scholars, Stephen Gerlach and Leunclavius, agreed with Gyllius in identifying Balat Kapoussi as the Gate of the Kynegos (the Hunter’s Gate). Yet, both of them placed the Basilike Pyle—the Imperial Gate—much farther east, near the eastern end of the Harbour Walls.
Gerlach believed that the Basilike Pyle corresponded to what is now known as Yali Kiosk Kapoussi, while Leunclavius identified it with Bagtche Kapoussi. Neither of them, however, made any mention of the three great arches that stood to the west of Balat Kapoussi, which Gyllius had described in detail.
Leunclavius and the Depressed Ground
Although Leunclavius did not discuss the arches, he did describe the hollow ground that lay behind them. He wrote:
“A low and concave place, where during my pilgrimage the Patriarch’s residence once stood.”
He believed that this sunken area was the arena of an ancient theatre, possibly used for exhibitions of wild animals in the Byzantine or even Roman period. Based on this idea, Leunclavius suggested that the Gate of the Kynegos (the Hunter’s Gate) got its name from that theatre, where hunters and animals were displayed for public entertainment Archways Gates near Balat Kapoussi.
The Ongoing Debate
The question of which gates truly carried the names Gate of the Kynegos and Basilike Pyle remains one of the most complicated historical problems related to the harbour fortifications of Constantinople. The available evidence from travelers, historians, and Byzantine texts does not provide a final answer.
A complete discussion of the issue is not possible at this stage, because identifying the exact position of the Basilike Pyle depends on studying all the gates along the eastern part of the harbour walls. Only after that can historians confirm whether the Imperial Gate stood near Balat Kapoussi or closer to the eastern extremity of the city’s maritime defences.
For now, the most likely conclusion is that Balat Kapoussi was indeed the Gate of the Kynegos, as supported by Gyllius, Gerlach, and Leunclavius. The Basilike Pyle, on the other hand, probably stood farther east, perhaps near the modern Yali Kiosk Kapoussi. Yet, until more archaeological and textual evidence comes to light, the debate remains open.
The historical identification of the ancient gates near the Golden Horn—particularly Balat Kapoussi, the Gate of the Kynegos, and the Basilike Pyle—is a subject of long-standing scholarly discussion. Early travelers and historians offered different theories based on the ruins and landscape they observed. Though much remains uncertain, these studies help us understand how Constantinople’s harbour defences evolved and how their names and meanings changed through time.