This area of Constantinople served many practical purposes for the daily life of the city. For a long time, the cattle market was held here, close to the harbor. This market remained in use until the reign of Constantine Copronymus. During his rule, the cattle market was moved to the Forum of Taurus, probably to reduce congestion and improve control over trade within the city.
In the same area, there were many important storage buildings. These included large warehouses for oil and several public granaries. Among the most notable granaries were the Horrea Olcaria, Horrea Troadensia, Horrea Valentiaca, and Horrea Constantiaca. These buildings played a vital role in supplying food to the population of Constantinople Istanbul Guided Private Tours.
Imperial Supervision and Public Safety
The granaries were not left without oversight. Each year, they were officially inspected by the emperor or by officials acting in his name. This regular inspection shows how seriously the Byzantine government took the issue of food security. Any shortage or mismanagement could have caused unrest among the population.
The importance of this area is also reflected in historical writings. According to Demosthenes, three statues were set up by Byzantium and Perinthus in honor of Athens. These statues thanked Athens for its help against Philip of Macedon. Demosthenes states that the statues were placed at the Bosporus. However, it is not completely clear whether he meant this specific harbor or used the term in a more general sense Genoese Charters and the Names of the Gate.
A Destructive Fire Near the Harbor
This district also witnessed disaster. In the fifth year of the reign of Emperor Leo I, a great fire broke out near the harbor. The fire began in the market area and was caused by the carelessness of a woman. She had left a lighted candle on a stall where she had just bought salted fish. The fire spread quickly, showing how dangerous open flames were in crowded markets built largely of wood.
The Gate of Eugenius
Moving along the line of the Harbor Walls, we reach the last gate, known as the Gate of Eugenius. In Byzantine Greek, it was called Porta tou Eugeniou. Today, this gate is represented by Yali Kiosk Kapoussi. Several strong pieces of evidence confirm this identification.
First, the Gate of Eugenius marked the eastern end of the fortifications along the Golden Horn. At the western end stood the Xylo Porta. For this reason, the defensive ditch built by Cantacuzene is described as stretching from the Gate of Eugenius to the Xyline Gate.
Location Near the Acropolis
The gate stood very close to the head of the promontory, also known as the Acropolis. Ships leaving the harbor rounded the promontory soon after passing the gate. Ships entering the harbor passed the gate shortly after rounding the same point. This confirms the gate’s strategic position.
Nearby stood the Church of Saint Paul, which sources describe as being located in the quarter of the Acropolis at the entrance of the harbor. From this gate, it was also easy to reach Saint Sophia, one of the most important landmarks in the city.
Eugenius and the Gate’s Inscription
The gate, the nearby tower, and the surrounding district all took their name from Eugenius. He was likely a wealthy or influential landowner in this part of Constantinople. An inscription on the gate recorded repairs carried out by a man named Julian. This Julian may have been the Prefect of the City during the reign of Emperor Zeno, a time when Constantinople suffered from a severe earthquake.
Together, these details show that the Gate of Eugenius was not only a defensive structure but also a key landmark in the economic, administrative, and daily life of Byzantine Constantinople.