Byzantine Secrets of Istanbul is the book that tells the stories about a dozen of less-known historical structures located in Istanbul from the times when this city, as Constantinople, was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. The aim of this book is to take its readers on the journey of discovery and help them find the forgotten treasures of Byzantium, hidden among the narrow streets of the city. The chapters can be read separately, but they are arranged chronologically. The selection of the places was inspired by the wish of diversity, so you can read about churches, columns, cisterns, and palaces. If you happen to have a day or three to spend in the search of the Byzantine secrets of Turkey's largest city, this is just the beginning.
Fighting the Ottoman invaders in Constantinople in 1453, Emperor Constantine XI was killed, his body never found. Legend has it that he escaped in a Genoese ship, cheating certain death at the hands of the Turks and earning himself the title of Immortal Emperor. Five centuries after his disappearance, three mysterious men contact a young professor living in Istanbul. Members of a secret sect, they have guarded the Immortal Emperor's will for generations. They tell him that he is the next Byzantine emperor and that in order to take possession of his fortune he must carry out his ancestor's last wishes. The professor embarks on a dangerous journey, taking him to the heart of a mystery of epic historical significance. The Sultan of Byzantium is a symbiosis of story and history and a homage to Byzantine civilisation.
A travel guidebook for the foreign visitor. It briefly includes the history of the city, maps, cultural features, and so forth, but most of the text describes places tourists would want to visit and how to get there.
"The conspirators were dressed as priests. Daggers under their arms, they blended into the crowd of clergymen who gathered in front of the Ivory Gate after dark. During the third watch of the night, they made their way into the Great Palace with the rest.
The book has no illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Publisher: London: J. Murray; Publication date: 1899; Subjects: Byzantine Empire; Istanbul (Turkey); City walls; Architecture, Byzantine; Architecture / History / General; Architecture / Religious Buildings; History / Ancient / Rome; History / Middle East / General; History / Medieval; History / Europe / Greece; Travel / Middle East / General;
First published in 2005. Long acknowledged to be the 'best travel guide to Istanbul' (Times of London) this classic of travel literature is now available in a larger format in hardback binding. The work is both a useful and informative guide to the city with major useful monuments described in detail in terms of the history and architecture. Although the main emphasis of the book is on the Byzantine and Ottoman Antiquities, the city is not treated as a museum in the context of a living city. Itineraries are arranged so that each one takes the visitor to a different part of Istanbul.
Lured by the glistening snow-white travertine terraces, thousands of tourists from all corners of the globe come to visit the famous World Heritage Site of Hierapolis-Pamukkale. For many of them, a walk along these terraces and a dip in the widely-advertised Ancient Pool are the highlights of the trip. However, the site has so much more to offer for all of the visitors who want to see and understand it more profoundly. The ruins of the ancient city known as Hierapolis are extensive, and their far-away corners are rarely seen by the tourists who hurry through the main sights. If you want to be sure that you did not overlook anything of interest during the time you spent at Hierapolis-Pamukkale site, this is the guidebook written for you. By using this book as a handy travel guide, you will be able to tour the whole site and see all the spectacular sights, such as a grand Roman theatre, a splendid Gate of Domitian, and a spacious agora. Moreover, the book will take you to the less-known but equally fascinating structures related with the cult of St. Philip the Apostle, who, according to one legend was martyred by beheading in the city of Hierapolis. The other locations worth visiting are the old Greek theatre, overlooking the city from the slope of a hill, and the broad Frontinus Street. You will visit the extensive Northern Necropolis of the city and a smaller Eastern Necropolis that offers excellent views over the whole site. Finally, the tour will also lead you to the sacred complex of the Apollo Temple with the mysterious Plutonium. The second part of this book offers an in-depth analysis of this complex and provides a wider background of Hierapolis history. It also gives some answers concerning the Plutonium and the cult of the underground deity known as Hades or Pluto. You will find out how Hierapolis has been a popular travel destination not for the last few decades but for hundreds of years. The travelogues written by the travellers of these past centuries are a fascinating read and enable us to glimpse not only into the past of the site but also into the minds of the early-modern era travellers. Finally, the guidebook offers you lots of tips about the practicalities involved in the sightseeing of Hierapolis. There are plans of the site, information concerning ticket prices and opening hours. Moreover, there are four suggested sightseeing routes, customised for the travellers with different expectations: from the people who want to bathe and relax in the thermal waters to the hardcore ancient history enthusiasts who need to see every corner of the site.
By exposing the perversion, repression, corruption, and injustice at the heart of Justinian's regime, Prokopios' The Secret History destroyed forever that emperor's reputation as the great and benevolent ruler of a vast Byzantine state. Faithfully rendered here in blunt and idiomatic English, Prokopios' tell-all is as shocking today as it was in the sixth century. Kaldellis' substantial Introduction addresses, among other topics, the historical background to The Secret History; Prokopios' literary style and major themes; and the relationships between Prokopios, Justinian, and Empress Theodora. Maps, genealogies, a glossary, and a selection of related texts (including excerpts from Prokopios' Wars and Buildings and several contemporary documents) enhance and support the reading of this scandalous and suspenseful book.
