Mese (Constantinople)

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The Mese was the largest street in ancient Constantinople. Today's Divan Yolu follows the street. The Mese started at the Milion close to the Hagia Sophia and led straight westwards passing the Forum of Theodosius through the Golden Gate out of the city and continued on to Thrace and reached out the Balkan peninsula.

The street was lined with arcades where shops were located, with various fori such as the Forum of Theodosius located at the street. The Mese performed representational functions for imperial procession, such as when a victorious emperor made his entry back into the city through the Golden Gate and over the Mese to the Great Palace, where jubilant crowds would greet him and the imperial army back home.