Philadelphion

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The statue of the Tetrarchs used to decorate the entrance to the Philadelphion

The Philadelphion was a public square located in Constantinople (today's Istanbul). After passing the Forum of Theodosius, the Mese Odos (the main road of Constantinople) branched into two directions. One led to the quarter known today as Yedikule, via the Aksaray and Cerrahpaşa quarters. The other passed through the quarters of Şehzadebaşı and Fatih until reaching the quarter of Edirnekapı (formerly the Gate of Charisius). The space where the road forked was thought to be the physical centre, or mesomphalos, of the city.

Statues of the Tetrarchs (two Augusti and two Caesares) in the act of embracing themselves were to be placed on the shafts of two adjacent columns, along with other statues. This was one of the squares where imperial processional ceremonies took place. The statues could represent Emperors Diocletian and Maximian, and their respective Caesars Galerius and Constantius Chlorus. The patria identifies them as sons of Constantine the Great.

The square existed intact until the 8th century. The statues of the Tetrarchs were plundered during the Fourth Crusade in 1204 and brought to Venice (a missing fragment was found near the Bodrum Mosque). ^[1]

External links

Media related to Philadelphion at Wikimedia Commons

Byzantium 1200 | Capitolium

References

↑ Striker (1981), p. 29

Sources

Striker, Cecil L. (1981). The Myrelaion (Bodrum Camii) in Istanbul. Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press.

v t e Public spaces and structures of Constantinople

Roads and squares	Amastrianum Forum of Arcadius Augustaion Mese Odos Forum of Constantine Forum of the Ox Forum of Theodosius

Palaces and mansions	Great Palace of Constantinople (Boukoleon Palace Chalke Chrysotriklinos Daphne Palace) Palace of Antiochos Palace of Blachernae Palace of Lausus Palace of Mangana Palace of the Porphyrogenitus Philadelphion Placidia Palace Prison of Anemas

Harbours	Harbour of Eleutherios Harbour of Julian Kontoskalion Neorion Harbour Prosphorion Harbour

Public buildings	Basilica Cistern Baths of Zeuxippus Cistern of Aetius Cistern of Aspar Cistern of Mocius Cistern of Philoxenos Hippodrome of Constantinople Imperial Library of Constantinople Praetorium of Constantinople Theodosius Cistern Valens Aqueduct

Statues and columns	Column of Arcadius Column of Constantine Column of the Goths Column of Justinian Column of Marcian Horses of Saint Mark Milion Serpent Column Obelisk of Theodosius Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs Walled Obelisk

For churches and monasteries, see Template:Churches and Monasteries of Constantinople

Coordinates: 41°00′50.71″N 28°57′24.81″E / 41.0140861°N 28.9568917°E / 41.0140861; 28.9568917

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