Notitia urbis Constantinopolitanae
Encyclopedia
The Notitia Urbis Constantinopolitanae is an ancient "regionary", i.e., a list of monuments, public buildings and civil officials in Constantinople
during the mid-5th century (between 425 and the 440s), during the reign of the emperor Theodosius II
. The text lists the fourteen regions in which Constantinople was divided, along with the major public buildings such as fora
, theatres, churches, palaces, baths and pools. It also lists the number of "houses" (domus), although there is uncertainty over the exact meaning of the term. Finally, the list includes the civil officials of each region, including the curator
s, the heads of the associations (collegia) and the heads of neighbourhoods (vicomagistri).
The Latin
text of the Notitia Urbis Constantinopolitanae was published by Otto Seeck
, as an appendix to his edition of the Notitia Dignitatum
(1876). The Notitia Urbis was probably written between 447 and 450 and goes back to official sources. Although the simple lists are not always easy to understand, the Notitia Urbis helps to know what the city must have looked like before Justinian's building program.
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
during the mid-5th century (between 425 and the 440s), during the reign of the emperor Theodosius II
Theodosius II
Theodosius II , commonly surnamed Theodosius the Younger, or Theodosius the Calligrapher, was Byzantine Emperor from 408 to 450. He is mostly known for promulgating the Theodosian law code, and for the construction of the Theodosian Walls of Constantinople...
. The text lists the fourteen regions in which Constantinople was divided, along with the major public buildings such as fora
Forum (Roman)
A forum was a public square in a Roman municipium, or any civitas, reserved primarily for the vending of goods; i.e., a marketplace, along with the buildings used for shops and the stoas used for open stalls...
, theatres, churches, palaces, baths and pools. It also lists the number of "houses" (domus), although there is uncertainty over the exact meaning of the term. Finally, the list includes the civil officials of each region, including the curator
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
s, the heads of the associations (collegia) and the heads of neighbourhoods (vicomagistri).
The Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
text of the Notitia Urbis Constantinopolitanae was published by Otto Seeck
Otto Seeck
Otto Seeck was a German classical historian who is perhaps best known for his work on the decline of the ancient world. He was born in Riga....
, as an appendix to his edition of the Notitia Dignitatum
Notitia Dignitatum
The Notitia Dignitatum is a unique document of the Roman imperial chanceries. One of the very few surviving documents of Roman government, it details the administrative organisation of the eastern and western empires, listing several thousand offices from the imperial court down to the provincial...
(1876). The Notitia Urbis was probably written between 447 and 450 and goes back to official sources. Although the simple lists are not always easy to understand, the Notitia Urbis helps to know what the city must have looked like before Justinian's building program.
External links
- Notitia Urbis Constantinopolitanae
- The Date of the Notitia of Constantinople (notice by J.B. Bury)