Thursday, March 28, 2024

 

Greetings all,

It seems that today was the day Constantinople was renamed "Istanbul" on March 28th in 1930:


The Greek Reporter article reminds that both names are Greek words. While that's nice I personally feel it misses the point.

I personally believe that "Istanbul" is the name of the modern layer that sits on top of historical Constantinople. The two aren't blended and changed together, they're forever separated by design, intent and civilization. Ancient Constantinople can't change Istanbul - and Istanbul can't reach into the past and somehow change Constantinople, the city of  the Emperor Constantine.

I myself am not angry about this. MOST of the ancient world has been forcibly ended and built over, everywhere. I dislike that but it's how the world works. It is simply an inspiration to build anew rather than a cause for resentment or anger.

The Emperor Constantine would be the last person to decry Istanbul, or dream that it could somehow be removed or go away. Constantine was a complete pragmatist. I believe he'd say "Well bugger this, I'll go make a better one!"  If Constantine could abandon Rome, he could abandon Istanbul and make another Constantinople somewhere else.  A patch of ground, no matter how historical, is not the Ideal.

Sure, ancient history getting covered over is very sad. But that doesn't mean it's dead -  and you don't have to fight over it in order for it to live again.

That's why Byzantium Novum is here after all... :)

-Marcus Cassius Julianus
www.byzantiumnovum.org
 
 
 

 


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