City
Chrisoppolis
Üsküdar
Listen to the story
Chrysopolis, the golden city, lay on the Asian shore of the Bosporus, where Üsküdar in Istanbul stands today. Ancient writers explained the name in fanciful ways, claiming for instance that the Persians gathered their gold here. The map draws it as a smaller partner to Constantinople across the water: a lighthouse above a warehouse, a sign of the busy harbour that served as a gateway to Asia. Its prominence may echo Constantine's victory over his rival Licinius here on 18 September 324. Oddly, the road lines and distance figures to both neighbouring stations were left out.