Trapezus was a Greek city, in Pontus, situated on a peninsula, in the Black Sea, where it begins to turn to the east:  it had a large and convenient port, and carried on a considerable trade.  But the most celebrated of the Grecian colonies in this part of the world, was Byzantium:  it was anciently founded by the Megareans, and successively rebuilt by the Milesians and other nations of Greece.  Its harbour, which was in fact an arm of the Bosphorus, obtained, at a very remote period, the appellation of the Golden Horn; most of the recesses, which were compared to the horn of a stag, are now filled up.  The epithet “golden” was given to it as expressive of the riches, which (to use the language of Gibbon) every wind wafted from the most distant countries into its secure and capacious port.  Never was there a happier or more majestic situation.  The river Lycus, which was formed by the junction of two small streams, pouring into the harbour, every tide, a regular supply of fresh water, cleansed the bottom; while the tides in those seas being very trifling, the constant depth of the harbour allowed goods to be landed on the quay without the assistance of boats:  and in some parts, the depth near the shore was so considerable, that the prows of the vessels touched the houses, while they were fully afloat.  The distance from the mouth of the river to that of the harbour, or the length of this arm of the Bosphorus is seven miles; the entrance, about 500 yards broad, was defended, when necessary, by a strong chain drawn across it.  The city of Byzantium was situated on a promontory, nearly of a triangular form; on the point of the promontory stood the citadel.  The walls of the city itself were very strong, but not so lofty towards the sea as towards the land, being on the former side defended by the waves, and in some places by the rocks on which they were built, and which projected into the sea.

Thus favoured by nature, and strengthened by art, and situated in a territory abounding in grain and fruits, Byzantium was crowded with merchants, and supported and enriched by an active and flourishing commerce:  its harbour, which was sheltered on every side from tempests, besides being easy of access and capacious, attracted to it ships from all the states of Greece, while its situation at the head of the strait enabled, and seemed to authorize it to stop and subject to heavy duties, the foreign merchants who traded to the Euxine, or to reduce the nations who depended on the countries bordering on this sea for their supplies of corn to great difficulties, and in some cases, even to famine.  On these accounts the Athenians and Lacedaemonians were generally rivals for its alliance and friendship.  Besides the necessary article of grain and abundance of rich and valuable fruit, the Byzantines derived great wealth from their fisheries:  these were carried on with great spirit, enterprize, and success.  A surprising quantity of fish was caught in the harbour itself,