Sultanahmet and its environs harbor Istanbul's
most important historical treasures. The Hagia
Sophia, Hagia Eirene and the Hippodrome all
provide visitors with clues to the splendor of
this area in the Byzantine period. But despite its
having been built over a very large area, the
exact location of the Byzantine Imperial Palace is
difficult to determine today. Archeologists,
Byzantinists, art historians and architects from
many countries have been working since the 19th
century to determine the location of the palace
area, to discover the historical sequence of its
construction, to undertake scientific excavations
and to ascertain and reconstruct its architecture.

Surrounded by magnificent sea walls, the palace
complex, which was laid out in its main lines by
the Emperor Constantine himself, extended from the
Hagia Sophia to the Hippodrome and from there to
the shore. Situated within this arrangement were
buildings with courtyards, throne rooms and
audience chambers, churches and chapels, gardens
with fountains, libraries, assembly buildings,
baths and stadiums. In later centuries the palace
buildings were further expanded, undergoing change
and the addition of new structures.

Three basic Questions on the subject...

1. Why did POPE of the time not raise even a finger to save or protect his Christian brothers in Costantinople, while it was obvious that the nasty Turks had extremely bad intentions?

2. Those familiar with Bosphorus will know that Turks first built two castles, one at each side, at the narrow point of the waterway to stop any outside help to Byzantium. The one on Assian side was built by FATIH II's predecessor. Fatih had the one on European side built in 6 months. At the time Turks had neither the expertise nor the experience to design and built such a fortress in 6 months: Who do you think helped them build it?

3. Costantinople was surrounded by walls too thick for the available Turkish artillery. Luckily a devout Catholic Hungarian GUN MASTER (Mr. Urban) appeared from nowhere and quickly cast the huge guns Turks needed. How do you think Turks ever found this master, thru advertisements?

sorry alpha, help me connect the dots between the first post and yours...
Thanks!

The mystery of Byzantium

Does that help?

oh thats brilliant...I hope you are teacher...

I am a student of many things, teacher of none....

me too!!!!

The gun master's name was more likely Orban.
I am not aware that he would be more than a skilled negotiator and craftsman among other Europeans whom offered their services for better 'wages' and 'bonifications'.
Orban is quite difficult to be found on Hungarian web pages.