The Essay - Postcards from Istanbul - Mary Beard

Celebrating Istanbul's year as European City of Culture, Professor Mary Beard casts a classicist's eye over the city under the reign of the great Roman Emperor Constantine. The city's unique position as the bridge between Europe and Asia made it Emperor Constantine's perfect choice as the new capital of his vast Roman Empire. Renamed Constantinople or the 'New Rome', magnificent buildings, gardens and squares in the Roman model were built, including a vast Hippodrome for chariot races. By examining the fates of these incredible classical riches, Mary Beard explores the rich cultural heritage, and many faces, of this unique city. Istanbul, historically also known as Byzantium and Constantinople, is the largest city in Turkey, and uniquely straddles both the continents of Europe and Asia. It was chosen this year as the join European Capital of Culture. These essays paint five very different and very personal views of this extraordinary city. Mary Beard is Professor of Classics at Newnham College, Cambridge. She also a regular radio broadcaster and writes a blog for the Times Literary Supplement.