Course of the main beacon line between Constantinople and Loulon on the Cilician Gates
According to the Byzantine sources (Constantine Porphyrogenitus, Theophanes Continuatus and Symeon Magister), the line of beacons began with the fortress of Loulon, on the northern exit of the Cilician Gates, and continued with Mt. Argaios (identified mostly with Keçikalesı on Hasan Dağı, but also with Erciyes Dağı near Caesarea), Mt. Samos or Isamos (unidentified, probably north of Lake Tatta), the fortress of Aigilon (unidentified, probably south of Dorylaion), Mt. Mamas (unidentified, Constantine Porphyrogenitus has Mysian Olympus instead), Mt. Kyrizos (somewhere between Lake Ascania and the Gulf of Kios, possibly Katerlı Dağı according to W. M. Ramsay), Mt. Mokilos above Pylae on the southern shore of the Gulf of Nicomedia (identified by Ramsay with Samanlı Dağı), Mt. Saint Auxentius (modern Kayış Dağı) south-east of Chalcedon (modern Kadıköy) and the lighthouse (Pharos) of the Great Palace in Constantinople.[1][2] This main line was complemented by secondary branches that transmitted the messages to other locations, as well as along the frontier itself.[3]
The main line of beacons stretched over some 720 km (450 mi). In the open spaces of central Asia Minor, the stations were placed over 97 km (60 mi) apart, while in Bithynia, with its more broken terrain, the intervals were reduced to ca. 56 km (35 mi). Based on modern experiments, a message could be transmitted the entire length of the line within an hour.[3] The system was reportedly devised in the reign of Emperor Theophilos (ruled 829–842) by Leo the Mathematician, and functioned through two identical water clocks placed at the two terminal stations, Loulon and the Lighthouse. Different messages were assigned to each of twelve hours, so that the lighting of a bonfire on the first beacon on a particular hour signalled a specific event and was transmitted down the line to Constantinople.[2][3]
According to some of the Byzantine chroniclers, the system was disbanded by Theophilos' son and successor, Michael III (r. 842–867) because the sight of the lit beacons and the news of an Arab invasion threatened to distract the people and spoil his performance as one of the charioteers in the Hippodrome races. This tale is usually dismissed by modern scholars as part of a deliberate propaganda campaign by 10th-century sources keen to blacken Michael's image in favour of the succeeding Macedonian dynasty.[4][5] If indeed there is some element of truth in this report, it may reflect a cutting-back or modification of the system, perhaps due to the receding of the Arab danger during Michael III's reign.[3] The surviving portions of the system or a new but similar one seem to have been reactivated under Manuel I Komnenos (r. 1143–1180).[3]
Haldon, John F. (1990). Constantine Porphyrogenitus: Three treatises on imperial military expeditions. Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. ISBN3700117787.
Toynbee, Arnold (1973). Constantine Porphyrogenitus and His World. London and New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-215253-X.
January 07, 2023
byzantine, beacon, system, century, during, arab, byzantine, wars, byzantine, empire, used, semaphore, system, beacons, transmit, messages, from, border, with, abbasid, caliphate, across, asia, minor, byzantine, capital, constantinople, course, main, beacon, l. In the 9th century during the Arab Byzantine wars the Byzantine Empire used a semaphore system of beacons to transmit messages from the border with the Abbasid Caliphate across Asia Minor to the Byzantine capital Constantinople Course of the main beacon line between Constantinople and Loulon on the Cilician Gates According to the Byzantine sources Constantine Porphyrogenitus Theophanes Continuatus and Symeon Magister the line of beacons began with the fortress of Loulon on the northern exit of the Cilician Gates and continued with Mt Argaios identified mostly with Kecikalesi on Hasan Dagi but also with Erciyes Dagi near Caesarea Mt Samos or Isamos unidentified probably north of Lake Tatta the fortress of Aigilon unidentified probably south of Dorylaion Mt Mamas unidentified Constantine Porphyrogenitus has Mysian Olympus instead Mt Kyrizos somewhere between Lake Ascania and the Gulf of Kios possibly Katerli Dagi according to W M Ramsay Mt Mokilos above Pylae on the southern shore of the Gulf of Nicomedia identified by Ramsay with Samanli Dagi Mt Saint Auxentius modern Kayis Dagi south east of Chalcedon modern Kadikoy and the lighthouse Pharos of the Great Palace in Constantinople 1 2 This main line was complemented by secondary branches that transmitted the messages to other locations as well as along the frontier itself 3 The main line of beacons stretched over some 720 km 450 mi In the open spaces of central Asia Minor the stations were placed over 97 km 60 mi apart while in Bithynia with its more broken terrain the intervals were reduced to ca 56 km 35 mi Based on modern experiments a message could be transmitted the entire length of the line within an hour 3 The system was reportedly devised in the reign of Emperor Theophilos ruled 829 842 by Leo the Mathematician and functioned through two identical water clocks placed at the two terminal stations Loulon and the Lighthouse Different messages were assigned to each of twelve hours so that the lighting of a bonfire on the first beacon on a particular hour signalled a specific event and was transmitted down the line to Constantinople 2 3 According to some of the Byzantine chroniclers the system was disbanded by Theophilos son and successor Michael III r 842 867 because the sight of the lit beacons and the news of an Arab invasion threatened to distract the people and spoil his performance as one of the charioteers in the Hippodrome races This tale is usually dismissed by modern scholars as part of a deliberate propaganda campaign by 10th century sources keen to blacken Michael s image in favour of the succeeding Macedonian dynasty 4 5 If indeed there is some element of truth in this report it may reflect a cutting back or modification of the system perhaps due to the receding of the Arab danger during Michael III s reign 3 The surviving portions of the system or a new but similar one seem to have been reactivated under Manuel I Komnenos r 1143 1180 3 See also EditBeacons of Gondor Heliograph Hydraulic telegraph Optical communication Phryctoria Signal lampCitations Edit Haldon 1990 pp 132 135 notes on pp 254 255 a b Toynbee 1973 p 299 a b c d e Foss 1991 pp 273 274 Haldon 1990 pp 134 135 note on p 255 Toynbee 1973 pp 299 300 582ff General and cited sources EditHaldon John F 1990 Constantine Porphyrogenitus Three treatises on imperial military expeditions Vienna Verlag der Osterreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften ISBN 3700117787 Foss Clive 1991 Beacon In Kazhdan Alexander ed The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium Oxford and New York Oxford University Press pp 273 274 ISBN 0 19 504652 8 Toynbee Arnold 1973 Constantine Porphyrogenitus and His World London and New York Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 215253 X Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Byzantine beacon system amp oldid 1106776200, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
