I had been to Venice years ago and was fascinated by it like any mortal would. Venice is marked by a great monument and that is the Saint Marco Basilica. I had felt captivated by the beauty of this majestic basilica without knowing how it was connected to my city. Although we had a Turkish guide, he had not uttered a word about how this captivating basilica had been carrying traces of Constantinople. I learnt years later that in 1204, crusaders had plundered the city of Constantinople ruthlessly and had brought many plundered pieces of monuments, sculptures, relics and icons to Venice as the 4th crusade was sponsored by the Doge of Venice Enrico Dandolo.
This was when I learnt that the horses on the San Marco Basilica were taken from the Hippodrome in Constantinople and brought to Venice to adorn the San Marco Basilica. These horses that are now at San Marco Basilica once stood on the outer facade of the hippodrome boxes till 1204.
Not only horses adorning the Basilica but also the Pietra del Bando next to the Basilica was taken from Constantinople.
You might have noticed the Four Tetrarch Statue as well as the Acre Columns when you visited the Basilica. Both the statue and the columns adorning the Basilica were taken from Constantinople by the crusaders who sacked the city ruthlessly.
One last shock was to learn that the doors of the basilica were also taken from Constantinople.
It is important to note that 4th crusade marked the beginning of the end for Constantinople. The city never fully recovered from the devastation and fell into dire conditions. Its population shrunk, its economy suffered and its spirit diminished! Historians tie the conquest of Constantinople in the 15th century by the Turks to this last but the most devastating crusade which crushed the soul as well as the resources of the city!
So if you want to see the traces of the glory of Constantinople, look closer at Venice!
