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Speaking of Constantinople, my uncle used to tell us with great pleasure about the splendour of the city, which he always referred to as the New Rome. Located between two seas, it was built of stone, with enormous walls. In its centre, there was a place named, if I recall correctly, the Hippodrome, where chariot races were held. The entire city would gather there and it’s also where he saw the emperor in all his glory. He told me that the emperor was easy to spot in the crowd, because his clothes were purple and beautifully embroidered with gold thread. What impressed him the most was an ornament that the emperor used to fasten his cloak on his shoulder. It was a huge gold fibula adorned with gemstones, and even though my uncle was a well-travelled man, he told me that he had never seen anything like it. Oh, how I would’ve loved to also see these wonders!