Egypt in Constantinople

Egypt became part of the Roman Empire in 30 BC, and after the death of the Emperor Theodosius I in AD 395, became part of the Eastern or Byzantine Empire. Although not graced with the quantity of Egyptian material that ended up in Rome, the Eastern Empire’s capital Constantinople (now Istanbul) has a number of material links with the land of the Nile. Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul – formerly the Hippodrome of Constantinople, with the Obelisk of Thutmose III (centre), the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet I (behind), and the Masonry (or Walled) Obelisk (right). Map of Constantinople/Istanbul, showing the places where Egyptian-related material has been discovered. The Thutmose III obelisk