Emperor John VI Cantacuzene makes a clear distinction between the Kontoscalion and the Neorion at the Heptascalon in the Fourth Book of his historical work. He refers to the Kontoscalion on several occasions, especially when describing events around the year 1348. At that time, he speaks of the Kontoscalion without any criticism or complaint. On the contrary, he presents it as a functioning and useful harbour, where he caused several large triremes to be built in order to strengthen his naval forces. This description suggests that the Kontoscalion was in good condition and actively used for military purposes Was the Neorion at the Heptascalon the Same as the Kontoscalion?.
In sharp contrast, Cantacuzene’s description of the Neorion at the Heptascalon is very different. When he mentions this harbour only three years later, he describes it as having been neglected for a long time. According to his account, the harbour was filled with silt and debris and had fallen into serious disrepair. He explains that he personally undertook its restoration at great expense, not for private benefit, but for the advantage of the public. Because of this major renewal, the harbour was given the name “New Neorion.”
Why “New Neorion” Matters
The title “New Neorion” is significant. It implies more than simple repair. It suggests that the harbour had been transformed so thoroughly that it was no longer the same as before. Moreover, when this title is considered alongside the other evidence, it strongly implies that the Neorion at the Heptascalon needed to be distinguished from another Neorion already in existence. During the reign of Cantacuzene, the only other prominent harbour known as a Neorion was the Kontoscalion. This makes it very unlikely that the two names refer to the same place.
Evidence from Nicephorus Gregoras
The writings of the historian Nicephorus Gregoras further support this conclusion. When Gregoras refers to the Kontoscalion, he identifies it clearly as the harbour near the Hippodrome. This is a precise and recognizable landmark. However, when he speaks of the Neorion at the Heptascalon, he uses a completely different description, calling it the harbour facing the east Private Tour Guide Sofia.
Such different descriptions are not accidental. Historians generally use distinct markers to identify different places. If the Kontoscalion and the Neorion at the Heptascalon were the same harbour, there would be no reason for Gregoras to describe them in such different ways. His language strongly suggests that he regarded them as separate and distinct locations.
The Most Likely Location of the Neorion
Given all this evidence, the conclusion becomes unavoidable. The Neorion at the Heptascalon must have been a harbour located between Koum Kapoussi and Yeni Kapou. This stretch of the coastline is the only plausible place where an additional harbour could have existed, separate from the Kontoscalion and the other known ports of Constantinople.
Archaeological Traces Support the Conclusion
Even if no physical remains of a harbour had been found in this area, the historical evidence alone would be sufficient to support this conclusion. Fortunately, the task is not so difficult. Clear traces of a harbour have in fact been identified in the district between Koum Kapoussi and Yeni Kapou. These remains confirm what the written sources already suggest: that a harbour once existed there.
Both historical texts and physical evidence point in the same direction. Cantacuzene’s differing descriptions, the meaningful use of the term “New Neorion,” and the distinct geographical markers used by Gregoras all demonstrate that the Kontoscalion and the Neorion at the Heptascalon were not the same harbour. Instead, the Neorion at the Heptascalon was a separate port, restored and renewed in the mid-fourteenth century, and located along a distinct section of Constantinople’s shoreline.
