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Finely engraved image from Chatelain's monumental Atlas Historique, published in Paris.

This circa 1717 engraving offers an excellent depiction of the famed city of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), viewed from the waters of the Bosphorus. This engraving combines three distinct scenes: a panoramic view of the city and the Bosphorus, the Aqueduct of Constantinople, and the Column of Pompey. Each scene is accompanied by detailed descriptive texts, offering insight into the geography, historical structures, and significance of the region during the early 18th century.

Vue de Constantinople du Côté du Bosphore

The central image provides a sweeping panoramic view of Constantinople from the Bosphorus Strait, with ships sailing in the waters. The Bosphorus, referred to here as the Bosphore de Thrace, was and remains a strategic waterway, separating Europe from Asia and connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and the Mediterranean. The engraving shows the densely packed skyline of Constantinople, filled with domes and minarets, symbols of the many mosques that dominated the city's architectural landscape following its conquest by the Ottomans in 1453. The Hagia Sophia and other prominent mosques can be seen in the distance.

The accompanying text on the left, titled Description du Port de Constantinople, describes the unique geographical placement of the city. Constantinople, straddling both the Black Sea (Mer Noire) and the White Sea (Mer Blanche), benefits from natural canals that allow ships to enter the city regardless of wind direction. The city’s location makes it an ideal port, described as "the best port in the world" for even the largest vessels. The Bosphorus is emphasized as one of the "keys" to Constantinople, controlling the flow of ships to and from the Black Sea and Mediterranean. The city’s harbor, due to its depth and proximity to land, allows ships to dock with ease.

The right-hand text, Description de la Vue Représentée Ici, highlights the visual beauty of Constantinople as seen from the Bosphorus, with its houses, domes, and minarets creating an impressive amphitheater-like view. The author notes that, while the city is visually striking from a distance, the internal streets of Constantinople are described as narrow, dirty, and poorly maintained, offering a contrast between the city's external magnificence and internal disorder.

Aqueduc de Constantinople and Colonne de Pompee

The second illustration depicts the famed Aqueduct of Valens, a significant Roman-era structure that brought water to the city of Constantinople. The aqueduct, critical to the city's infrastructure, continued to serve the Ottoman Empire, providing fresh water across the city. The text below explains how these aqueducts span a distance of "two miles in length," reflecting the city’s advanced engineering inherited from the Roman and Byzantine periods.

The third image shows the Column of Pompey, believed to have been erected by the Roman general Pompey after his victories over Mithridates VI of Pontus. The text notes that the column, once a prominent white marble structure near the mouth of the Black Sea, was a marker of Roman conquest. According to the description, the column, with its Corinthian capital, served as an altar for sacrifices. However, by the late 17th century, it had fallen into the sea during a powerful storm in 1680. 

By 1717, Constantinople had been under Ottoman rule for over 250 years. The city's strategic location on the Bosphorus made it an essential center of trade, culture, and military power. As the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Constantinople served as the hub for connecting Europe and Asia, and its control over the Bosphorus meant dominance in regional and global trade routes.

The Bosphorus was vital not only for commerce but also for military campaigns, with the Ottoman fleet using the strait to access the Black Sea and Mediterranean. The aqueducts depicted in the engraving, inherited from the Byzantine Empire, symbolize the continuity of infrastructure and urban development, critical to sustaining a large population. Meanwhile, the Column of Pompey stands as a reminder of the city's Roman past, reflecting its long and varied history before becoming an Ottoman stronghold.