Baths of Zeuxippus

Let the spectator, where he bathes himself Or sees the struggling steed panting for breath Pay a kind visit, to enhance his pleasures; He'll find a hearty welcome at my table.

[5] They were adorned with numerous mosaics, paintings and colourful marble[6] as well as with over eighty statues, depicting historical figures such as Homer, Hesiod, Plato, Aristotle, Julius Caesar, Demosthenes, Aeschines and Virgil, as well as gods and mythological heroes.

[8] The decor of the Baths followed an architectural trend of the period; the Forum of Constantine, its adjacent Senate house, and the Palace of Lausus were adorned with similar statue galleries of heroes (mythological and not), historical figures and powerful people.

[10] As a result of the Nika revolt of 532 - the worst uprising Constantinople had seen, which left half the city in ruins and thousands of people dead - the original Baths of Zeuxippus were destroyed in a fire.

[16] In 1927–1928, excavations on the site recovered many historical relics, such as earthenware and glazed pottery, which provided unique insights into the architectural designs and social interests of Constantinople.

[14][17] Christodorus of Coptus, an Egyptian poet and writer living around 500 AD, wrote a lengthy (over 400 lines long) hexameter poem inspired by the statues adorning the Baths of Zeuxippus.

[18] The poem consisted of a number of short epigrams (six in total), each focusing on one or a small group of the statues, that were designed to form one work.