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Event details

installation	Cistern of Modestus
name	Cistern of Modestus - Construction
event type	Construction
start date	363
end date	369
date comments	Work on the cistern had commenced in 363, a year before Valens was acclaimed emperor, during Modestus' first tenure of the city prefecture.
persons	Domitius Modestus - Founder (362-377)
description	References to the construction of the cistern of Modestus can be found in Libanius' Letters. Letter 251 already speaks of "the abundant reservoirs", even though Crow et al. comment that the letter most likely dates to 360-362), which predates the constrtuction of the cistern of Modestus (363), alledgedly the oldest in the city. It may therefore also refer to another cistern. Furthermore, despite its high altitude location (Region XI in Notitia), it predates the completion of the Valens line. Letter 827 is directly addressed to Modestus. It speaks of a certain Elpidius which Libanius recommends to Modestus: "...if - Poseidon granting - he [Elpidius] makes you [Modestus] well-watered (katarrytos)." The Consularia Constantinopolitana reveals that the cistern was finished "In the time of the consuls Valentinian and Victor". This can be dated to 369.
comments	-

Literature connected to this Event

#	Code	Page	Excerpt
1	Consularia Constantinopolitana 468	224	(Consularia Constantionpolitana A.D. 369) In the time of the consuls Valentinian and Victor (369) work on the magnificent Constantinopolitan cistern was finished by Domitius Modestus vir clarissimus for a second time City Prefect, which he had started in the first prefecture. Comment by Crow 2008: See PLRE 1, 606 s.v. Modestus 2, work commenced in 363.
2	Crow, Bardill & Bayliss 2008	17, 223-224, 229, 245
3	Janin 1964	209-210
4	Libanius 360	66	(Letters 251) Many things in Constantinople have changed for the better - how could they not with you in charge? - the distinctions of the senatorial office, the beauty of the city's buildings, the fact that public interests are no less important, the abundant reservoirs, by which it is possible for you to rival even us. Comment by Crow 2008: The letter is addressed to Honoratus, prefect of the city 359-361, and is most likely to date to 360-361 (PLRE 1, 439). This reference predates the work on the cistern of Modestus, which began in 363 (see below) and may be related to the cisterns supplied by the lower level Hadrianic line.
5	Libanius 363	223	(Letters 827) This Elpidius is the son of the excellent Xiphidius, and while he is not lagging behind his father in his craft, he is the gentlest of men and, having cultivated modesty, he has preserved it from his youth to his old age and thus he has acquired many friends of whom I am one. That you should welcome him as one who had come as a helper for the city, was only proper, since it might well honour the man with an image if - Poseidon granting - he makes you well-watered (katarrytos). However, he hoped to get something more from the fact that he knew full well the friendship that exists between me and yourself, and perhaps justly so, for it is common knowledge what you are to me and that whoever is a friend of mine is honoured by you. So then, confirm the hopes and make much of the man and honour him, partly because the reason for which he has come and partly as our companion. Comment by Crow 2008: This letter is addressed to Modestus. Mango (1995), 14 n. 23 is probably right in suspecting 'that Elpidius had a wider remit than supervising the construction of the cistern of Modestus'. Work on the cistern of Modestus began in 363.
6	Notitia Urbis Constantinopolitanae 425	229	First Region ... Contains in it: ... Arcadianae baths ... Fifteen private baths ... Second Region ... Contains in it: ... Baths of Zeuxippus ... Thirteen private baths ... Third Region ... Contains in it: ... Eleven private baths Fourth Region ... Contains in it: ... Nymphaeum ... Seven private baths Fifth Region ... Contains in it: ... Honorianae baths ... Theodosian cistern ... Eudociane baths ... Nymphaeum ... Eleven private baths Sixth Region ... Contains in it: ... Nine private baths Seventh region ... Contains in it: ... Carosianae baths ... Eleven private baths Eighth Region ... Contains in it: ... Ten private baths Ninth Region ... Contains in it: ... Anastasianae baths ... Fifteen private baths Tenth Region ... Contains in it: ... Constantinianae baths ... Large nymphaeum ... (Twenty-two?) private baths Eleventh Region ... Contains in it: ... Arcadiaca cistern. Modestiaca cistern ... Fourteen private baths Twelfth Region ... Contains in it: ... Five private baths Thirteenth Region (Sycae) ... Contains in it: ... Honorianae baths ... Five private baths Fourteenth Region (Rhegium?) ... Contains in it: ... Nymphaeum. Baths ... Five private baths Collection of the city ... The Constantinopolitan city therefore has: ... Eight baths (the regional list gives nine) ... Four cisterns (only three were listed) ... Four Nymphaea (correct) ... One hundred and fifty-three private baths (if the total is correct, it suggests that there were twenty-two in the tenth region). Comment by Crow 2008: See the discussion and translation into German of the Notitia by Berger (1997a).