Istanbul or Constantinople?

monkspider · July 17, 2002, 14:51

Alright folks, the age old question, which is it, Istanbul or Constantinople?

And for this thread, let's allow it to be someone else's buisness other than the Turks for once.

Inverse Icarus · July 17, 2002, 14:56

Istanbul.

it was renamed by it's captors.

besides, Constantinople is a dumb name

Dan Severn · July 17, 2002, 14:58

What is the point of this poll?

Is it New York or Niew Amsterdam?

London or Londoninium?

Mexico or Tenochtitlán?

monkspider · July 17, 2002, 14:59

I do wish that the Mexicans would bring back Tenochtitlan now that you bring it up.

Dan Severn · July 17, 2002, 15:05

Originally posted by monkspider
I do wish that the Mexicans would bring back Tenochtitlan now that you bring it up.

Why? Because it's harder to spell?

Clear Skies · July 17, 2002, 15:06

Definitely Byzantium. Solely because it's a cool name

MarkG · July 17, 2002, 15:07

a smart man would notice that instabul has a greek origin

Arrian · July 17, 2002, 15:10

"It's nobody's business but the Turks." - They Might Be Giants

-Arrian

Inverse Icarus · July 17, 2002, 15:12

Originally posted by MarkG
a smart man would notice that instabul has a greek origin

why would a smart man care to know anything of greece?

Dan Severn · July 17, 2002, 15:13

What about all the greeks living there?

And yes, Istanbul is not a turkic word.

Bereta_Eder · July 17, 2002, 15:26

constantinople.

also refered to as Polis by the greeks.

turks hearing greeks say "pame is tin polin"

which means " we go to the City"

is tin polin -> istinpol -> istanbul.

dan, after the pogroms of the Turks against The Greeks living in Constantinople in the '50s there are not so many Greeks there anymore.

Although, there is a huge tourism of Greeks going there every year.

Stefu · July 17, 2002, 15:30

Next, we'll debate whether people who want a rock to wind a piece of string about or the people who wear prosthetic foreheads on their heads deserve to have their playhouse burnt down.

Clear Skies · July 17, 2002, 15:32

Prosthetic foreheads are cool! You foreheadist!

Ned · July 17, 2002, 15:43

You failed to include its other name: New Rome.

The Pioneer · July 17, 2002, 15:48

Originally posted by paiktis22
constantinople.

also refered to as Polis by the greeks.

turks hearing greeks say "pame is tin polin"

which means " we go to the City"

is tin polin -> istinpol -> istanbul.

dan, after the pogroms of the Turks against The Greeks living in Constantinople in the '50s there are not so many Greeks there anymore.

Although, there is a huge tourism of Greeks going there every year.

Life is full of ironies, ain't it?

Turks don't believe me when I tell 'em that! But then it's our culture and language that does it all!

Giovanni Wine · July 17, 2002, 15:52

Originally posted by Ned
You failed to include its other name: New Rome.

Naaaa
It is better using the latin version name:
Nova Roma

Seriously.... I don't care what's the name of the city.
Byzanthium, Constantinopoli or Istambul..... it is always the same city... no matter how you name it

Saluti

Bereta_Eder · July 17, 2002, 15:55

Too bad the Turks were in no position to use other aspects of our culture too. Like democracy for example

BTW I've been to Constantinople. It is truely worth a visit. Especially in Agia Sophia, despite the desacration and distraction bu the Ottomans, there still persists a feeling of Hellenic Byzantium in there (or New Rome

) .... Fascinating.

two things though:
bargain 'till you drop or you'll get scammed
beware of Turks driving Taxis

(they'll rip you off for sure. The question is how much

)

Buck Birdseed · July 17, 2002, 16:10

It should be "Miklagård", the viking name for the place.

Dan Severn · July 17, 2002, 16:15

Originally posted by paiktis22

dan, after the pogroms of the Turks against The Greeks living in Constantinople in the '50s there are not so many Greeks there anymore.

I was unaware of that. I must admit, all I really know about the city is what Twain mentions in The Innocents Abroad

1870's... kinda dated material I must admit.

chequita guevara · July 17, 2002, 16:18

Originally posted by Arrian
"It's nobody's business but the Turks." - They Might Be Giants

-Arrian

Actually, that tune predates TMBG by about 70 years.

Imran Siddiqui · July 17, 2002, 16:21

Especially in Agia Sophia, despite the desacration and distraction bu the Ottomans

Actually the additions by the Ottomans (the fabulous writings in Arabic on the blue stone and the fabulous minarets), make the Hagia Sophia even greater!

chequita guevara · July 17, 2002, 16:24

Hell, the Hagia Sophia was falling apart by the time the Ottoman's took the city. Only the dome was still standing. One of Memhet's first commands was to save the structure.

Dan Severn · July 17, 2002, 16:25

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Especially in Agia Sophia, despite the desacration and distraction bu the Ottomans

Actually the additions by the Ottomans (the fabulous writings in Arabic on the blue stone and the fabulous minarets), make the Hagia Sophia even greater!

I agre that their additiona were quite beautiful.

The ottommans were, however, extremely destructive people.

VetLegion · July 17, 2002, 16:25

you forgot the slavic version: Carigrad (tszarigrad) - the city of the emperor.

I voted istambul, I always tought that cities named after people are a mistake and tend to get changed by the conquerors.

Bereta_Eder · July 17, 2002, 16:26

Maybe to you Imran because you are a muslim.

Although, if you ever visited Agia Sophia you too would be saddened by the descecration and destruction.

As for the muslim signs that replaced the Christian ones, they seem like cheap signs.

This has nothing to do with Islam, it is their material that seem cheap. And they don't fit aesthetically in a Christian temple as Agia Sophia is.

The Pioneer · July 17, 2002, 16:28

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Especially in Agia Sophia, despite the desacration and distraction bu the Ottomans

Actually the additions by the Ottomans (the fabulous writings in Arabic on the blue stone and the fabulous minarets), make the Hagia Sophia even greater!

Right, same think with most American monuments and memorials they do look pretty because they are in Greek Style and on some of 'em there is actually greek written on them. Look at Washington DC, everything seems to be a kitsch copy of Greek Temples and Architectonical Style.

But then what would you know! Most Americans do not realize that! Very funny indeed.

chequita guevara · July 17, 2002, 16:29

If the Ottomans hadn't saved the building it wouldn't exist anymore. You Greeks don't take very good care of your buildings.

The Pioneer · July 17, 2002, 16:30

If it only was our buildings

!

Bereta_Eder · July 17, 2002, 16:34

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
If the Ottomans hadn't saved the building it wouldn't exist anymore. You Greeks don't take very good care of your buildings.

I thought this was the british's line

Dan Severn · July 17, 2002, 16:34

Originally posted by The Pioneer

Right, same think with most American monuments and memorials they do look pretty because they are in Greek Style and on some of 'em there is actually greek written on them. Look at Washington DC, everything seems to be a kitsch copy of Greek Temples and Architectonical Style.

But then what would you know! Most Americans do not realize that! Very funny indeed.

Huh? I realize it's greek style. That's intentional- birthplace of Democracy and so on. Of course, we're a helluva lot more like the Romans than the greeks, but who would want to admit to that? Heh heh heh.