The Milion Stone

The Milion Stone: Where All Roads Led to Constantinople

The Turkish writer Radi Dikici, known for his works on the history of the Roman and Byzantine Empires, recounts a fascinating episode in his book The History of the Byzantine Empire: Byzantium 330-1453. According to Dikici, the Byzantine Emperor Constantine the Great (272–337) began an ambitious project in 324 to transform Byzantium—a small city of only 5,000 inhabitants—into the new capital of the Roman Empire. He divided the city, which was built on seven hills, into 14 districts and set about creating a new imperial city from the ground up.

Constantine had a rich vision

Constantine’s vision was monumental. Among the many structures he commissioned were a grand Imperial Palace, the Senate Palace, the Church of Hagia Irene, the Church of the Holy Apostles (now the site of Fatih Mosque), and Hagia Sophia (which was started but never completed). The city also featured a Hippodrome with a seating capacity of 33,000, aqueducts, and a central square adorned with statues bearing Constantine’s name, now known as Cemberlitas. A square was built in honor of his mother, Augusta, and the city was further beautified with ancient works of art from all corners of the empire.

City Walls

In order to protect this new capital, Constantine demolished the city’s old walls and replaced them with the now-vanished Constantine Walls. Additionally, he constructed a major boulevard known as “Oak” (modern-day Divanyolu Street), starting from in front of Hagia Sophia.

After six years of relentless construction, a magnificent city was born. On May 11, 330, Byzantium officially became the capital of the Roman Empire, and in a special session, the Senate renamed the city Nouva Roma (New Rome). The occasion was celebrated with great fanfare.

The Million Stones idea born

However, two years before this transformation was completed, a significant proposal was made by Leontius, the chief architect of the project. According to Dikici’s account, Leontius approached Constantine with the idea of making Byzantium not just the capital of the empire, but the very center of the world. He suggested that the Milion, a sacred stone kept in Jerusalem and believed to have been touched by Jesus, should be brought to Constantinople. This stone would be placed in front of the ruins of the temple (Hagia Sophia had not yet been built), and its location would serve as the zero point for all distances in the empire.

The first tourist office in history

Leontius proposed that a bureau be constructed near the stone to sell maps to travelers, showing them distances and routes originating from this “zero point.” He envisioned that travelers heading from Byzantium to cities like Antioch could buy a map and know exactly how to navigate their way, with places to stay along the route clearly marked. This symbolic move would further cement Byzantium’s place as the center of the Roman world.

All Roads Lead to Rome

Indeed, the Milion stone was brought to Constantinople, where it was placed in front of Hagia Sophia. For centuries, the spot where it stood was considered the zero point of the world, the point from which all distances were measured. This is why the phrase “All Roads Lead to Rome” also applied to Nouva Roma (New Rome)—Constantinople—and eventually, to Istanbul.

While the Milion stone today seems almost forgotten, its historical significance cannot be overstated. Upon the re-founding of the city as Constantinople in 330 AD, it became the official zero-mile marker of the empire. It functioned similarly to the Milliarium Aureum (Golden Milestone) in Rome’s Forum, which was placed by Augustus as the starting point for measuring all roads across the Roman Empire.

It has a tetrapylon

The Milion in Constantinople was a tetrapylon—an impressive structure with four large arches—and it was adorned with statues of various Roman deities and emperors, including a Tyche, Constantine I, St. Helena, and possibly equestrian statues of emperors like Trajan, Hadrian, or Theodosius II. Over time, additional monuments were added, such as a horologion by Emperor Justinian I and statues of his family members during the reign of Justin II.

Importances

As one of the main local points of the city, the Milion played a key role in the civic life of Constantinople. It was the site of imperial processions, where emperors were hailed by the Blues, a chariot-racing faction. During the Iconoclastic period, Emperor Constantine V even ordered the removal of depictions of ecumenical councils from the Milion, replacing them with scenes from the Hippodrome to celebrate his own favorite charioteer. The Milion was also a site for executions and witnessed political battles, such as those between Nikephoros III Botaneiates and Alexios Komnenos.

Despite surviving the sack of Constantinople in 1204 during the Fourth Crusade and the Ottoman conquest in 1453, the Milion eventually disappeared by the early 16th century. It was damaged over time, and its remnants were destroyed during the construction of Ottoman waterworks. In the 1960s, partial fragments of the Milion were uncovered during excavations in the area near Hagia Sophia.

Where is the location?

Today, the Milion stands as a faint shadow of its former self. Its remnants are located near the Basilica Cistern and Hagia Sophia, though many visitors to Istanbul may not even realize its significance. The Milion is now little more than a crumbling, forgotten relic, yet its place in the history of Constantinople remains deeply symbolic. As a marker of imperial power and a symbol of the unity of the Roman Empire, it was once one of the most important landmarks in the ancient world. Today, it stands quietly across from Hagia Sophia, overshadowed by the passage of time.