Alicia Simpson Narrative Images of Medieval Constantinople 1 The History of Niketas Choniates has long been recognized for its value in reconstructing the urban image of Constantinople in the Middle Byzantine Period. More specifically, Niketas often incorporates detailed information on the layout and topography of the city as well as on its monuments and important landmarks. 2 At the same time, he does not provide us with a rhetorical description of Constantinople in the form of an enkomion of the city, nor does he give a cohesive account of its architectural appearance. 3 For the historian, Constantinople is conceptualized more in terms of its political and social function, and serves as the physical setting for the events narrated in the History. 4 Because of this, his testimony 1 Thanks are due to Paul Magdalino for his instructive comments and corrections on an earlier draft of this paper. 2 v.D. 234-241 and 554 with precious topographical details on the vicinity of the Hagia Sophia, the Milion and the Augoustaion; 151, 558-559, 648 on the monuments and statues in the Forum of Constantine; 119, 519, 558, 649ff. on the statues in the Hippodrome. 3 For encomia on Constantinople see E. Fenster, Laudes constantinopolitanae (Munich, 1968). 4 For the ‘concept’ of the city in ancient and medieval literature see, for example, J.E. Stambaugh, ‘The Idea of the City: Three Views of Athens’, Classical Journal 69/4 (1974), 302-321 and H. Saradi, ‘The Kallos of the Byzantine City: The Development of a rhetorical topos and Historical Reality’, Gesta 34/1