"Istanbul: The capital of Europe
Sunday, April 3, 2005
PIRIL KUSTALOGLU
ANKARA - Turkish Daily News
According to the history books, the origins of the city we today call Istanbul, formerly known as Byzantion (Byzantium), are still unclear.
After being re-settled by the Romans under Constantine I, also known as Emperor Constantinus (306-337 A.D.), during the decline of the Roman Empire in 330 the city was duly referred to as Deutera Roma or 'Second Rome,� as well as Nea (New) Rome and designated as the capital. During this era it was customary to take the name of the founder as the basis of a city's name. Thus, the name Constantinopolis was adopted. It is said that the name Istanbul, however, came from the Byzantine period. Supposedly, the Byzantines never referred to the city by its actual name but by 'Polis' i.e., city, and when referring to the �city' they said, 'Eist enpolin' (is-tin-polin). "
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