In May 1625, Sir Thomas Roe, the English ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, wrote about his difficult mission: to try and obtain four ancient bas-reliefs from the Golden Gate (Porta Aurea) in Constantinople. These marble carvings were part of the historic gate, once the main ceremonial entrance into the Byzantine capital.
A Forbidden Mission
In his letter, Roe explained why it was nearly impossible to get the sculptures legally:
“I cannot promise to get them, because they stand on the ancient gate, the most visible part of the city. It’s walled up now and has not been opened since the Greek emperors lost it. To try to steal them would be dangerous—no one dares to damage the grand signor’s (the sultan’s) most sacred place. Getting permission through influence is even harder, because the Ottomans have deep suspicion and envy toward us.”
He suggested one possible route: bribing a religious official to declare the sculptures against Islamic law, then have them quietly removed under the excuse of religious offense. The plan was to hide the sculptures in a private place until the situation cooled down, and then smuggle them out of the country. Roe wrote:
“I have arranged the plan for the four statues, and the cost would be 600 crowns.”
Failure After Months of Negotiation
Despite months of effort, by 1626 Roe had to admit defeat. He wrote:
“Those on the Porta Aurea will likely remain until they fall with time. I have tried everything—even paid 500 dollars in advance over three months.”
He had made a deal with the imperial treasurer, who had agreed to secretly deliver the sculptures by boat. The treasurer even visited the gate with a city official. But things went wrong. Local soldiers and townspeople became suspicious and panicked Entry Restrictions at the Golden Gate.
Fear of Ancient Prophecy
A strange rumor spread: the statues were enchanted. People believed that removing them would bring about a great disaster for the city. The treasurer, frightened by the growing unrest, backed out.
“He sent for my interpreter,” Roe wrote, “asking if I owned an old prophecy book. They believed we knew that taking down the statues would cause some great change in the city.”
The treasurer then warned Roe to drop the idea:
“He told me not to think or speak of that gate again. It could cost him his life and bring danger to me.”
The Symbolic Power of the Golden Gate
This story shows how deeply the Golden Gate was respected, even in the Ottoman era. Although the gate was no longer used, it still held mystical and political power. It had once been the Porta Triumphalis of Constantinople—the ceremonial gateway for emperors—and remained a symbol of imperial greatness. It was the stage for many important processions and ceremonies throughout Byzantine history Ephesus Guides.
Sir Thomas Roe’s failed attempt reminds us that the Golden Gate was more than stone—it was tied to the legends, fears, and identity of a city that had once ruled an empire.
