64. Codinus (Antiquitat. p. 8 [p. 17, ed. Bonn.]) affirms
that the foundations of Constantinople were laid in the year
of the world 5837 (A.D. 329), on the 26th of September, and
that the city was dedicated the 11th of May, 5838 (A.D.
330). He connects these dates with several characteristic
epochs, but they contradict each other; the authority of
Codinus is of little weight, and the space which he assigns
must appear insufficient. The term of ten years is given us
by Julian (Orat. i. p. 8), and Spanheim labours to establish
the truth of it (p. 69-75), by the help of two passages from
Themistius (Orat. iv. p. 58) and of Philostorgius (1. ii. c.
9), which form a period from the year 324 to the year 334.
Modern critics are divided concerning this point of
chronology, and their different sentiments are very
accurately described by Tillemont, Hist. des Empereurs, tom.
iv. p. 619-625.