> Patrick Andries scripsit: > [PA] I wrote this a bit too fast this morning (first message !). I > believe the origin of Istanbul is a bit too obscure to decide whether it > is due to a transcription or a complete name change. Just to confuse > things further Konstantaniye was apparently used by the Turkish > administration and a Greek form Istimboli is attested in the XIVth > century.
Thanks a lot for this interesting information. I think, the underying meaning of Istimboli must be "town at the isthmus", which makes sense, indeed. Gerd
