The Videssos series by Dr. Harry Turtledove, PhD in Byzantine history.  It is alternate universe history in a world of light magic, where the City and Empire of Videssos is Constantinople.

One for Sorrow
Two for Joy
and so on...
a set of mysteries set in the City.  
I don't remember who wrote it, or the exact period...

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drx
-----Original Message-----
>From: Ingeborg bildsbriotr Ulfsdottir <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Apr 3, 2014 10:14 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: [CALONTIR] OT: Roman/Byzantine SciFi/Fantasy
>
>I just realized that I've read only two Roman or Byzantine SciFi/Fantasy series, and both (the Belisarius series and the Sarantine Mosaic) were mostly set in the reign of Justinian I and Theodora.  Granted, the peasant-born emperor and his former-actress empress were certainly fascinating figures, but it seems an odd coincidence.  Can anybody name any Roman or Byzantine SciFi/Fantasy that doesn't include these two?
>
>Ingeborg