<P> The council was formally opened 20 May , in the central structure of the imperial palace at Nicaea , with preliminary discussions of the Arian question . Emperor Constantine arrived nearly a month later on 14 June . In these discussions , some dominant figures were Arius , with several adherents . `` Some 22 of the bishops at the council , led by Eusebius of Nicomedia , came as supporters of Arius . But when some of the more shocking passages from his writings were read , they were almost universally seen as blasphemous . '' Bishops Theognis of Nicaea and Maris of Chalcedon were among the initial supporters of Arius . </P>
where did the council of nicea take place
in the central structure of the imperial palace at Nicaea