Turkish Mosaic circuit. Days 8 and 9 (Istambul)

11th of October 2010 
The Hypodrome

Prior to having visited the "Blue Mosque" we  walked around the  Sultanahmet Square, referred to as the  Hippodrome  and Horse Square during the Byzantine and Ottoman Eras respectively.

The fact that the most precious edifices  are located in its vicinity make it an outstanding place to visit, though the ancient Egyptian Obelisk of Theodosius I dating back to 1474 - 1425 B.C. (Pharaoh Tutmoses III,) and later re-erected in the 4th century AD by the Roman Emperor Theodosius I; the Serpentine column with three interwinned bronze serpents brought from the Temple of Apollo, the Column of Constantine Porphyrgenitus and the German fountain, also known as the fountain of Kaiser Wilhem II (constructed  to commemorate the alliance between the German and Ottoman empires before the world War I) are still to be seen and  each of them is magnificient in its own way.

Detail (Left) of the German Fountain (Right).

The Column of Constantine Porphyrgenitus and the ancient Obelisk of Theodosius I  (Left) and a detail of its pedestal, in  which the emperor is seen watching the chariot races (Right).

The Serpentine Column

12th of October 2010

Hagia Sophia

Having been built in the Byzantine period, Hagia Sophia a former Eastern  Orthodox converted into a Mosque in 1453 and later a Museum, is considered the biggest and oldest church of he world and regarded as one of the seven wonders of the world, inspite of having been damaged and repaired several times.

The moment we walked in we were speechless because of its grandeur ... the beauty of its mosaics and whichever may be accounted for yet impossible to describe ... it was without any doubt the Church that mostly impressed me until now ... and I have visited quite a few ..., though I must confess it were the mosaics I was drawn to ...

Probably dating back to the 9th century, these mosaics  to be seen in the interior of the  half -dome of the apse portray the Virgin holding te Christ child on her lap and the Archangel Gabriel on her right.

On this pannel located on the eastern wall of the southern gallery, the Virgin Mary holding the Christ on her  lap is seen surrounded by Emperor John I Commenos on her left (holding a purse on his hand

 as a symbol of the imperial donation to the church) and his wife Irene holding a scroll.

This mosaic, "The last Judgement", located in the southern gallery of the upper floor depicts the Virgin Mother and John the Baptist on each side of Christ, reflecting the  suffering of human beings.

This panel of mosaics depicts Jesus sided by Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos (1042-1055) on the left and  Empress Zoe on the right.

Portrait of one of four Angels  (three of which are faceless) located in the pendatives of the main dome, completed as a fresco.

As we were walking out  onto the Basilica's courtyard, I wondered what else could still surprise me ..., I feel I haven't had time enough to "digest" all the richness I have  been "absorbing" ...