Aya Sophia, 4/1/2006 - Event Horizon

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Lustration Urn477 viewsDavid Lindquist with his mascot bear Hero kneels next to one of two huge urns carved from single blocks of marble. They date from the Hellenistic era - 300 BC or so - but were brought here from Pergamon during the reign of Sultan Murad III (r. 1574-1595).

Library Grilles476 viewsThese grilles separate the Library, added in 1739 by Sultan Mahmud I, from the nave.

Cenotaph475 viewsActually, this isn't really his tomb, which was destroyed by the Turks when they conquered Constantinople. It is a marker, or cenotaph, placed by Italians in the 19th century near the probable site of the tomb.

Istanbul Street Scene475 viewsOn our way to the Grand Bazaar.

Turkish Labyrinth475 viewsSandie was late returning to the agreed-upon rendezvous, and I feared that she would become lost in the Grand Bazaar and end up in a harem, enslaved by the janissaries. But luckily she showed up just in time.

Light Show474 viewsI have no idea how Sandie managed to shoot this, but I think it's cool.

Full Veil472 viewsA strict Islamic family visits the upper gallery of Aya Sophia.

Mihrab470 viewsThe mihrab is a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla, i.e. the direction of Mecca, toward which Muslims should face when praying. In Aya Sophia, it occupies the same spot as the Christian altar before the Turkish conquest.

Masked Man470 viewsAttila warned us that there was a danger of avian flu and told us that we should wear masks to Aya Sophia. I had brought some surgical masks to wear on airplane flights, so this was an opportunity to make good use of them.

Southwestern Entrance469 viewsThe mosaic in the tympanum (archway above the door) was plastered over after the Turkish conquest, but restored in 1849.

The Apse468 viewsThe Virgin and Child mosaic appears at the top of the apse, which also features stained-glass windows and other decor, both Christian and Islamic.

Narthex468 viewsLarge hall at the west end, on the ground floor, providing entry to and exit from the cathedral. Here we are on the way out.

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