Aya Sophia, 4/1/2006 - Event Horizon

Home > Adventures Abroad > Turkey 2006 > Aya Sophia, 4/1/2006

Most viewed - Aya Sophia, 4/1/2006

Mihrab673 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.

Column Detail672 viewsThe capitals of the marble columns displayed some extremely intricate filigree work.

Turkish Labyrinth667 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.

Grave of Enrico Dandolo664 viewsDoge of Venice and leader of the Crusader forces that sacked Constantinople in 1204. In the southern gallery. He died during the expedition and was buried in Aya Sophia.

Minbar663 viewsThe pulpit from which the Imam delivered sermons on Fridays. Obviously not part of the original cathedral, the minbar was added during the reign of Murad III (1574–1595).

The Apse661 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.

Sandie Takes a Poke660 viewsUnfortunately, the light in this corner of Hagia Sophia was so dim that the camera wasn't able to shoot at the speeds required to freeze motion, so this as well as many other pictures shot inside the cathedral came out blurry.

Southwestern Entrance Mosaic659 viewsDates from the reign of Emperor Basil II (976-1025). Depicts the Virgin Mary seated in the center with the Christ child on her lap, with Emperior Constantine on the right, presenting a model of the city of Constantinople, and Emperor Justinian on the left, presenting a model of Hagia Sophia.

Light Show658 viewsI have no idea how Sandie managed to shoot this, but I think it's cool.

Imperial Gate Mosaic654 viewsOnly the emperiors could enter via the Imperial Gate. The mosaic above the Imperial Gate depicts the emperior bowing before Christ, with the Virgin Mary on the left and the Archangel Gabriel on the right.

Istanbul Street Scene653 viewsOn our way to the Grand Bazaar.

Remains650 viewsThe objects exhibited here are remains of an older Aya Sophia, built during the reign of Emperor Theodosius II, who dedicated it in 415 AD, and destroyed during the Nika riots of 532.

59 files on 5 page(s)

Debug Info

Debug Output: show / hide

USER: 
------------------
Array
(
    [ID] => 07f59e435b5982b38eb48834385fa1ea
    [am] => 1
)

==========================
USER DATA:
------------------
Array
(
    [user_id] => 0
    [user_name] => Guest
    [groups] => Array
        (
            [0] => 3
        )

[group_quota] => 0
    [can_rate_pictures] => 1
    [can_send_ecards] => 0
    [can_post_comments] => 0
    [can_upload_pictures] => 0
    [can_create_albums] => 0
    [pub_upl_need_approval] => 1
    [priv_upl_need_approval] => 1
    [access_level] => 3
    [disk_max] => 0
    [disk_min] => 0
    [has_admin_access] => 0
    [group_name] => Guests
    [can_create_public_albums] => 0
    [can_see_all_albums] => 0
    [group_id] => 3
    [allowed_albums] => Array
        (
        )

)

==========================
Queries:
------------------
Array
(
    [0] => SELECT name, value FROM cm_config [include/init.inc.php:177] (0.18 ms)
    [1] => SELECT * FROM cm_plugins ORDER BY priority [include/plugin_api.inc.php:48] (0.08 ms)
    [2] => SELECT MAX(group_quota) AS disk_max, MIN(group_quota) AS disk_min, MAX(can_rate_pictures) AS can_rate_pictures, MAX(can_send_ecards) AS can_send_ecards, MAX(can_post_comments) AS can_post_comments, MAX(can_upload_pictures) AS can_upload_pictures, MAX(can_create_albums) AS can_create_albums, MAX(has_admin_access) AS has_admin_access, MAX(access_level) AS access_level, MIN(pub_upl_need_approval) AS pub_upl_need_approval, MIN( priv_upl_need_approval) AS	 priv_upl_need_approval FROM cm_usergroups WHERE group_id in (3) [bridge/udb_base.inc.php:350] (0.13 ms)
    [3] => SELECT group_name FROM cm_usergroups WHERE group_id= 3 [bridge/udb_base.inc.php:362] (0.05 ms)
    [4] => SELECT COUNT(*) FROM cm_categorymap WHERE group_id in (3) [bridge/udb_base.inc.php:375] (0.04 ms)
    [5] => SELECT aid FROM cm_albums WHERE moderator_group IN (3) [include/init.inc.php:271] (0.04 ms)
    [6] => SELECT lang_id FROM cm_languages WHERE enabled='YES' [include/init.inc.php:334] (0.05 ms)
    [7] => DELETE FROM cm_banned WHERE expiry < '2026-07-30 05:58:57' [include/init.inc.php:448] (0.57 ms)
    [8] => SELECT null FROM cm_banned WHERE ('216.73.216.63' LIKE ip_addr OR '' LIKE ip_addr ) AND brute_force=0 LIMIT 1 [include/init.inc.php:464] (0.6 ms)
    [9] => SELECT aid FROM cm_albums WHERE (1  AND visibility != 0 AND visibility != 10000 AND visibility NOT IN (3)) [include/functions.inc.php:1110] (0.26 ms)
    [10] => SELECT category, title, aid, keyword, description, alb_password_hint FROM cm_albums WHERE aid = 35 [thumbnails.php:136] (0.06 ms)
    [11] => SELECT p.cid, p.name FROM cm_categories AS c,
                cm_categories AS p
                WHERE c.lft BETWEEN p.lft AND p.rgt
                AND c.cid = 14
                ORDER BY p.lft [include/functions.inc.php:2940] (0.04 ms)
    [12] => SELECT COUNT(*)
                FROM cm_pictures AS r
                INNER JOIN cm_albums AS a ON a.aid = r.aid
                WHERE (r.aid = 35) AND r.aid NOT IN (12, 51)
                AND approved = 'YES'
                AND hits > 0 [include/functions.inc.php:1717] (0.05 ms)
    [13] => SELECT r.pid, r.aid, filepath, filename, url_prefix, pwidth, pheight, filesize, ctime, r.title, r.keywords, r.votes, pic_rating, hits, caption, r.owner_id, user1, user2, user3, user4
                FROM cm_pictures AS r
                INNER JOIN cm_albums AS a ON a.aid = r.aid
                WHERE (r.aid = 35) AND r.aid NOT IN (12, 51)
                AND approved = 'YES'
                AND hits > 0
                ORDER BY hits ASC, pid DESC
                 LIMIT 11 ,12 [include/functions.inc.php:1734] (1.53 ms)
    [14] => SELECT extension, mime, content, player FROM cm_filetypes [include/functions.inc.php:5952] (0.07 ms)
)

==========================
GET :
------------------
Array
(
    [album] => topn
    [cat] => -35
    [page] => 4
)

==========================
POST :
------------------
Array
(
)

==========================
COOKIE :
------------------
Array
(
)

==========================

Event Horizon - Astronomical and Terrestrial Images