The Hagia Sophia

The church of Hagia Sophia, of which there were three different incarnations, was the biggest church of the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Today's building was constructed on the orders of Emperor Justinian (527-565). Construction began on February 23rd, 532 and the Church was finished five years later. As a comparison, it took seven years to build Westinster Cathedral in London (1895-1902) and then they had to decorate!!

The mosaic over the southwestern entrance (The Horologian Gate). In the middle is the Virgin, on her right is Emperor Justinian I (527-565) and on her left Emperor Constantine I (306-337) - the founder of Christian Instanbul. The mosaic probably dates from the end of the 10th to the start of the 11th centuries.

The Archangel Gabriel dated to the end of the 9th century. The pattern on the wings has been used as inspiration for a floor mosaic in a large shopping center.

The central image of Jesus in the Deesis Mosaics. Deesis is the Last Judgement and the mosaic is dated to the 12th century. Shown from the front, Jesus's image is full of tenderness and kindness.

This is the image of the Virgin Mary which sits on the right of Jesus in the Deesis Mosaics.

On the Left is John the Baptist. The faces of both Mary and John are shown in profile and reflect the suffering of human beings on the Last Judgement Day.

This mosaic is of Emperor I Comnenos, Empress Irene and the Virgin Mary. The Emperor and Empress are both in ceremonial garments encrusted with precious jewels and the Emperor is holding a purse in his hand as a symbol of an imperial donation to the church. The Empress, who is the daughter of King Laszlo of Hungary is shown with great dignity.

Directly to the left of the Empress, in the adjoining corner, is this mosaic of the Emperor and Empress' son, Alexius II. (Its slightly better if you squint!!)

This mosaic currently shows Empress Zoe and Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos! When these mosaics were examined carefully it was found the name of the Emperor has been scraped away and rewritten and that the heads of previous emperors appeared to have been scraped off and replaced..... Empress Zoe married three times!! The head of Zoe is also thought to have been altered and this raises some questions about the story.