Ahrida synagogue: 
"Italian synagogue" (in Istanbul): 
Suleymaniye mosque: 
Posted on 09/04/2008 10:38:10 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
The second church was inaugurated in A.D. 405, after being built upon the remnants of the first church at the same site, which dates to A.D. 360...
No scientific examinations have yet been carried out on the flooded ground four meters beneath the floor of the museum. According to Akkaya, the water found below is connected to the Basilica Cistern and Topkapi Palace. "Yes, the area underneath Hagia Sophia is filled with water. I assume the layers contain pieces of pottery and ceramics, as well as relics from the second church of Hagia Sophia," Akkaya acknowledged...
Recently, a team of experts from Rome's La Sapienza University and Asnu Bilban Yalcin, a historian of Byzantine art, conducted a number of examinations of Hagia Sophia. Yalcin said that over the last few years experts from Ege University dove beneath the water under the basilica but that the findings from that research were not shared with the public...
Ottoman royal architect Sinan... constructed the most effective buttress against earthquakes. Sinan first strengthened the 10 supporting walls... then added four more supporting walls. Further, he ordered workers to dig deep ditches with 50-meter distances between them, the last of which was located near the coast. Each of these ditches was then filled with sand. Akkaya said Sinan did this to prevent possible damage by a sea-based earthquake to the magnificent Hagia Sophia.
(Excerpt) Read more at turkishdailynews.com.tr ...
Very disappointing.
Ahrida synagogue:
"Italian synagogue" (in Istanbul):
Suleymaniye mosque:
I am a fan of the Detroit Lions, and often refer to them as stupid bastards. For example, in the first half of their season opener last night.
Not disagreeing with you, but I think looting may be too light a term for what the Venetians did to Hagia Sophia... They smashed the silver iconostasis, the icons and the holy books of Hagia Sophia. Many relics from the church, such as a stone from the tomb of Jesus, bones of several saints, etc. were stolen. There’s even stories of the Crusaders seating a prostitute on the Patriarchal throne. Luckily the renovators have been removing the plaster to reveal the ancient mosaics underneath, but they’ll never get back the stolen and destroyed items. It is still awe-inspiring inside though... hope you’ll be able to see it one day.
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