Posted on 07/24/2009 10:48:16 AM PDT by iowamark
Experts have uncovered one of the six angel mosaics within the world-famous Hagia Sophia Museum in Istanbul after it had been hidden for 160 years behind plaster and a metal mask.
The mosaic, which measures 1.5 meters by 1 meter, was last seen by Swiss architect Gaspare Fossati, who headed restoration efforts at the museum between 1847 and 1849, and Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid. Experts were surprised to see that the mosaic, believed to date from the 14th century, was so well preserved.
Hagia Sophia, built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian between A.D. 532 and 537, was originally a basilica before it was converted into a mosque when Ottoman Turks conquered the city in 1453. During the conversion process, the Ottomans covered the mosaics with plaster instead of removing them.
The building served as a mosque until 1934, when it was turned into a museum.
The uncovered mosaic is located in the pendentive, an arched triangular section supporting the buildings huge dome. After 10 days of work on the area, experts removed several layers of plaster and the metal mask to uncover the angel.
The mosaics true age will be assessed after an analysis by the Hagia Sofia Science Board compares it to similar mosaics. The six-winged figure is though to depict the seraphim, an angel described in the biblical book of Isaiah.
We've already lasted 200. IMHO, the clock started ticking when Jefferson kicked butt on the Barbary Pirates.
You forgot the Venetians who wanted the trade that Byzantium owned. When you have held control for centuries, you build a lot of enemies - sometimes just on jealousy alone. The number of times that Byzantium came close but did not fall is amazing. One can wonder that if the Persians had won, as they threatened to do several times, would that have later opened the way for Islam to conquer Europe? Alternate history is fun, but a world without croissants is intolerable.
My husband is Greek. He and all of his family refer to current day Istanbul as Constantinople. Most Greeks do. It is also the seat of the Patriarchate for the Greek Orthodox Church.
Thanks for the post. Would love to see this in person.
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GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach | |
Note: this topic is from 7/24/2009. Thanks iowamark. |
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Its obvious Hagia Sophia https://muze.gen.tr/muze-detay/ayasofya will always stay as a mosque rest of time we have on this earth. And i really dont understand these religious fanatics(ortodox) .. its just a building and its not constantinopole anymore its ISTANBUL.
Saw a documentary on this. A small group of Japanese restorers are using a portable ground penetraining radar to help locate the figures high up on the walls on the main dome. Muy interesante.
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