Trip Review- The Hagia Sophia details

The Hagia Sophia is a building that emits the ancient world.  As you look up as you walk around and try to take it in, it could be 1000 years earlier.  It is sad how the great empires collapse.  The treasures, relics and gold all vanish.  I can't imagine how much of the ancient world was on view around 520 AD.  Many of the great ancient works were in Constantinople.  It would have been by far the greatest collection ever assembled.

Trip Review- The Hagia Sophia balcony

A real surprise in the balcony of the Hagia Sophia is this mosaic called the Deesis.  St. John and Mary are pleading with Christ for humanity.  It is a monumental work that has suffered from neglect and the elements.  It was covered with paint since the Hagia Sophia became a mosque in the 15th century.  Only in the 20th century when it became a museum were the mosaics uncovered and preserved.  This image of Christ really struck me as one of the greatest in the history of Christianity.  It was created in the 12th century after the crusaders finally left Constantinople.  There is an amazingly complex expression on the face of Christ considering it is mosaic.  Jeff is busy video taping the experience.  Some day I hope to see it.

Trip Review- The Hagia Sophia interior

Walking into the Hagia Sophia is the treat of a lifetime.  The interior space is a visual feast that suggests the grandeur of the past.  It must have been a trip from outer space to walk into this room in 600 AD.  Heaven on earth for Justinian when he had it built.  It must have made any travelers from the West very jealous when they realized the greatest church was not in Rome, but in Constantinople. 

We came back several times and I had a chance to come back a few months later.  I would go back in a minute.

Trip Review- The Hagia Sophia

One of the highlights of the trip and what I was really looking forward to, was touring the Hagia Sophia.  This is still the first afternoon and we were just walking around the center of the old town.  The Hagia Sophia (I think) is the greatest Christian church ever built.  When you look at the date and how fast it was built and how revolutionary it was and how grand it still is after so many years, I think you would agree.  It is a museum now, but the remnants of ancient times remains.  We were still a bit taken aback by all of the carpet salesmen approaching us.

Istanbul 06 The center of town.

After checking in, Jeff and I took a short walk to the center of the old town.  There is a large rectangular park-like space that is the remnants of the ancient hippodrome.  In middle of the open space monument was put up by Theodosius I in 390.  There is an Egyptian obelisk on top of the carving.  Theodosius had his monument carved as if it were the last judgement.  He and his court (or family) sits in the middle  with everyone playing tribute.

The sculpture is beat up and much of the detail is lost, but it is still a powerful work. 

 It was a Sunday afternoon and every other man tried to get us to come to a  carpet shop.  It was a little off putting and they were pretty aggressive.  We started trying to avoid "friendly" men on the street.  

Trip Review- 06 in Istanbul

For many years I had daydreamed about going to this city.  Probably the first time it registered in my imagination was watching the James Bond film, From Russia With Love.  In it, Sean Connery has to go to Istanbul to meet up with a Russian who is defecting to England.  The local spy master says, "Welcome to Istanbul, Mr. Bond."  Bond fights in the Hagia Sophia.  

Years later and studying art history, and visiting Ravenna, Italy, the Byzantine emperor Justinian  began to play a larger part than James Bond.  The video "Byzantium" from the Discovery Channel by John Romer rekindled my desire to see things for myself.   I found a deal on the website, Gotoday.com. and I asked Jeff to go along.  Here is a picture of the neighborhood and a nearby hill on the way to the city center.   This ruin that Jeff is sitting on is the old hippodrome that has been built over by a local high school.  hmmm.....this is interesting.