Hagia Sofia, camel leather medallions
Istanbul (former Constantinople), Turkey
The History of the Hagia Sophia byzantine church
1453, after the Siege of Costantinople, by the Ottoman Turks under Sultan Mehmed II (also called Humkar - "bloodthirsty"), who immediately ordered that christian church Hagia Sophia be turned into the "Aya Sofya Mosque". Crosses, bells, altar, iconostasis, sacrificial vessels, icons were removed and mosaics plastered over.
But as the apse did not face to Mecca, so islamics added a mihrab located in the apse where the altar used to stand, pointing towards Mecca, also applied all around eight wooden medallions with quran inscriptions, placed in the four corners beneath the dome with names of prophets sultans caliphs; quranic inscriptions also on the frieze of blue tiles, a sultan's pavillon, muezin pavillon, four minarets were erected at the corners of the exterior perimeter; a gilded bronze crescent replaced the large metal cross crowning the basilica... such changes offended Christians
BATTAGLIA DI COSTANTINOPOLI (6 aprile - 29 maggio 1453)
Hagia Sofia, camel leather medallions
Istanbul (former Constantinople), Turkey
The History of the Hagia Sophia byzantine church
1453, after the Siege of Costantinople, by the Ottoman Turks under Sultan Mehmed II (also called Humkar - "bloodthirsty"), who immediately ordered that christian church Hagia Sophia be turned into the "Aya Sofya Mosque". Crosses, bells, altar, iconostasis, sacrificial vessels, icons were removed and mosaics plastered over.
But as the apse did not face to Mecca, so islamics added a mihrab located in the apse where the altar used to stand, pointing towards Mecca, also applied all around eight wooden medallions with quran inscriptions, placed in the four corners beneath the dome with names of prophets sultans caliphs; quranic inscriptions also on the frieze of blue tiles, a sultan's pavillon, muezin pavillon, four minarets were erected at the corners of the exterior perimeter; a gilded bronze crescent replaced the large metal cross crowning the basilica... such changes offended Christians
BATTAGLIA DI COSTANTINOPOLI (6 aprile - 29 maggio 1453)