Hagia Sophia Mosaic

Hagia Sophia Mosaic

944

1220

visual works

Turkey (nation)

Istanbul (inhabited place)

Byzantine

mosaics (visual works)

tympana

Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint

View of the mosaic in the tympanum over the doorway to the south entrance of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey. "The mosaic is in the tympanum over the doorway and is dating back to 944. Virgin Mary is sitting on a backless throne decorated with jewels. Child Christ is sitting on her lap and he is holding a scroll. They are both flanked on the left by Justinian I, and on the right by Constantine the Great. Both emperors are in their Byzantine ceremonial dress. Emperor Justinian is offering a model of Hagia Sophia to Virgin Mary, and Emperor Constantine is offering a model of the city, the city that he had made his imperial’s capital giving his name after it. The mosaic presents the connection between the church and the empire and the church as the seat of imperial ritual,"--Hagia Sophia website.

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