Travel back to Constantinople
It is vast as well as "deep". Layer upon layer... it has millefeuilles of cultures and civilizations.
As a jewellery designer myself, I have always been drawn to decorative elements, especially, Byzantine- medieval style... (please visit my jewellery lens squidoo.com/kotomi-jewelry)
My trip to Istanbul (March 2008) was a pilgrimage to the Byzantine aesthetics...
For more information about my creations (jewellery and photography), please visit my main website :
http://www.kotomicreations.com/
Haghia Sophia
Ayasofya
This is the first place to visit in the hunt for Byzantine Istanbul.
It is famous, and of course, there are so many reasons to be so famous. Grand scale of architecture, fantastic mosaics, over 1400 years old ...
I shall leave all detailed/ historical information to the links...
wikipedia-Haghia Sophia
www.virtualistanbul.com/HaghiaSophia
www.hitit.co.uk/Istanbul/ayasofya
I was most impressed by its elaborate density --- mosaics are framed by stone carved friezes which were originally richly coloured, and surrounded by fresco paintings... in addition, marble pillars in dark deep colours...
All of these elements contribute to a symphony of heavy condensed tones ...



My photos from Flickr
Haghia Sophia --- reference books on Amazon
Chora--- Church of St. Saviour in Chora
Kariye Camii
Away from heavily tourlismized central Istanbul, this church -- later mosque, now museum -- stands in North Istanbul, in a downtown residential area. From the outside, a charming little domed church, but once we step into it... it is an entirely different world... This 11th c church redecorated in the 14th c is a much smaller version of Haghia Sophia. yet smaller means higher density... Again mosaics, stone friezes and fresco paintings glorifying over 50 well preserved biblical scenes. It is nearly impossible to capture all of them in one's camera. A real gem. I found this church most moving...
More information can be found in -
wikipedia- Chora Church
sacred-destinations.com



My photos from Flickr.
Chora--- reference books on Amazon
Church of the Pammakaristos
Fethiye Camii
This great 14th c Byzantine renaissance church is again small and charming. Inside there are fewer mosaics are left than at Chora. But still, the quality of the remaining mosaics is breathtaking... Christ Pantocrator ( all powerful ) and the prophets mosaic in the main dome is in perfect condition, and makes an impressive contrast with the exposed brick walls surrounding it.
More information can be found in-
wikipedia-Pammakaristos_Church
sacred-destinations.com


My photos from Flickr
SS Sergius and Bacchus' Church
Kucuk Ayasofya Camii
Known as "Little Haghia Sophia", this 6th c church is older than the great " Haghia Sophia", and was also founded by Emperor Justinian and his empress Theodora. This continues to function as a mosque and is beautifully maintained, but alas, no original mosaics or frescoes remain.
However, the green marble columns are still here, and stone carved friezes also remain. And we can still see remnants of the original green and red colouring on the friezes....


More photos from Flickr
Church of Constatine Lips
Fenari Camii
This 10th c monastic church is still a functioning as a local mosque. It is only open at the times of prayer. Luckily we met the caretaker and he kindly opened the door for us. Inside, the just few remaining stone carvings show its ancient origin. The main focal point of this church is the building's exceptionally imaginative exterior walls. Decorative brickwork friezes surround the mosque which continue to display it's splendid charm.


My photo from Flickr
Books of reference on Byzantine culture in Amazon
Reader Feedback
Do you like this lens? Have you any comments to make !?
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- Kotomi Kotomi Jul 19, 2008 @ 5:12 am
- Thank you for your comment, EditionH !!
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- EditionH EditionH Jul 18, 2008 @ 8:12 am
- Hi, I am impressed by this great lens !
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- Kotomi Kotomi Apr 12, 2008 @ 5:47 pm
- Thank you very much for your kind comment, Icon-Lover. Actually you are the one of present creator of the Byzantine spirit! I was so impressed to visit at How to paint an icon
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- Icon-Lover Icon-Lover Apr 12, 2008 @ 1:52 pm
- This is a fantastic lens! You have done a real service by having all this information and spiritual beauty available.
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- Kotomi Kotomi Apr 11, 2008 @ 7:32 am
- Thank you very much for your kind comment, LanaS.
I also love your lens Icons-Rescoslens!
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- Apr 11, 2008 @ 4:05 am
- This is an impressive site, with amazing photographs. I hope that one day you'll publish a beautifully illustrated book on Byzantine art in Constantinople.





