The Serpent Cloumn was with three snake heads jaws open and streched to support a golden tripod on which there was a golden bowl. The golden tripod is thought to have been  stolen by the Phocians in 355 BC.

The column is broken both on the lower and upper parts. There are several rumors about it. While some states that Mehmed II protects it by ordering a mulberry tree growing near it, some says that the lower jaw was broken by him after the Conquest. A single upper jaw is on display now in Istanbul Archeological Museum. It was discovered by Fossatis during the restoration of Hagia Sophia.

Head of a Serpent – Belongs to the Serpent Column at the Hippodrome.

In the 18th century, the heads of the snakes were lost. In 1855, a water conduit and a lead pipe was discovered in the base of the column which proves that it was used as a fountain for a while. For that reason, it must have survived the loot of the Crusaders.  It was also used as a talisman against snakes.

There is a miniature of the column in Hunername (the Book of Skills) which is on display in Topkapi Palace.

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Although the tower is being used as a restaurant nowadays, it has had many different functions throughout the history. Firstly used as a castle, it was used as a tower by Manuel Komnenos in the 12th century. He extended a chain to block the entrance between two towers. Then, the tower became a quarantina house in a cholera epidemic.

In the 5th century it was used as a customs house. Ottomans used it as a lighthouse and later a radar station in 1959 for its navy. It was even used as a place for exile.

View of Maiden’s Tower, Istanbul. 1822

Maiden’s Tower, Istanbul, 18th Century (Kiz Kulesi)

The Maiden’s Tower has also had many legends about it. One of them is about a Byzantine Princess whose death was foreseen that she would be bitten by a snake. Learning that his daughter would be poisoned, the King sent her to the tower. However; the beloved princess was bitten by a snake that hid in a basket of apples that brought to the tower.

Another legend is about a young man named Leandros. According to the legend, Leandros used to swim accross the sea every night to reach his lover in the tower. One night the waves became unvisible because of  a storm and Leandros drowned that night.

There is one other legend which is about an Athenian general who buried his wife- Damalis there. For this reason the tower was called as Damalis Tower as well.

A View Across the Bosphorus Towards Kız Kulesi by Night, 1848 Carlo Bossoli

Maiden’s Tower, Istanbul, 1876, ‘Sanford Robinson Gifford’

The Maiden’s Tower has survived many earthquakes and fires like any other structure in Constantinople. and so went under many restorations. Today you can visit it every day and enjoy the beautiful view of the Marmara sea.

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After the 4th Crusade, it was used as a watchtower surrounded by walls. There was a cross on the wooden top of it.  After the conquest of Constantinople, Mehmed II acknowledged the privileges of Galata and a voyvoda administed it. Takiyüddin Efendi – a famous astrologer- added an observatory to the tower and the Sultan Selim III built the balcony.

In 1960s, the wooden interior was replaced by a concrete structure. It was used as a prison and later as a dormitory for military band.

Altough it experienced many fives & earthquakes we can still see the effects of the Genoese style in the first three floors. Today, there is a restaurant & coffee on the upper floors.

Its current name Galata is thought to have came from “calata” in Italian which means the road that leads down to the sea.

The Galata Tower is mostly famous for “Hezerfan Ahmet Çelebi” who tried to fly across the Bosphorus with his wings made of eagle feathers from the Galata Tower and succeeded in landing safely.

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Adorning the nave/naos of Chora Church, this panel is hung above the main door. Mary on her deathbed is accompanied by saints, women, apostles, angles and Jesus Christ.

Christ who is dressed in all gold is holding an infant with veiled hand, symbolizing the soul of Virgin Mary. Two angels above are waiting to receive her soul. At the center, Christ is surrounded by a double layered mandorla (a kind of halo). It symbolizes the light that leads to heaven. There is a seraph above Christ’s head whose two wings are ready to fly.

In naos, the mosaic panel describing the death of Mary is a masterpiece. The naos is also famous for its marble ornaments which include the onyx, red and porphyry columns that came from different places of the world.

The Virgin Hodegetria

Mary is holding the Child Christ. Christ is by her as the source of salvation. Above the panel, there are remains of a destructed marble engravings of Christ’s face and two angels.

Jesus Christ and Holy Book

In this panel, Jesus is holding the Holy Book with pages open: ‘’ Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give rest’’ Matthew (11:28)

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1- Anastasis Scene:

Meaning ‘’standing up again’’ in Greek, Anastasis is one of the finest example of frescoes in the world. It is located in the semi-dome of the apse.

The fresco symbolizes a physical resurrection of humankind.

In the center, Christ is depicted in a three layered mandorla – symbolizing trinity. In each layer, there are eight pointed stars. Christ wears white garments. He grabs the wrists of Adam & Eve by pulling them out of their sarcophagi. Eve is wearing red clothes. Inside Eve’s sarcophagus, Abel-her son is also standing.

The doors of hell is broken down under the feet of Christ. The locks, nails and chains are scattered around Satan whose hands, feet and neck are tied up.

While Abel is followed by a group on the right of Christ, on the left John the Baptist points Christ to the kings – including Solomon him.

2-Resurrection of the son of a widow.

3- The Judgement Day

Deesis

Seated in the center of a multi-layered mandorla, Christ is surrounded by Mary, John the Baptist, 12 disciples, martyrs prophets. Mary and John the Baptist are praying for the salvation of the humanbeing.

The Last Judgment

Under the Deesis scene, there is Hetoimasia Jesus on a throne (there is no image of him but a cloth of him) accompanied by 2 seraphims. Adam and Eve are paying homage, kneeling down on each side of the throne. Under them, two angels are weighing and recording the good works & sins of mankind. The sinners are depicted to be sent to hell.

Scroll of the sky

An angel carries the scroll of the sky with sun, moon and stars in it. It is surrounded by the choirs of saints, bishops and disciples.

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Mosaics

1- METER THEOU

This mosaic depicts Mary with baby Christ in her womb. Her two hand are outstretched and there are two angels whose hands are veiled to touch sacred one. Around Mary, ‘’Mother of God’’ and ‘’Chora of the unlimited’’. We can say that this name of the museum is named after this Chora Mosaic because Chora means the womb where Christ was born. This type of depiction is named as ‘’blacherniotissa’’.

2-PANTOCRATOR JESUS CHRIST

Signing benediction with his right hand and holding the Holy Book with the left one, Christ is portrayed in a realistic way in the mosaic. His right ear is lower than the left one. His head is surrounded by a nimbus with a cross inside. The inscription around him reads ‘’Jesus Christ’’ and ‘’the Chora of the living’’ which is taken from Psalm 116 (The land of living, the eternal reward for faithful in heaven)

Moreover, this mosaic is made with a special technique; his look catches you wherever you look at him.

3-THE DREAM OF JOSEPH

In this mosaic lunette, we see Joseph thoughtfully in a dream. He is not aware of Mary’s pregnancy. In his dream, an angel announces the good news that Mary will bear a boy named Jesus who comes from the Holy Ghost so not to leave her.

Above him, Mary and Elizabeth is talking. After Joseph has waken up, he takes his family to Bethlehem where Christ will be born. Mary is depicted on a mule pulled by the son of Joseph and followed by Joseph.

4– The birth of Christ (Nativity)

In this scene, we see Mary, in the center lying on a blanket with Christ on her left with a light from heavens on him. There are two animals looking at him, because they are in a stable. Behind Mary, angels are praying and on the right, Gabriel announces the birth of Christ to the shepherds.

On the left below the panel, two women is bathing the baby Christ. And near them, Joseph is sitting broodingly with a halo around his head.

5- The three Magi 

The three Magi (aka three Wise men) are traditional accounts of the nativity celebrations. We see them coming from the East on horses following a star and arriving in Bethlehem. They ask the king Herod where the newborn King of Jews. One of them has a box full of gifts in his hands to present the new King. The King askes them to let him know if they find him so that he could worship him, too.

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Mosaics

1- Inside the northern dome of the inner narthex, the 16 ancestors of Virgin Mary are depicted in double rows. In the center, Mary and baby Christ on her leap are seated. We can see the monograms of ‘’Mother of God’’ around her.

2- Inside the northern dome of the inner narthex, the 24 ancestors of Christ Pantocrator are depicted in 2 rows. In the center Christ is performing benediction with his right hand. He has a bread and a nimbus around his hand. The names of each ancestor are inscribed over their heads.

3- In this mosaic, we see Zacharios whose hands are open as a sign of rejecting. He doesn’t accept the sacrifices of Joachim and Anna -the parents of Mary- because they are childless.

Zacharios whose hands are open as a sign of rejecting – Inner Narthex Mosaics of Chora

4- Joachim whose sacrifices have been rejected is seen praying & fasting for forty days. We see him inside bushes sitting broodingly. There are two shepherds near him.

5- Under the mosaic of Joachim, there is a scene of good news. The archangel Gabriel is announcing Anna that she will have a baby. Anna is in the garden, her hands are open to sky like she is praying. Behind her, a servant sitting in the niche is looking at them.

6- The Birth of Theotokos: In this scene, while Anna is greeting the gifts the women has brought after birth, baby Mary is ready for a bath. A maid is making her cradle Joachim is watching them .

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Housing the best examples of the Byzantine mosaic art, The museum of Chora is located in Edirnekapı district, Istanbul. Though its first construction date is unknown, the Chora Church was originally built atop a necropolis. Due to its location which was countryside, the church was named as ‘’Chora’’ suburban in Greek.

PANTOCRATOR JESUS CHRIST MOSAIC OF CHORA MUSEUM

The monastery was rebuilt by Justinian in the 6^th century and it was dedicated to Christ. Having survived a number of earthquakes, the building was used as a burial site for a while.

No matter it was rebuilt in 1120 by Isaac Komnenos, the church was in ruins until the 14^th century.  Theodore Metokhites (1270-1332)who was a pre-eminent statesman of the of the Byzantine Empire is renowned most for his contribution to Chora. Granted as a Megas Logothetes and the ‘’letetor’’ (the one who constructed on Orthodox church), Metokhites was also the Minister of Treasury and a poet. After building the Chora Church, Metokhites dedicated the church to ‘’Meter Theou’’ (Mother of God) and founded also a rich library.

Inside the northern dome of the inner narthex, the 16 ancestors of Virgin Mary are depicted in double rows. In the center, Mary & baby Christ on her leap are seated. We can see the monograms of ‘’Mother of God’’ around her.

Metokhites was sent to exile for 2 years in 1328. When he returned, he was only permitted to live in Chora for the rest of his life. His tomb was placed in a burial recess in the parakklesion.

Later, his friends were also buried in this part of the church. In the church, there were eight tombs which were destroyed during the Ottoman Period.

In this glamorous church, the life of Mary and Christ was narrated visually chronically.

The Chora has also a mystical meaning ‘’the womb’’ which is a representation of the womb of Mary. The womb that contains Christ is depicted on the entrance door.

In Ottoman times, the Chora remained as a church until Sultan Bayezid II. When it was turned into a mosque a mihrab, a minbar, and a minaret were added to the structure. The main dome carried by four arches and destructed mostly was built by Turks in a later time.

Fragments of Painted Windows Glass from the Chora Church, Istanbul Archaelogy Museums

Chora, 1905, Ottoman Period.

Mosaics of Chora

Chora Museum consists of five main parts: the annexes, the parakklesion, the inner & outer narthexes and the naos . Inner & outer narthexes house most of the mosaic works that tell the life story of Mary and  the miracles of Christ. The parakklesion is decorated with astonishing frescos with the scenes from the Judgment Day & Resurrection.

Anastasis Scene in Chora Museum

The outer narthex shows us the nativity, the miracles of Christ and the massacre of the innocent.

The mosaics were covered with a thin layer of paint in Ottoman Period which made them survive today.

Death of Mary, Chora.

In naos, the mosaic panel describing the death of Mary is a masterpiece. The naos is also famous for its marble ornaments which include the onyx, red and porphyry columns that came from different places of the world.

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Hagia Sophia and Hagia Eirene

History

Constantine I built a small church where a pagan temple existed before in the honour of the peace that came to the Roman world after long years of civil wars. Hagia Eirene became more important when the Second Ecumenical Council was held in 381 there.

When Hagia Sophia was burned down in 404, Hagia Eirene became the main church for 11 years. Howewer;it was burned down thoroughly in 532 in Nika Riots .

Caption Slaughter in the Hippodrome at Constantinople in AD 532. Artist Roger Payne

It was reconstructed as a domed basilica by Justinian. Damaged mostly by an earthquake in 740, Hagia Eirene was rebuilt by Constantine V in 753. Being the only church that wasn’t converted into a mosque in the city, Hagia Eirene served as an arsenal by Janissaries after the conquest of Constantinople.

Hagia Eirene became both the first ‘’Turkish Museum’’ and then ‘’ the Museum of Empire’’. It was also used as ‘’the Military Museum’’ between 1908 and 1978.

Architecture & Art

Hagia Eirene is an original example of a cross-domed basilica representing  the Iconoclastic Art with its magnificent mosaic cross surviving today. Taken from the temple of Aphrodite, the marble stones & columns and the capitals bearing the monograms of Justinian & Theodora are the most striking relics of the church.

Apse – Dome of Hagia Eirene

Atrium

The unique Byzantine atrium surviving today is unfortunately  close to the visitors today. Once, it housed a part of the chain of Golden Horn, a silver statue of Empress Eudocia and a Byzantine church bell made of bronze. Today you can see a porphyry sarcophagus, believed to be the tomb of Constantine the Great in the garden.

Atrium, Hagia Eirene.

Apse

The apse of Hagia Eirene is a very rare- maybe the unique example in Constantinople. The three windows symbolize the trinity in Christian world. And the synthronon (the stepped platform used by priests) is an attribute of Mount Golgotha where Christ was crucified. The Golden Cross (aka Golgotha Cross) that is outlined in black tesserae on a golden background is the most fascinating relic, surviving the Iconoclastic Period.

Apse of Hagia Eirene Church

The arches of the apse are inscripted with two lines from old Testament in mosaic letters:

The inner arch reads: ‘’We shall be filled with the good things of thy house; thy temple is holy. (Thou art) wonderful in righteousness. Harken to us, o God our Saviour; the hope of all ends of the earth, and of them a far off on the sea.

The outer arch reads: ‘’It is he that builds his ascent up to the sky, and establishes his promise on the earth; the Lord almighty is his name’’

Dome

The drum of the dome is pierced by 20 windows and just the five of it is open now.

Note that museum card is invalid in the museum.

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The chapel / parekklesion part which was built in the 13^th c. by the wife of Michael Glabas has been on display as Pammakaristos Church (Fethiye Museum).

After the conquest of Constantinople, the church was under the domicile of the Orthodox Patriarchate and became women’s monastery. It is said that Mehmet II would visit the church at times and it wasn’t converted into a mosque until Murad III who made it a mosque in honor of the conquest of Azerbaijan & Georgia in the 16 th. century.

The building was renovated between 1936 and 1938 and the mosque section was opened to prayer in 1960 after a domed area, a minaret, an altar and a madrasa were added. The parekklesion (museum) section was restored by the American Byzantine Institute.

Pammakaristos Church which was dedicated to the Blessed Mother of God was called Pammakaristos. However the parekklesion section was dedicated to Christ. As a contemporary of Chora Church, the mosaics date back to the 14^th c.

In the main dome, Christ the Pantocrator and twelve prophets around him are depicted.

In the apse, there is a Deesis scene with the busts of four archangels in the vault above. The scene is unique for the inscription of ‘’the Most Benevolent’’ around Christ. On both sides of the apse are thirteen portraits of bishops of which six are missing. In the south-west section of the naos are the figures of six monk saints.

On the lintel of the south & west walls, there is an inscription that the wife of M. Glabas had inscribed. In the vault of the bema the Archangels Michael, Uriel, Raphael and Gabriel are represented. There is also a mark of a big red cross on the wall.

Baptism Scene in Fethiye Museum (Pammakaristos Church)

The naked Christ is placed into the Jordan river. St. John the Baptist is at the right of him and is dressed in a mantle. At the left of him are four angels. At the right  is a man pouring out water and at the left is a young figure inside a shell. Fish are inside the water of the river.

The Three Wise Men

The three men wear dresses with red,yellow, blue, green and black colors. They are represented walking towards the altar with their gifts.

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