Hagia Sophia, Istanbul 1890s:

Ottoman Women in the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, 1890s:

Hagia Sophia from Bosphorus. Stimmungsbild bei Skutari, 1895:

Beauregard, J. de. Aux rives du Bosphore. Dessins à la plume, de O’Netty et illustrations, Lyon, Vitte, 1896:

Three young African Ottomans (as they would be called today) wandering around the Hippodrome captured during 1890’s:

Photographer working in the Divan Yolu Street, close to the Hagia Sophia. A photo from the 1890’s:

William Sachtleben’s Humber bicycle at rest in Constantinople draws a crowd of spectators. Background In the summer of 1890:

Gilliodts, Juan. Impressions d’Orient, Voyage en Turquie, en Bulgarie et en Serbie, Bruksel, [1897]:

Hagia Sophia in 1895:

Hagia Sophia Photos from Album of Sultan Abdulhamit 2:

Hagia Sophia in 1890’s:

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Hagia Sophia in 1900:

1901

The German Fountain and Hagia Sophia in 1901:

1902

Hagia Sophia main dome and its surroundings, 1902:

1903

General View, Hagia Sophia, 1903:

Interior of Hagia Sophia in 1903:

“The inside of Hagia Sophia”, 1903 (Source: Brooklyn Museum):

1904

Interior of Hagia Sophia in 1904 (Dome, Columns, Narthexes and Upper Gallery):

“Constantinople Bosphore Turquie” – Photographer: H.B. Tate, date 1904:

1905

“Istanbul, Hagia Sophia” (1905):

1906

General view, Hagia Sophia in 1906:

1907

Hagia Sophia in 1907, Photographer: Ali Rıza Pasha:

1908

1908, perched on the Hagia Sophia, the Sultan waiting to report for the start of the first parliament:

A postcard, 1908, Hagia Sophia:

1909

Interior of the Hagia Sophia, 1909:

Emperor Door, Hagia Sophia as a Mosque, 1909:

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Constantinople Ste Sophie, rare animated view in 1910:

Exterior view of Hagia Sophia in 1910:

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, 1910s

“Sultan-Achmet-Brunnen in Konstantinopel”, 1910:

Empress Lodge, Upper Gallery, Hagia Sophia in 1910:

1911

Gertrude Bell, 1911 – Hagia Sophia:

1912

During the Balkan War:

“Konstantinopels, 1912” :

1913

BARTH, H[ermann]. Constantinople par H. Barth. Les Villes d’Art Célèbres. Paris, Librairie Renouard-H. Laurens, 1913:

1914

Upper Gallery, Hagia Sophia in 1914:

Empress Lodge, Upper Gallery, Hagia Sophia in 1914:

1915

Hagia Sophia, Exterior, 1915:

Hagia Sophia, Exterior, 1915:

“The Mosque of Sainte Sophie”, Constantinople, Istanbul;  Agence Rol. Agence Photographique; 1915:

1916

Postcard “Agia-Sophia-Kriegs Postkarte”, 1916:

Serailspitze, Istanbul (Konstantinopel), 1916:

1917

Blick gegen Hagia Sophia und Sultan Ahmed Moschee, Istanbul (Konstantinopel),1917:

Ausfahrt ins Marmarameer, Istanbul (Konstantinopel)1917:

1918

Hagia Sophia – A Photograph Drawn In 1918 by French Soldiers During Occupation-Gallica:

Interior view of Hagia Sophia in 1918:

1919

Senegalese soldiers in the ranks of the French army are practicing in front of Hagia Sophia. Le Miroir, November 9, 1919:

Hagia Sophia, 14 December 1919:

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Scenes from Old Istanbul, 1920.

In front of the Hagia Sophia, 1920.

1921

From Beyazit Tower towards Sultanahmet, on the right Nuruosmaniye Mosque, back plate Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, 1921.

1922

The Hippodrome & Hagia Sophia, Sultanahmet Meydanı, Solita Solano (photographer) -1922.

1923

1926

Dome of Hagia Sophia, 1926:

1927

1928

1929

Hagia Sophia in 15 March 1929.

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is what motivates me to start my job as a professional tourist guide. The excitiment that I feel in this place where I’ve been visiting almost every day is just like the first day. I discover something new in each visit… the glow of the mosaics, the colors of the frescoes, the magnificence of the marbles and a cute cat who stands on the Empress Lodge posing for many tourists. This scene softens my heart because lots of people from all around the world are getting together with the love of a cat.

The name of this love is Gli “Union of Love” and here comes the life story of Gli: Archeologist Defne Bali who has worked for Hagia Sophia for years was like a mother to Gli. Gli had one brother, Pati and a sister, Kızım. Their mother was Sofi. They were born in 2004. Pati died, unfortunately. Bilgen Deveci, one of our restorers chose the name “Gri” (in English: Grey) for Gli at first. However, because of its cuteness and squinty eyes its name became Gli. I chose the name “Kızım” for her sister. When she was little, Kızım went under one of the maksures of Hagia Sophia and stucked there for a while. We saved her later but because she meowed so much then, she became silent for the next two years.

Photos from @hagiasophiacat Instagram Account:

Gli had only one kitten all her life. A beautiful jet-black she-cat named “Karakız” who had an accident because of a tour-bus. She stayed in a vet for a while for her broken back. However, we had no chance to take a care of him at the museum because of then-manager who hates cats so we had to put her sleep.

Gli became popular when the prime-minister R.Tayyip Erdoğan and then Obama stroked her.

Gli was a real hunter when she was young. She used to hunt birds, which she can’t now because of his age and eyes.

This post is written by Umut Bahçeci for hagiasophiaturkey.com

Love, Umut Bahçeci (Instagram: @mumuizm_  Mail: umutbahceci@gmail.com)

Follow Gli the St. Sophia Cat Instagram Account: @hagiasophiacat.  Thank you Peter Magenheimer (@peterjmag) for Encouraging me to open this account for Gli.

Featured Image Credit: Hagia Sophia Cat Tumblr Page

What will happen to Gli after Hagia Sophia is turned into a Mosque?

Archaeologist Defne Bali, who works at the Hagia Sophia Museum, made a statement about the status of the Hagia Sophia Cat – Gli on Instagram.

What will happen to Gli after Hagia Sophia is turned into a Mosque

We convey the explanation exactly: “Hagia Sophia has been opened for worship as a mosque. Currently there is no work on relocating Gli. Gli will continue to live where he was born and grew up.”

Update (19.09.2020): Gli, the cat of Hagia Sophia After being at a vet all week, the 16 year-old cat will now stay in a private room away from visitors for health reason. Source

We convey the explanation exactly: “Dear Friends,
Here i am.
Has been along time of my silence ..
I was sick and has been a week since i was at veterinary under treatment. Finally today i’m back home. From now on i have a private room because my heart can’t handle stress and crowd anymore .
The most beautiful thing that real friends can do for me is to send me prayers and good vibes
As i am in my private room don’t forget to share your love with my other pawed friends and my housemates ”

Update (29.10.2020): Gli is very sick. Pray for Gli..

07.11.2020 – 20:27 PM: Gli died.  We are really sorry.

08.11.2020: Gli was buried in a special place in Hagia Sophia’s garden. Rest in Peace Gli.

Rest in Peace Gli – Illustration Credit Ooo Mete Beyler

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Ignatius the Younger

In this mosaic, Ignatius has white hair and no beard. He is thought to be 50 years old in the mosaic. He was a eunuch. His inscription reads: ‘’Ignatios Neos’’

St. John Chrysostom

Having a nickname of ‘’gold mouth’’, Chrysostom is middle aged in the mosaic. His inscription presents: ‘’Ioannis Chrisostomos’’. When the Empress Eudoxia and John Khrysostomos sent him into exile, the church was burned down by the rebels who supported him.

St. Ignatios Theophoros

He was a bishop of Antioch before he was martyred. He has a beard and is of old age. His inscription says: ‘’Ignatios Theophoros’’. Each saint dress in ‘’omophorion’’ a bishop vestment. St. Ignatius the Younger is wearing a cap. They hold Bible in one hand, St. Theophoros and Khrysostomos are signing benediction with their right hans.

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They killed Argyros by drowning him in the bath. And Michael became Emperor. However, about 7 years later, Michael IV died and his nephew Michael V became the Emperor by imprisoning Zoe. This led to a riot against the new Emperor and he was dethroned by Constantine IX Monomachos, the third husband of Zoe. Zoe didn’t have a child during her life.

Therefore, with each husband Zoe had, the faces of the mosaic changed. Interestingly enough, the faces of Zoe and Christ aren’t the original ones, if Michael V destroyed the face of Zoe, why did he also destruct the face of Christ? Maybe, the artist wanted them to be look alike in style.

In the mosaic, Zoe must be 70 years old no matter how she looks like with youthful colors of her skin. She holds an inscripted scroll showing the donations made to the church. The inscription around her says: ‘’Zoe, the most pious Augusta’’

The face of the Emperor belongs to her third husband, Constantine XI. He wears a crown with hanging pearl and holds a purse a pokombion. The inscription around him presents, Constantine, in Christ the God, Autocrat, faithful King of the Romans, Monomachos. The Christ figure which is bigger in size than the other figures. He wears a chiton. He is signing benediction with his right hand and holding an ornamented Holy Book with his left hand.

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There is a decorated inscription which is mostly erased around them, which says: ‘’The images which impostors cast down here pious emperors have again set up’’. The inscription commemorates the restorations made by Basil I and Michael III after the Iconoclast period, during which this mosaic was hidden.

It was uncovered in 867 by Photius the Patriarch. And from that time, even after the conquest by Mehmed II, this mosaic was never veiled again. Although all mosaics were made after iconoclastic period, it is the oldest mosaic of Hagia Sophia.

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Mary the Virgin is depicted smaller than the Emperor and Empress. Christ the Child is seated on her lap making benediction with his right hand and holding a roll on his left hand. Mary is accompanied by the monograms of ‘’Mother of God’’ MP OV. They are depicted in a humanistic style. Christ has a cruciform nimbus around him.

Empress Eirene

With her distinctive physiognomy with blonde hair, Empress Eirene is holding a scroll of parchment of donation made to the Great Church. She is dressed in a royal red garment with embellished jewelry and gold. She has a gold imperial crown and pear shaped earrings. Her inscription reads ‘’Eirene’’, the most pious Augusta which shows her devoutness.

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Emperor Komnenos II

The son of Alexios Komnenos, Joannis Komnenos II is presenting a money purse to Mary and Christ. He is attired in royal jeweled clothes and wears a cap shaped crown called ‘’camelaucum’’ . He is facing to Mary. He has a darker complexion than his wife.

He has an inscription around him telling: ‘’John in Christ the God, faithful king born in the purple, Autocrat of Romans, the Kommenos.’’

Alexios

On the right of Empress Eirene and Emperor Komnenos, there is a panel allocated to their son, Alexios with the inscription around ‘’Alexios in Christ, faithful King of the Romans, the born in the purple’’ In this mosaic, Alexios is about 17 years old (1122) with a dark complexion like his father and even the selected tesserae in the mosaic reflect a gloomy tone. He has a black nimbus around his head as well. He died of tuberculosis at an early age after this depiction. By looking at their different styles, this panel is believed to date a later year than his parents.

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His mosaic (Alexander Panel) probably dates to 912. In the mosaic, he was depicted unaccompanied with his red crown and ornate red boots with pearls holding an orb in his right hand and an akakia (a cylindrical purple silk roll containing dust, symbolizing the mortal nature of men) in his left hand. He wears a royal garment a sagion and a skoramargion. We see him in his older ages.

In the mosaic, there are four inscriptions, three of which are cruciform monograms and one of which reads Alexander.

Emperor Alexander Mosaic in Hagia Sophia, Photo Credit Dumbarton Oaks

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