Istanbul Guide

57

BYELIKOVA OKSANA/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

THE BUTTRESSES

The original building form designed by Aya Sofya’s architects, Anthemios of Tralles and Isidoros of Miletus, has been compromised by the addition of 24 buttresses, added to reinforce the build ing and its enormous dome. Some date from Byzantine times, others from the Ottoman pe riod; seven buttresses are on the eastern side of the building, four on the southern, four on the northern and five on the western. The remaining four support the structure as weight towers. The last Byzantine Emperor, Constan tine XI, prayed in Aya Sofya just before midnight on 28 May 1453. Hours later he was killed while defending the city walls from the attack being staged by the army of Mehmet II. The city fell to the Ottomans on the 29th, and Mehmet’s first act of victory was to make his way to Aya Sofya and declare that it should

SULTANAHMET & AROUND AYA SOFYA

Mosaics

afterwards. The marker was laid in the 19th cen tury by an Italian restoration team, the original having been destroyed by the Ottomans. Further on, at the eastern (apse) end of the gal lery, is an 11th-century mosaic depicting Christ Enthroned with Empress Zoe and Constantine IX Monomachos . When this portrait was started, Zoe (r 1028–50) was 50 years old and newly married (for the first time) to the aged Romanus III Argyrus. Upon Romanus’ death in 1034, she had his face excised from the mosaic and replaced it with that of her virile new husband and consort, Michael IV. Michael died eight years later and Zoe, aged 64, wed the eminent senator Constantine IX Mono machos (r 1042–55), whose portrait was added here and remains only because he outlived the empress. To the right of Zoe and Constantine is a 12th century mosaic depicting the Virgin Mary, Emper or John Comnenus II and Empress Eirene . The emperor, who was known as ‘John the Good’, is on the Virgin’s left and the empress, who was known for her charitable works, is to her right; both are giving money to Aya Sofya. Their son Alexius is depicted next to Eirene; he died soon after this portrait was made. Eirene’s stone sarcophagus is downstairs in the outer narthex. Outbuildings Exit the inner narthex through the Beautiful Gate , a magnificent bronze gate dating from the

immediately be converted to a mosque.