Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide
When archaeologists from the University of Ankara and Scotland’s University of St Andrews excavated around the nearby Arasta Bazaar in the 1930s and 1950s, they uncovered a stunning mosaic pavement featuring hunting and mythological scenes. Dating from early Byzantine times, it was restored between 1983 and 1997 and is now preserved in this museum. Thought to have been added by Justinian to the Great Palace of Byzantium, the pavement is estimated to have measured from 3500 to 4000 sq metres in its original form. The 250 sq metres preserved here is the largest discovered remnant – the rest has been either destroyed or remains buried underneath the Blue Mosque and surrounding shops and hotels. The pavement is filled with bucolic imagery and has a gorgeous ribbon border with heart-shaped leaves. In the last room is one of the most colourful and dramatic pictures, that of two men in leggings carrying spears and holding off a raging tiger. The museum has informative panels documenting the floor’s history, rescue and renovation. http://ayasofyamuzesi.gov.tr/en; Babıhümayun Caddesi; h 9am-5pm; j Sultanahmet) F Part of the Aya Sofya complex but entered via Babıhümayun Caddesi, these tombs are the final resting places of five 16th- and 17th-century sultans – Mehmet III, Selim II, Murat III, İbrahim I and Mustafa I – most of whom are buried with members of their families. The ornate interior decoration in the tombs features the very best Ottoman tile work, calligraphy and decorative paintwork. Mehmet III’s tomb dates from 1608 and Murat III’s from 1599; both are adorned with particularly beautiful İznik tiles. Next to Murat’s tomb is that of his five children, who died in a plague epidemic; this was designed by Sinan and has simple but beautiful painted decoration. Selim II’s tomb, which was designed by Sinan and built in 1577, is particularly poignant, as it houses the graves of five of his sons, murdered on the same night in December 1574 to ensure the peaceful succession of the AYA SOFYA TOMBS ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; Aya Sofya Müzesi Padişah Türbeleri; % 0212-522 1750;
TOMBS
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