Foto Friday – Hagia Sophia – Calligraphic Roundels, Istanbul

Hagia Sophia - Calligraphic Roundels

During a trip to Istanbul in 2005 I visited the Hagia Sophia, once the largest basilica in Christendom, in 1453 after the siege of Constantinople it was converted into a mosque by Sultan Mehmed.

This photograph shows two of the eight famous calligraphic roundels in the Hagia Sophia that are in fact painted wooden plaques, they were added in the 19th century restoration ordered by Sultan Abdülmecid.

This shot is actually an analog photo taken using film and later scanned in for digital purposes – in fact it was the last trip I used a film camera on!

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