Tag Archives: Hagia Sophia

Requiem for a cosmopolitan dream

Posted on October 15, 2020 by proverbs6to10

Attila did not seem surprised when I told him I was Greek. We were at the entrance of the Hagia Sophia museum on a rainy, cold December morning, and for the next hour, he would guide me through the most … Continue reading →

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Why we should be concerned about President Erdogan turning museums into mosques

Posted on August 31, 2020 by proverbs6to10

Hagia Sophia and the Chora Church will remain “open to all”, Turkish government promises—but restricted access may not be the primary worry. An article from The Art Newspaper by Holger A Klein. Last Friday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey … Continue reading →

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What Will Happen Now to Hagia Sophia’s Byzantine Mosaics?

Posted on July 12, 2020 by proverbs6to10

Well. He’s done it. Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has pushed through his plans to annul the status of Hagia Sophia as a museum and turn it back into a mosque. We are all saddened. There is worldwide dismay and … Continue reading →

Posted in Byzantium in the News, Commentary & Politics, Istanbul | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

The making of Lost Voices of Hagia Sophia

Posted on June 28, 2020 by proverbs6to10

Join Cappella Romana and the documentary of the making of their Billboard Chart-topping recording, #TheLostVoicesOfHagiaSophia. A full look at the story and the technology behind the music, as well as interviews with Cappella Romana members Alexander Lingas, John Michael Boyer, … Continue reading →

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Lost Voices of Hagia Sophia – Cappella Romana Livestream Saturday May 2

Posted on May 1, 2020 by proverbs6to10

Prokeimenon – Cappella Romana from Duygu Eruçman on Vimeo. Coming this weekend by livestream — Icons of Sound: Hagia Sophia Reimagined! ********* This film will be kept available for at least one week on this link **********   Cappella Romana … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Radio & TV Programmes | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Lost Voices of Hagia Sophia: Medieval Byzantine Chant – updated

Posted on November 20, 2019 by proverbs6to10

Cappella Romana are releasing some new music just in time for Christmas. Lost Voices of Hagia Sophia is the first vocal album in the world to be recorded entirely in live virtual acoustics. It brings together art history, music history, … Continue reading →

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The Hagia Sophia in Trabzon – update

Posted on November 22, 2017 by proverbs6to10

When it was announced that the small, but beautiful Hagia Sophia in Trabzon was to be turned back in to a mosque on 2013, there were fears that it’s many treasures of frescoes and mosaics may be destroyed. This report … Continue reading →

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Turkey: Muslims demand right to pray at Hagia Sophia

Posted on June 16, 2016 by proverbs6to10

Why can’t people just leave it is it stands? It has worked so far. Muslims in the Turkish city of Istanbul have gathered in front of the world-famous Hagia Sophia mosque which has been turned into a museum in the city of … Continue reading →

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Reproducing the sound of worship in Haghia Sophia

Posted on December 3, 2015 by proverbs6to10

In response to the recent post about the music of Capella Romana, I received a note from Peter Webscott about a project to try to reproduce the original sound that may have been heard in Hagia Sophia. I think that … Continue reading →

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‘Building Wonders’: Haghia Sophia

Posted on February 25, 2015 by proverbs6to10

Readers in the US, a treat is coming to your TV screens this Wednesday (February 25). Providence Pictures is releasing the third installment in its Building Wonders series. The first, on the Colosseum, aired on February 11, the second on … Continue reading →

Posted in Istanbul, Radio & TV Programmes, Video | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

What secrets are hidden under Hagia Sophia?

Posted on December 30, 2010 by proverbs6to10

LP O’Bryan, who describes himself as a crime & mystery writer and runs a blog when not writing professionally, has written a thought provoking article about the possibility of ‘something’ being under Hagia Sophia. His  argument is that Crypts and underground structures … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Istanbul, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Hagia Sofia: Dome Secrets

Posted on August 28, 2010 by proverbs6to10

Enjoy this video which explains how the great dome of Hagia Sophia was designed and built. The engineering skills of the Romans was outstanding, and no computer simulation for them! Related article: Nineteenth Annual Runciman Lecture – Byzantine Architecture reconfigured … Continue reading →

Posted in Istanbul, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Better Turks than Latins!” – The Aftermath and the New City

Posted on June 5, 2010 by proverbs6to10

So the end of the Roman Empire and of its Emperors had come at last. The Roman Empire of the East, which we now call Byzantium had lasted (if you start at the founding of Constantinople) for one thousand, one … Continue reading →

Posted in The Fall of Constantinople 1453 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Destination Byzantium! The 2010 Via Egnatia Caravan

Posted on November 15, 2009 by proverbs6to10

The dates for the Via Egnatia Foundation’s 2010 trek along the ancient Via Egnatia have been announced. The destination is Istanbul; through the mythical Golden Gate, and maybe ending at Hagia Sophia? Note: the first leg started on 2 May … Continue reading →

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A View of Hagia Sophia

Posted on April 16, 2009 by proverbs6to10

I was looking through my photo’s of Istanbul and found these two pictures. One shows the immense size of Hagia Sophia, once the largest building in the world, and built in just five years! The second is a view across the rooftops of Hagia Sophia to the Blue Mosque. Go on, get away to Istabul! You will not be disappointed with the Queen of Cities. Continue reading →

Posted in Byzantine Travel, Istanbul | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment