Hagia Sophia is most famous for its decoration and collection of Mosaics that date from the 9th and 12th centuries; as any mosaics with figures before that date were ruined during Iconoclasm period (726-843) . The Imperial Gate which is the main entrance and the largest door between the exo- and esonarthex has a mosaic panel located over it which dates back to 9th century and depicts Christ and Emperor Leo VI the Wise . On Horologion Gate located on the south of inner narthex , there are mosaics depicting Emperor
Constantine
presenting to
Virgin Mary
and Baby
Jesus
the model of the city as well as Justinian I presenting the model of the church . The cubes carved from solid block of marble at the entrance of middle location belong to Hellenistic age and were brought from Pergamon during the reign of Sultan Murad III (1574-1595) .
The upper gallery can be reached through the long ramp from the northern part of the outer narthex . The gallery , which encloses the nave until the apse , has some of the best preserved mosaics located in its southern part . On the walls of the gallery , there are very large plates measuring 7 . 5m in diameter and have wonderful calligraphy written by calligrapher Kazasker Mustafa izzet Efendi
form the middle of 19th century . The mosaics on the apse depict Virgin Mary and Child and is believed to be the first of the post-iconoclastic mosaics . This mosaic is located on the half dome of the apse where Virgin Mary is shown sitting on a throne ornamented with precious stones and holding the Child Jesus on her lap while her feet rest on an ornamented pedestal . On the arch of the apse , there are portraits of the archangels Gabriel and Michael (partly destroyed) dating from 9th century . On the left of the apse , there is the royal loge which was made by Fossati on 1849 , while on the right , there is the pulpit (Minbar) that dates from 16th century .
The Emperor Alexander mosaic is located on the south gallery (on the floor of the galleries) . It depicts Emperor Alexander in full regalia , holding a scroll in his right hand and a globus cruciger in his left . In the middle gallery covered with vaults , known as Empress Lodge , the Empress is depicted watching religious ceremonies . The south gallery is reached after the marble door named (Gate of Heaven) which was used by the participants in synods where they entered and left the meeting chamber through this door . After the door , on the right ,
there is a mosaic dating from 12th century , measuring about 6m x 4 . 7m . This mosaic is known as Deisis Mosaic and is considered one of the most important and well-known mosaics of Hagia Sophia . Another two mosaic panels are located at the end of the gallery depicting two emperors and the empress with Mary and Jesus .
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