Images

The Virgin and Child mosaic, 9th century CE, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey. The mosaic is located in the apse semi-dome of Hagia Sophia. In the mosaic Mary is enthroned and she puts her right hand on the shoulder of the Child Christ who...

Jesus Christ detail, Deesis Mosaic, 13th century CE, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey. The mosaic is accepted as a pioneer of the Renaissance Art

A column of Hagia Sophia, 6th century CE, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey. In Hagia Sophia, there are 140 monolithic columns which were brought from different places of the world. For instance; the 8 porphyry columns whose color of purple...

Remnants of Theodosios' Hagia Sophia. A lamb relief representing 12 apostles. 5th. century CE, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey. The first name of the Church was ‘’Megale Ekklesia’’ which means ‘’the Grand Church’’. The first Hagia Sophia...

Columns of Hagia Sophia, 6th century CE, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey. In Hagia Sophia, there are 140 monolithic columns which were brought from different places of the world.

Located across the Hagia Sophia Museum, Yerebatan Sarayi is also known as the Basilica Cistern because of a basilica that was once located nearby as a cultural centre. It is the largest surviving underground cistern of Istanbul. Fatih Cistern...

This is the right burial chamber at the rock-cut tombs of Ashkawt-i Qizqapan (Kurdish: The Cave of the Ravisher or the Cave of the Raped/Abducted Girl). This rectangular coffin was carved into the rocky floor, which was hollowed out. Probably...

This is the coffin of the "Chantress of Amun," and it dates c. 1070-945 BCE or Egypt's Third Intermediate Period (c. 1070-712 BCE). It is made of wood with a painted gesso relief. Ancient Egyptian coffins sheltered remains and provided a...

This illuminated sutra is from Jingoji Temple in Kyoto, Japan, and it dates to 1179 CE, which corresponds to Japan's Heian period. It is made of gold and silver on indigo paper. (Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford...

The Nehan koshiki (Koshiki on the Buddha's Passing) is written in Chinese but was recited in Japanese. Koshiki were intended to be understood by the listeners. The development of this genre in the late-10th century CE in Japan represents...