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Dick Osseman | all galleries >> Istanbul >> Mosques - Camiler >> Non-Sinan >> Hagia Sophia aka Ayasofya >> Outer and inner narthex >> Inner narthex - Esonarthex > Istanbul Aya Sofya in esonarthex
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07-DEC-2004

Istanbul Aya Sofya in esonarthex

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We now enter the next corridor-like narthex, the esonarthex. Halfway down it you see the highly ornate entrance the emperor would use when visiting church (with the mosaic above I used to open this gallery). Through the doors you get glimpses of the treasures awaiting you inside.

Nikon D70
1/13s f/4.0 at 16.0mm full exif

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Peter 19-Sep-2007 22:33
I love the stones everywhere in this photo: the symmetric marble slabs above the doors, and especially the floors. What I think has happened is that the stronger seams of rock have worn down less due to hundreds of years of footfalls than the weaker seams, resulting in ripplelike patterns. I'm guessing the floors were perfectly flat the day they were laid.