islamic arts  ayasofya  architectural designs  calligraphy  hat sanatı  museums  hagia sophia  ancient history  hellenistic  roman empire  

Wonder Hagia Sophia inside and some of the great shows: Giant Mohammed Calligraphy and Mary.. Besides the religious subjects of the mosaics used to decorate the interior surfaces, the emperor was also used as a subject. One mosaic depicts the Virgin Mary with the emperors Justinian and Constantine sitting at her sides. Another mosaic shows Jesus sitting on a throne with the Emperor Leon 7 kneeling before him. Another mosaic is of Mary and John the Baptist imploring Jesus for mercy in the name of the people. All these mosaics bear traces of Hellenistic influences.