ayasofya  hagia sophia  ancient history  antik tarih  mozaik  mosaic  travel photography  pantokrator  roman period  byzantine arts  pantocrator  imperial gate  imparator kapısı  constantine vıı porphyrogenitus  mother mary  archangel gabriel  

A view of one of mosaics in Hagia Sophia (Turkish: Ayasofya'daki mozaiklerden birinin görüntüsü - İmparator Kapısı. Bu mozaikte ortada Hz. İsa, sağ madalyonda Hz. Cebrail, sol madalyonda Hz. Meryem görülür. Sol alt kısımda görülen sakallı kişi Bizans imparatorlarından VI. Leon olduğu söylenilir): Imperial Gate.

These mosaics are located in the tympanum above the gate, used only by the emperors when entering the church. Based on style analysis, it has been dated to the late 9th or early 10th century. The emperor with a nimbus or halo could possibly represent emperor Leo VI the Wise or his son Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus bowing down before Christ Pantocrator, seated on a jeweled throne, giving His blessing and holding in His left hand an open book. The text on the book reads as follows: Peace be with you. I am the light of the world (John 20:19; 20:26; 8:12). On each side of Christ's shoulders is a circular medallion: on His left the Archangel Gabriel, holding a staff, on His right His Mother Mary.