Open AccessHagia Sophia, Constantinople: Religious images and their functional context after iconoclasm
Author(s) -
Natalia Teteriatnikov
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
zograf
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.104
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 2406-0755
pISSN - 0350-1361
DOI - 10.2298/zog0530009t
Subject(s) - iconoclasm , context (archaeology) , period (music) , art , politics , mosaic , art history , visual arts , history , aesthetics , law , archaeology , political science
This article examines the mosaic images in the apse and tympana of Hagia Sophia that have been attributed to the reigns of the emperors Basil I (867-886) and Leo VI (886-912). In the past, scholars have discussed these images through the lens of theological and political developments of the period. Several unusual aspects of the program, the choice of images, the body language of the figures, and the specific orientation of the images vis-à-vis liturgical and imperial ceremonies and rites have not been given sufficient attention. An examination of the apse and tympana programs shows that probably both were planned together to reflect the functional needs of the congregation that worshipped in Hagia Sophia