Podcasts · The Story of Turkey: From Byzantium to the Ottoman Empire to Today — Fexingo History
Hagia Sophia's Mosaics: Art, Iconoclasm, and Forgotten Splendor
· 8:22 · S5 E207
Episode Hagia Sophia's Mosaics: Art, Iconoclasm, and Forgotten Splendor
In this episode of The Story of Turkey, Lucas and Luna step inside the Hagia Sophia to uncover the glittering world of its Byzantine mosaics — the golden images of Christ, emperors, and empresses that survived iconoclasm, conquest, and centuries of neglect. They trace how Justinian's church became a canvas for imperial propaganda, how iconoclast emperors whitewashed the walls, and how the Fossati brothers rediscovered the mosaics in the 19th century. Along the way, they meet the Deësis mosaic, the enigmatic Zoe and her three husbands, and the mysterious Christ of the South Gallery. Lucas explains why the mosaics were covered, not destroyed, after 1453, and how modern debates over their conservation echo the ancient struggles over sacred images. This episode is a meditation on what it means to see — and to erase — the divine in art.
#HagiaSophia #ByzantineMosaics #Iconoclasm #DeesisMosaic #EmpressZoe #Justinian #Theodora #FossatiBrothers #ByzantineArt #ChristianIconography #IstanbulHistory #OttomanEmpire #MosaicConservation #SacredImages #ByzantineEmpire #History #FexingoHistory #ArtHistory
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Transcript
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