Imperial Door Mosaic, Hagia Sophia (Istanbul, Turkey)
Only the emperor could enter the majestic basilica of Hagia Sophia through the entrance known as the Imperial Door. The mosaic that sits above the door dates to around the turn of the 10th century. It shows the Byzantine emperor Leo VI bowing before Christ who is seated on a jeweled throne. Some have suggested it is an allusion to the occasion when Leo was denied entrance into the basilica because of his irregular marriages and was compelled to do public penance.
Christ holds a book which reads in Greek: "Peace be with you. I am the Light of the World." In the medallions on each side of Christ are the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. Restoration work was carried out on the mosaic in the 1930s and 1959-1960.
Many themes emerge from the mosaic: the repentance of the sinner and the forgiveness of Christ; the majesty of Christ as Lord of all and the power bestowed upon the emperor by Christ; Christ as light of the world.
Follow me on Twitter @arturoviaggia
Imperial Door Mosaic, Hagia Sophia (Istanbul, Turkey)
Only the emperor could enter the majestic basilica of Hagia Sophia through the entrance known as the Imperial Door. The mosaic that sits above the door dates to around the turn of the 10th century. It shows the Byzantine emperor Leo VI bowing before Christ who is seated on a jeweled throne. Some have suggested it is an allusion to the occasion when Leo was denied entrance into the basilica because of his irregular marriages and was compelled to do public penance.
Christ holds a book which reads in Greek: "Peace be with you. I am the Light of the World." In the medallions on each side of Christ are the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. Restoration work was carried out on the mosaic in the 1930s and 1959-1960.
Many themes emerge from the mosaic: the repentance of the sinner and the forgiveness of Christ; the majesty of Christ as Lord of all and the power bestowed upon the emperor by Christ; Christ as light of the world.
Follow me on Twitter @arturoviaggia