Name/Title
StereographEntry/Object ID
2023.055.3.0283Description
A black and white stereograph. Image is of the St. Sophia Cathedral/Mohammedan Mosque in Constantinople. Above the image "T407 (Star)" is printed, below the image "V7181T St. Sophia, once Christian Cathedral of Byzantium, now Mohammedan Mosque, Constantinople." is printed, to the left of the image "Keystone View Company Copyrighted, Underwood & Underwood, Inc. Manufacturers MADE IN U.S.A. Publishers" is printed, to the right of the image "Meadville, Pa., New York, N. Y., Chicago, Ill., London, England." is printed. On the reverse the following is printed:
V7181
ST. SOPHIA, CONSTANTINOPLE, TURKEY
We are in the oldest part of the oldest quarter of Constantinople, the southeast section of Stamboul near Seraglio Point. The greater part of Stainboul is now behind us. It is one of the most famous buildings in the world that stands there guarded by four Moslem minarets, but the exterior has been so changed that one who did not know its history might not imagine it had ver been the most splendid Christian church in the whole world. Those twin buttresses of red and white masonry were erected long ago to support the walls after they had been weakened by an earthquake. The buildings that cling closely to the lower walls are additions made at various times by Moslem masters of the city, for use as lecture and library rooms, dispensaries and infirmaries. Form those minarets a muezzin five times each day chants the call to prayer.
Almost sixteen hundred years ago this ground where we stand was at the heart of the capital city of the vast Roman Empire, which meant then the whole of civilized Europe and parts of Asia and Africa, with a considerable border of pagan lands. The Emperor Constantine built a church here, close by his own palace. Justinian in the sixth century replaced it with this building. Though of course repairs and alterations have left only parts of the actual structure of Justinian's time, that great central dome and the semicircular apse at the left still retain the character of the sixth century church where St. Gregory used to pray, and where important Church councils were held in early days.
Copyrigh by The Keystone View CompanyCollection
Photograph Collection