Hagia Sophia Istambul, Interior

• Hagia Sophia the main church of the Byzantine Empire. It is one of the most important early Byzantine buildings in Istanbul.
• Formerly the Church of the Saints Sergius.
• Later converted into a mosque during the Ottoman Empire.
• Daylight is flooding the church through 91 windows, illuminating the incredible beauty of the interior, which is adorned with marble tiles, elaborate, colourful mosaics and pictures, created from ceramics, precious and semiprecious stones, gold... The structure of the interior and the play of light convey the impression of weightlessness, which certainly contributed to the churches legendary fame.

Hagia Sophia Istambul, Interior.

Capital,Hagia Sophia Istambul.

• Motifs of scrolls and foliage, derived from classical architecture, but effect is radically different- no longer look as if they cushion the impact of the weight of the column- now is delicate and pattern defies the weight of the stone.

Hagia Sophia,Istambul,Dome's Interior.

• The grand dome of the Hagia Sophia, an impressive technical feat for its time, is often thought to symbolize the infinity of the cosmos signified by the Holy Soul to which the church was dedicated.
• Massive dome of Hagia Sophia measures 31 meters wide and 56 meters high

Panal Of "Gate Of Paradise"

• LORENZO GHIBERTI, Isaac and His Sons , east doors, baptistery, Florence Cathedral, Florence, Italy, 1425-1452. Gilded bronze relief, approx. 2' 7 1/2" x 2' 7
• In the foreground are the women attending the birth of Jacob and Esau, with Rebecca in labor in the middle ground. Also in the foreground are Isaac sending Esau on the hunt and on the right Jacob receiving Isaac's blessing, with a beautiful classical Rebecca, the conspirator, standing nearby. In the background Esau is seen in low relief hunting and on the roof Rebecca is hearing God's warning about the eventual conflict between her two unborn sons.

The "Gates of Paradise" Baptistery, Florence Cathedral, Florence, Italy

• Ghiberti's "Gates of Paradise" are comprised of ten gilded bronze relief panels depicting scenes from the Old Testament. In Isaac and His Sons, Ghiberti creates the illusion of space using perspective and sculptural means. Ghiberti also persists in using the medieval narrative method of presenting several episodes within a single frame.

Chartres Center Portal: The Apocalypse: Judgment Day

• Tympanum: Christ enthroned as judge and ruler of the universe w/ four evangelists Lintel: 12 standing apostles and two extra figures, probably Elijah and Enoch Voussiors: 24 seated elders holding musical instruments: Old Testament prophets Capitals: Life of Christ