Fenâri Îsâ Mosque - Molla Fenâri Îsâ Câmîsi

Fenâri Îsâ is a mosque , made of two former Eastern Orthodox churches. The northern was inaugurated in 908 AD. The church was built on the remains of another shrine of the sixth century, and using the tombstones of an ancient Roman cemetery. Between 1286 and 1304, Empress Theodora, widow of Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos, erected another church dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Several exponents of the imperial dynasty of the Palaiologos were buried here besides Theodora: her son Konstantinos, Empress Eirene of Montferrat and her husband Emperor Andronikos II.
The photograph was taken around 1920.

Gül Camii

It is either identified with the church belonging to the nunnery of Saint Theodosia or with that of the monastery of Christ the Benefactor. Most probably it was made in 12. century.
The postcard was made around 1900-1910.

The Theodosius Cistern - Şerefiye Sarnıçı

It was built by Emperor Theodosius II between 428 and 443 to store water supplied by the Valens Aqueduct. As we can see, in Ottoman times was used by Armenian silk spinners.

Cistern of Philoxenos - Birbindirek Cistern

The cistern was constructed under a palace, often identified as the Palace of Antiochos in the 5th century.

Church of St. Savior in Chora - Kariye Camii

The original church on this site was built in the early 5th century, and stood outside of the 4th century walls of Constantine the Great, although the majority of the fabric of the current building dates from 1077–1081.
The powerful Byzantine statesman Theodore Metochites endowed the church with much of its fine mosaics and frescos. Theodore's impressive decoration of the interior was carried out between 1315 and 1321. The mosaic-work is the finest example of the Palaeologian Renaissance. The artists remain unknown.

Worth to see, not only in black and white!

Mosaics - from up to down
1.Jesus and Theodore Metochites - This one is interesting - presenting his model to Jesus...all humble
2.Joseph bringing the virgin into his house
3.The birth of Jesus - Teleportation :)
4. The enrollment for taxation

Little Hagia Sophia - Küçuk Ayasofya Camii

Little Hagia Sophia was dedicated to the saints Sergius and Bacchus, third century roman soldiers, who are commemorated as martyrs. The church was made between 527-536, just before the erection of Hagia Sophia between 532-537. In fact the church was a model for the great Hagia Sophia. We can see the Marmara walls and the sea, from which the church is now separated by the railway line and the coastal road.

Hagia Irene

The building stands on a pre-christian temple. Constantine I commissioned the first Hagia Irene church in the 4th century. The church was burned down during the Nika revolt in 532. Justinian I, had the church restored in 548. It was heavily damaged by an earthquake in 740. What we see today is the restoration form 8th century. After 1453 it was used for armery by Janissaries and during the reign of Sultan Ahmet III (1703-1730) was changed into an weapons museum. Today serves mostly as a concert hall for classical music.

Column of Constantine - Çemberlitaş

Column of Constantine was dedicated on May 11. 330 AD. There was a statue of Constantine as Apollo on the top until 1106 when a strong wind caused its fall. Manuel I. Komnenos placed a cross on the top wich was removed by the Ottomans in 1453.

Column of Marcian - Kıztaşı

Erected in 455 AD, dedicated to the Emperor Marcian

Obelisk of Theodosius - Dikilitaş

One of the monuments wich stood in Hippodorome. Theodosius the great brought the obelisk from Egipt in 390 AD and erected it inside the racing track It was originally erected in Luxor's temple of Karnak during the reign of Tuthmosis (1479 -1425) BC.

Serpent Column

It is part of an ancient Greek sacrificial tripod, originally in Delphi and relocated to Constantinople by Constantine I the Great in 324.

Basilica Cistern - Yerebatan Sarayı

Basilica cistern was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.

Valens Aqueduct

The exact date that construction on the aqueduct began is uncertain, but it was completed in the year 368 during the reign of Roman Emperor Valens, whose name it bears.

Walls II

n 408, during the reign of Emperor Theodosius II (r. 408–450), construction began on a new wall, about 1,500 m to the west of the old. The new wall became known as the Theodosian Wall, and was built under the direction of Anthemius, the Praetorian prefect of the East, being completed in 413.