. A short history of art . oint of the Nave and in the galleries, but these openings are not large enoughto interfere with the apparent or actual supporting powerof the massive piers. Two semi-domes, equal in diameter tothe great dome, are joined to it on the east and west. Toeach of these semi-domes three smaller semi-domes are added:the middle one extending at one extremity of the church overthe vestibule, and at the other over the apse. The oblongspace arched by this magnificent system of domes is enclosedby a low aisle or side nave, which is surmounted by a galleryfor the women. The lines
. A short history of art . oint of the Nave and in the galleries, but these openings are not large enoughto interfere with the apparent or actual supporting powerof the massive piers. Two semi-domes, equal in diameter tothe great dome, are joined to it on the east and west. Toeach of these semi-domes three smaller semi-domes are added:the middle one extending at one extremity of the church overthe vestibule, and at the other over the apse. The oblongspace arched by this magnificent system of domes is enclosedby a low aisle or side nave, which is surmounted by a galleryfor the women. The lines of the gallery and aisles arebroken where they pass through the arches in the piers, and BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE 145 the general effect is that of a vast central court surroundedby tiers of arcades. Light was introduced through smallwindows around the dome. The details of the interior were as fine as the plan andproportions. The walls were inlaid with mosaics on a goldground. They were covered by whitewash when the building. GROUND-PLAN OF THE CHURCH OF S. SOPHIA The Nave is 300 by 100 Feet was turned into a Mohammedan mosque, but the outlines ofthe figures can be dimly distinguished even now under thethin coating of lime. At the four pendentives of the dome,just above the piers, are figures of seraphim with six wings: with twain they covered their heads, with twain they cov-ered their feet, and with twain they did fly. Their faceshave been concealed by four shields, on which are inscribedtexts from the Koran. The floor is paved with a rich mosaicof marbles. Various heathen temples were despoiled to sup-ply the columns, which were of coloured marbles that vied inrichness with the mosaics of the walls and the capitals are of a purely Byzantine type. They have 146 A SHORT HISTORY OF ART
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectart, bookyear1913
