Chora Museum

Kariye Istanbul one of the world’s greatest museums

Max Crandale — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 01:33:13 +0000

The Kariye Museum in Istanbul, Turkey is listed among the top 30 must-see museums in the world. A recent article includes the Kariye Museum in Istanbul among the top 30 must-see museums in the world. Patricia Schultz, author of the book, “1,000 Places to See Before You Die.” ranks The Kariye Museum in Istanbul alongside such internationally [...]

Thomas Whittemore has been chipping away plaster walls off for 14 years.

Max Crandale — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:56:42 +0000

From Time – Jan. 27, 1947, Glory be to God, who hath thought me worthy to accomplish so great a work; 1 have vanquished thee, O Solomon! This was the proud thanksgiving uttered by Justinian the Great at the dedication of the church of St. Sophia (“Divine Wisdom”) in Constantinople 14 centuries ago. Justinian had [...]

Cerrahpasa a forgotten corner of old Istanbul

Max Crandale — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 07:44:18 +0000

In a city the size of İstanbul it’s hardly surprising that people can live here for decades and still not have visited every part of it. What is a little more surprising, however, is to stumble on a part of the old city inside the ancient walls that goes virtually unvisited by foreigners. The area [...]

Chora Architecture

Max Crandale — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:49:57 +0000

The early fourteenth century rebuilding of the Chora included the reconstruction of the naos dome and the pastophoria, as well as the addition of a twostory annex to the north side, inner and outer narthices to the west, and the parekklesion to the south. The additions have proved to be the result of a single [...]

Drama in the Round

Max Crandale — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:44:38 +0000

by Robert Ousterhout, author of The Art of the Kariye Camii Article with historic photgraphs published in Cornucopia 27 The dramatic mosaics and frescoes of Istanbul’s Kariye Camii, or Church of the Chora, blew away the stiff conventions of Byzantine art. Their energy leaves Giotto looking staid. But theyare now in danger of turning to [...]