Headed for Turkey in a few days through the generosity of the Niagara Foundation. We have an amazing itinerary planned, which will start in Istanbul. I love this particular mosaic from the city as it encapsulates so much of what I love about the Byzantine art and architecture of the city. In this vestibule lunette over an entrance to St. Sophia from the south, Mother and Child are flanked by Justinian on the left and Constantine on the right. Justinian offers a model of the church, which was built under his reign between 532-537 AD. Constantine offers a model of the city (note the walls), which he made the capital of the Roman Empire in 324 AD. The emperors are further identified by inscriptions: Constantine the great Emperor amongst the saints and Justinian Emperor of illustrious memory. The mosaic post dates the iconoclastic controversy of 726-843 and so demonstrates the continued debt to these two emperors who laid the foundation for the Byzantine Empire's great city on the Bosphoros. The city of Istanbul is one of my favorites. Can't wait to get started!