Fethiye Mosque 1300

These Byzantine mosaics, found within Istanbul's Fethiye Mosque, once the Pammakaristos Church, present a rich array of symbols that echo through time. Here, we see holy figures, their heads encircled by halos, emblems of divine light and sanctity. These aren't mere portraits; they're conduits to a deeper spiritual narrative, reflecting the Byzantine world’s intricate dance between the earthly and the divine. Note how one figure carries a scroll. This symbol harkens back to ancient Greece, where scrolls signified knowledge and authority. Yet, in this Christian context, it transforms, representing sacred scripture and divine revelation. We see echoes of this motif in medieval depictions of prophets, each bearing scrolls, linking them across centuries. Observe the raised hand of one of the figures—a gesture of blessing or instruction. It appears in Roman oratory, conveying power and influence. This gesture, passed down through history, resurfaces here with new meaning, highlighting the non-linear progression of symbols, how they evolve, resurface, and take on new meanings in different contexts. The mosaic captures our collective memory and subconscious— a spiritual echo resonating through art.