This is a mosaic of the Virgin Mary in the Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) in Istanbul. After the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the Christian mosaics were plastered over. They were accidentally discovered during renovations in the 19th century and are slowly but surely being restored.

The Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) in Istanbul, also referred to as the Church of Devine Wisdom. This is certainly one of Istanbul’s most famous and fascinating tourist attractions.

A piece of the chain that used to keep enemy ships from entering the Golden Horn coming from the Bosphorus.

The marble head of Zeus, the God of the sky. It dates back from the Hellenistic Period, around the 3rd or 2nd century B.C. You can find it on the first floor of the Archaeology Museums in Istanbul.

The Alexander Sarcophagus, dated back to the last quarter of the 4th century B.C., in the Archaeology Museums of Istanbul.

The Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) was first a church, was then converted into a mosque, and was declared a museum in 1934. This odd history of one of Istanbul’s greatest sightseeing spots is still very much visible inside.