SANTA SOPHIA, CONSTANTINOPLE     Santa Sophia, the famous Metropolitan Church of the Greeks at Constantinople, built by Justinian; since 1453 a mosque.
    In plan it consists of outer and inner narthex preceding a square, the central portion of which is covered by the great dome, 105 feet in diameter and 184 feet high (interior), in whose base open 40 arched windows. Most of the remainder of the nave is covered by two lower semi-domes, which buttress the central dome. The aisles have galleries resting on arcades with beautiful columns. All the vaults and arches are covered with superb mosaics on gold ground; all the human figures appearing in these are now marked with whitewash. The walls are incrusted with marbles. The exterior of the venerable Church is now plain and unimpressive.