Fletcher, Banister; Fletcher, Banister: A history of architecture for the student, craftsman, and amateur: being a comparative view of the historical styles from the earliest period (London, 1896)

BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE.

93

described it, ‘ as if suspended by a chain from heaven.’ ”—
Sir Gilbert Scott.

In front of the outer narthex is an entrance court (No.
48), surrounded by a colonnade. Internally the walls,

48. Plan of Santa Sophia, Constantinople.

piers, and floor are inlaid with coloured marbles, the vaults
are enriched with mosaics of the apostles and angels on a
golden ground, and the columns are of precious and many-
coloured marbles.

Externally, the vaulting of the domes is visible from the
outside (No. 50), without a wooden roof being employed,