DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.24719#0297
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.
214
exactly tlieir conventional costume has been perpetuated in more recent times. Each figure is
separated from the others by an olive-tree, indicating the place where the event happened.
These mosaics are executed with the greatest care, but we can see that the drawing lias not
that character of antiquity which we have remarked in the figures of the church of St. George.
The apse of St. Sophia’s is decorated with the mosaics given in Plate XXVI.
Plate XLII.
ESKI DJOUMA, THESSALONICA—PLAN.
The simplicity of this plan induces us to class this building amongst the earliest at
Thessalonica. We believe it to be contemporary with the church of St. Demetrius, judging
from the character of the sculpture in the capitals. We have given reasons in the text why it
cannot be considered of the time of Constantine. The arches which surmount the columns and
the dosserets of the capitals are all later than that period. The form of the plan, which is
that called dromical by the Byzantines, and basilican by others, proves without doubt that the
church was erected before the time of Justinian. We may therefore safely consider it to be
of the first half of the 5th century, or about the reign of Theodosius II.
The outer narthex in the present day forms an oblong court, in which stands the minaret.
The level of the ground on the exterior being higher than that of the pavement of the church,
there is a descent of three steps. A single doorway leads to the inner narthex, which is separated
from the nave by four columns only.
We have seen that in primitive times the narthex was carefully separated from the church.
Wc may conclude, then, that at the time of the erection of this church the separation between the
catechumens and the initiated was less rigorous than formerly. A wooden staircase leads to
the women’s gallery. It is now in the aisle, but it was formerly at the end of the narthex.
The nave has a row of columns on each side. In the middle of the north aisle there is a dark
passage leading into a neighbouring street; this is what has been called the subterranean
passage of Eski Djouma. The church is entirely surrounded by buildings formerly belonging
to the monastery attached to it, but now used as dwellings.
Plate XLIII.
ESKI DJOUMA—LONGITUDINAL SECTION—TBANSVERSE SECTION.
In its actual state the Ionic order of the upper story is engaged in a modern stone wall,
which blocks up the arcades, though they still exist; it was placed there probably to shut otf the
women who go to the mosque. The reveals of the arches are ornamented with mosaic, which gives
some idea of the primitive richness of the building. The archivolts on the ground-floor have
no traces of moulding,—a proof that they also were covered with mosaics. The proportions of
the two orders are excellent. The circles placed over the columns had formerly sacred emblems,
now effaced. The Mussulmans have inscribed the names of their great imaums upon them.
The whole of the church is covered with a thick coat of plaster.
Plate XLIY.
ESKI DJOUMA—CAPITAL.
These capitals resemble those of St. Demetrius’ as far as regards good proportion and good
workmanship. The volutes are larger than in the regular Corinthian order, but smaller than
in the Composite.
Plate XLV.
NORTH-EAST VIEW OE TIIE CHURCH OE THE HOLY APOSTLES,
THESSALONICA.
When this church was converted into a mosque, an enclosure was formed round it for the
purpose of interment. The wall in the foreground and the porch attached to it were then erected
214
exactly tlieir conventional costume has been perpetuated in more recent times. Each figure is
separated from the others by an olive-tree, indicating the place where the event happened.
These mosaics are executed with the greatest care, but we can see that the drawing lias not
that character of antiquity which we have remarked in the figures of the church of St. George.
The apse of St. Sophia’s is decorated with the mosaics given in Plate XXVI.
Plate XLII.
ESKI DJOUMA, THESSALONICA—PLAN.
The simplicity of this plan induces us to class this building amongst the earliest at
Thessalonica. We believe it to be contemporary with the church of St. Demetrius, judging
from the character of the sculpture in the capitals. We have given reasons in the text why it
cannot be considered of the time of Constantine. The arches which surmount the columns and
the dosserets of the capitals are all later than that period. The form of the plan, which is
that called dromical by the Byzantines, and basilican by others, proves without doubt that the
church was erected before the time of Justinian. We may therefore safely consider it to be
of the first half of the 5th century, or about the reign of Theodosius II.
The outer narthex in the present day forms an oblong court, in which stands the minaret.
The level of the ground on the exterior being higher than that of the pavement of the church,
there is a descent of three steps. A single doorway leads to the inner narthex, which is separated
from the nave by four columns only.
We have seen that in primitive times the narthex was carefully separated from the church.
Wc may conclude, then, that at the time of the erection of this church the separation between the
catechumens and the initiated was less rigorous than formerly. A wooden staircase leads to
the women’s gallery. It is now in the aisle, but it was formerly at the end of the narthex.
The nave has a row of columns on each side. In the middle of the north aisle there is a dark
passage leading into a neighbouring street; this is what has been called the subterranean
passage of Eski Djouma. The church is entirely surrounded by buildings formerly belonging
to the monastery attached to it, but now used as dwellings.
Plate XLIII.
ESKI DJOUMA—LONGITUDINAL SECTION—TBANSVERSE SECTION.
In its actual state the Ionic order of the upper story is engaged in a modern stone wall,
which blocks up the arcades, though they still exist; it was placed there probably to shut otf the
women who go to the mosque. The reveals of the arches are ornamented with mosaic, which gives
some idea of the primitive richness of the building. The archivolts on the ground-floor have
no traces of moulding,—a proof that they also were covered with mosaics. The proportions of
the two orders are excellent. The circles placed over the columns had formerly sacred emblems,
now effaced. The Mussulmans have inscribed the names of their great imaums upon them.
The whole of the church is covered with a thick coat of plaster.
Plate XLIY.
ESKI DJOUMA—CAPITAL.
These capitals resemble those of St. Demetrius’ as far as regards good proportion and good
workmanship. The volutes are larger than in the regular Corinthian order, but smaller than
in the Composite.
Plate XLV.
NORTH-EAST VIEW OE TIIE CHURCH OE THE HOLY APOSTLES,
THESSALONICA.
When this church was converted into a mosque, an enclosure was formed round it for the
purpose of interment. The wall in the foreground and the porch attached to it were then erected