Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

Interior view of the Hagia Sophia's nave looking north across the east end, with the apse windows seen on the right. The large platform on the right is called a müezzin mahfili and was used for readers of the Koran during services. There are three other smaller mahfilis in the Hagia Sophia, and all date from the reign of Sultan Murat III (1574-95). The round structure in the background is the 16th-century sultan's loge. On the floor in front of the platform is the patterned marble Byzantine coronation square. The Arabic plaque (roundel) in the middle of the photo dates from the 19th century and bears the name of Muhammad.

Photo © Andrys Basten.

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