Remnants of Roman Empire

[Atraphoenix]

I have taken many pictures during my University days, these are the only remaining pictures that I could find.
I hope you like them. Morever, if you have any Roman heritage resource mostly pictures, methinks will be a good idea, please add to enrich this thread.

The Valens Aqueduct (Turkish: Bozdoğan Kemeri, meaning "Aqueduct of the grey falcon"; Greek: Άγωγός του ὔδατος, Agōgós tou hýdatos, meaning simply "aqueduct") was the major water-providing system of medieval Constantinople (modern Istanbul, in Turkey). Restored by several Ottoman Sultans, it is one of the most important landmarks of the city. (Resource Wikipedia)
As you see its walls started to blacken because it is in the middle of main road (emitted gasses of car fuels ), and locals are very sensitive to historical inheritance.

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Valens Aqueduct

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Theodosian Walls

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Theodosian Walls

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Modern area of Imperial Palace (seaside section):

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The tragic reality of Imperial Palace :
One the hotels(I cannot give the name, with known reasons) tried to expand its capacity, later one of the supreme court stopped the construction, but this was 2 years before, I have gone there for 2 years so no idea on current situation.

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Milliyet 27.12.2007

Hippodrome Of Constantinopolis

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Hippodrome Of Constantinopolis

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Hippodrome Of Constantinopolis

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Hippodrome Of Constantinopolis

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3rd Hagia Sophia, AFAIK 1st Hagia Sophia was destroyed by earthquake; 2nd Hagia Sophia was burned down during Nika Riots.

P.S. I am not sure wether I have taken this picture or not so I can omit this if it causes problem. The others are mine not bad for an amateur :-)

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Finally found it : Hagia Sophia from Hippodrome

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Obelisk ( was looted by Latins, It had bronze covering before) :

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Not a good one (Unfortunately the bosphorus was a bit foggy that day and the ferry was shaking a bit as you can estimate)

The Maiden's Tower (Turkish: Kız Kulesi), also known in the ancient Greek and medieval Byzantine periods as Leander's Tower (Tower of Leandros), sits on a small islet located in the Bosphorus strait off the coast of Üsküdar in Istanbul, Turkey. :

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P.S. I just want to add a thread on Roman heritage, though I have no idea to add this thread. So I request moderators to move this thread if it is not in a suitable place.

Atra

[Maion Maroneios]

Excellent. The only thing that makes me incredibly sad and furious, is the fact that modern Turks have turned the great Hagia Sophia into a mosque. A great wonder ruined totally be religious fanaticism. Not to mention the fact that people have to pay to see this wonderful place, while it should simply be accessible by anyone for free.

Maion

[abou]

Excellent. The only thing that makes me incredibly sad and furious, is the fact that modern Turks have turned the great Hagia Sophia into a mosque. A great wonder ruined totally be religious fanaticism. Not to mention the fact that people have to pay to see this wonderful place, while it should simply be accessible by anyone for free.

Maion

Couldn't you then claim the same for the Pantheon?

[Macilrille]

Excellent. The only thing that makes me incredibly sad and furious, is the fact that modern Turks have turned the great Hagia Sophia into a mosque. A great wonder ruined totally be religious fanaticism. Not to mention the fact that people have to pay to see this wonderful place, while it should simply be accessible by anyone for free.

Maion

Maion, Maion, I deduce a bit of the Greek in you, all true Greeks hate the Tyrks still ;-)

I am no fan of any religion, especially not the two large monoteistic ones whose radical followers are rabid dogs. However, notice that there are two of them and that both have and has had their radicalists, bigots and fundamentalists. Currently Islam is probably the worst, but at other times it has been the other way round. I dislike all doctrines telling me what to do ;-)

You have to pay to see the wonders of the Vatican as well, and the Capitoline Hill, I suspect Acropolis as well? As ,long as the income is used for maintaning and upkeeping the place I am OK with it.

NVM, it is an intrinsic part of all Greeks to dislike Tyrks, it is the same with Brits and French, French and Germans and Danes and Swedes/German, so I do not mind. But perhaps Ibrahim who is a Moslem and nice fellow might feel a tad offended?

In general I feel this is not the place for either religious, political or sexual discussions. It is the place for EB and Ancient history discussions.

[Macilrille]

Couldn't you then claim the same for the Pantheon?

Pantheon was free entrance for all when I was in Rome in 1999. But if you are thinking of conversion from one religion to another, yes indeed. So is countless mosques in the Iberian peninsula.

However, let us curb this before it gets out of hand.

[Hax]

-post deleted by Hax, I don't wish to go in to this further-

Let's just respect all traditions, people.

-Hax

EDIT: Beautiful pictures, Atraphoenix. Just magnificent.

[abou]

Pantheon was free entrance for all when I was in Rome in 1999. But if you are thinking of conversion from one religion to another, yes indeed. So is countless mosques in the Iberian peninsula.

However, let us curb this before it gets out of hand.

Well, not the pay thing, but the religion part, yes. I was hoping to blunt the comment lest it spin out of hand, since alterations of buildings for religious purposes is a common theme throughout the world.

But yes, the pictures are wonderful. I hope to make it out east in the next few years when my schedule opens up. Thank you for sharing, Atra.

[Cimon]

Excellent. The only thing that makes me incredibly sad and furious, is the fact that modern Turks have turned the great Hagia Sophia into a mosque. A great wonder ruined totally be religious fanaticism. Not to mention the fact that people have to pay to see this wonderful place, while it should simply be accessible by anyone for free.

Maion

Actually, it's no longer a mosque either, as far as I know. When I was there in 1999, it was no longer being used as a religious institution of any sort. It was more of a "museum to what it once was," representing its entire history. There were still Islamic decorations (for lack of a better term - forgive me if this is impolite, I just really couldn't think of a better word), but restorers were also uncovering the old Christian mosaics, including one famous one (the Southewestern Entrance mosaic) showing a seated Virgin Mary with Christ-Child. On one side, Justinian presents the Hagia Sophia to the central figures, and on the other side, Constantine presents the city itself.

This mosaic, as well as others, are of course shown in direct contradiction to the Islamic prohibition against displaying peoples' images (in case there was any doubt about how the central area is being used). Now, it is true that there is a small mosque in one of the non-central buildings, but it is used only by the staff of the Hagia Sophia, and it is in no way the focus of the site.

The Hagia Sophia represents its history, but it doesn't promote one part of it over another.

[Hax]

There were still Islamic decorations (for lack of a better term - forgive me if this is impolite, I just really couldn't think of a better word), but restorers were also uncovering the old Christian mosaics, including one famous one (the Southewestern Entrance mosaic) showing a seated Virgin Mary with Christ-Child. On one side, Justinian presents the Hagia Sophia to the central figures, and on the other side, Constantine presents the city itself.

Completely true.

Maion, being partially Turkic and having Islamic family, I find comments like that highly offensive. Perhaps your choice of words was unfortunate, but it seems slightly xeno- and Islamophobic? Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Maion Maroneios]

I don't give a dime weather you or anyone esle is of Islamic ancestry, or if you are offended by my words. This is my oppinion, excuse me for being a human exerting my democratic rights.

You know what our mistake is nowdays? When someone tries to defend his country, his is immediately baptised an extremist, nationalistic, arrogant, tacist worm that should be locked up in a cell. Please.

I'm not inclined in ruining this thread any further. Anyone wasnts to continue this topic with me and hear my full oppinions, can freely PM me or visit my profile page.

Maion

[Duguntz]

WOOOOOOOOOOOW@! No Maion, you don't have to answer anything to Hax and Duguntz say to stop any discussion out of the subject, wich was Roman heritage and nice picture, NOT RELIGION and although we respect every opinions on religion, WE DON'T CARE NEITHER about them, there are some subject that, when we have opinion, we keep it for us. So I let you the discretion to discover all those subject, and I give you a tip : religion is one of them...
now, BACK TO TOPIC...

cheers all

[Atraphoenix]

Mate, Hagia Sophia has been converted to a national museum by Atatürk. During 1930s..
But it is not free as all museums the last time (2 years before) if you pay 10 Euro you can enter. I have visited more than 10 times.

Hagia Sophia is a symbol for muslims in Turkey here, a symbol of Turkish conquest of Istanbul, like El Hamra Palace which is symbol of reconquesta.

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last part omitted not to cause any other discussion.
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P.S. I wish I had a chance to go back and send you lots of them. In university I just taken them as scenery.

[Andy1984]

These are truly marvellous pictures, thanks for sharing them.

Andy

[Atraphoenix]

These are truly marvellous pictures, thanks for sharing them.

Andy

Thanks mate, you're welcome :-)
I wish I can restart my hobby again.

[Duguntz]

Atra. this topic is as great as it's pictures! i really wish for you and all those who wants to enjoy it that the discussions and dissentions of opinions enssued in it won't eventually close it! Congratulation Pal! You're found of photography? it's a great hobby! and with much work can be a really rewarding artistic work!

[Atraphoenix]

thanks, mate.
but career kills hobbies unfortunately...

[Duguntz]

thanks, mate.
but career kills hobbies unfortunately...

Not always mate! and i know a deal about it as my hobby is also my carreer! I'm signer (opera signer) and not only it's my carreer, but I do my two passion... acting, and signing! It's only a part to do... while practicing your carreer, you MUST NOT forget that it's a passion... well, for me it's workin'!

[Atraphoenix]

pleased to hear on your behalf,
I hope, I may have another job that gives me my weekend.
In sunday, I just pass it sleeping and watching old western films :-)

[artavazd]

I don't give a dime weather you or anyone esle is of Islamic ancestry, or if you are offended by my words. This is my oppinion, excuse me for being a human exerting my democratic rights.

You know what our mistake is nowdays? When someone tries to defend his country, his is immediately baptised an extremist, nationalistic, arrogant, tacist worm that should be locked up in a cell. Please.

I'm not inclined in ruining this thread any further. Anyone wasnts to continue this topic with me and hear my full oppinions, can freely PM me or visit my profile page.

Maion

Good point. The comment made on the Pantheon, I would just like to say that Greeks can do whatever the hell they want with the Pantheon because it is THEIRS!. Their ancestors made it THEY did not come from half way across the world and steal it from someone else, and now are claiming it as their own. However same thing can not be said about the current owners of Constantinopole.

[Macilrille]

Oh please...

Wonder when Foot will drop by with his locking wand, and all because you guys could not control yourself, it is petty and a pity. EVERYBODY has F*ed someone else over at some stage, get over it.

We were, for example, talking about the Pantheon of Rome, Aggrippa's. You know, the temple to the old Roman Gods that the Jewish sect called Christianity came across the Med to take over...

I thought this place was above such bigotry and petty feelings. We are supposedly all educated and civilised people...

Counting down to lock of what could have been an excellent thread was it not for your nationalist and religious urges.


10

[Horst Nordfink]

Nice pictures Atraphoenix! I'd really like to go to Constantinople one of these days. Rome too.

[Teleklos Archelaou]

Great pics! I'll bring the locking wand to the party if anyone feels a need to continue any arguing though.

[Hax]

I think things are pretty much okay now, TA. I've taken the discussion someplace else.

[Alsatia]

Beautiful pictures. I would love to go to Constantinople/Istanbul sometime soon.

[Atraphoenix]

In fact Maiden's Tower was built pre-roman period, AFAIK the main body of the tower is mostly byzantine. After the last restoration it is used as a restaurant now.

[Olaf The Great]

I just wish the history books would stop calling the Medieval Roman Empire the Byzantine Empire, would save people from historical confusion, especially Grade-Schoolers.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

I've been to Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, very nice memories (looooong ago). I had always difficulties to tell apart the original basilika and what's added by muslims, besides the minarettes of course, hehe. ;)

[Aemilius Paulus]

I just wish the history books would stop calling the Medieval Roman Empire the Byzantine Empire, would save people from historical confusion, especially Grade-Schoolers.

Heh, you are right. My classmates seem to have the notion those two civilisations were different as well as separate and not merely a continuation of one by another.

[Alsatia]

I just wish the history books would stop calling the Medieval Roman Empire the Byzantine Empire, would save people from historical confusion, especially Grade-Schoolers.

Well, since Rome and the Western Roman Empire fell, there was less "Roman Influence" towards the east, so eventually the romans were stuck with Greece and the Aegean side of Asia minor. Eventually, being stuck on Greece, they eventually started becoming more greek than roman. I also remember reading Gibbons decilne and Fall and that he left the East after the fall as a side note, not treating it as the continuation of the empire, but something else entirely.

[BerkeleyBoi]

Thank you for sharing, those are some very nice pictures!