May 14, 2009
May 13, 2009
the magnificent Hagia Sophia
from the greek, Ἁγία Σοφία, "holy wisdom"
the current building was constructed in 537 a.d. as a patriarchal church in the byzantine empire.
in 1453 when the ottoman turks captured constantinople (istanbul) it was converted into a mosque.
in 1935 it was converted to a museum by the republic of turkey.
"magnificent" - adjective - impressively beautiful, elaborate or extravagant, striking
the current building was constructed in 537 a.d. as a patriarchal church in the byzantine empire.
in 1453 when the ottoman turks captured constantinople (istanbul) it was converted into a mosque.
in 1935 it was converted to a museum by the republic of turkey.
"magnificent" - adjective - impressively beautiful, elaborate or extravagant, striking
the dome was under renovation
May 12, 2009
istanbul in the spring : erguvan trees
Erguvan is also known as the Judas Tree or as European Redbud.
Not only the tree, but also its flowers and the reddish-purple colour of those flowers are called “erguvan” in Turkish.
The Judas tree had white flowers in the beginning. But its flowers turned into reddish-purple because of the shame that the tree felt for Judas hanging himself on a Judas Tree after betraying Christ. And also the reddish-purple of judas trees was the colour of Byzantine royal family; only members of the Byzantine royalty could wear clothes which had the colour of flowers of Judas Trees, and the heirs of Byzantine Empire were all born in a room which was coloured as such, because it was believed that the Byzantine Empire was founded on the day when the Judas Trees bloomed.
It is said that Theodora, Empress of the Byzantine Empire, declined the advise of fleeing from rioters of Nika riots by saying, “The most beautiful shroud is erguvan coloured cape.”
Not only the tree, but also its flowers and the reddish-purple colour of those flowers are called “erguvan” in Turkish.
The Judas tree had white flowers in the beginning. But its flowers turned into reddish-purple because of the shame that the tree felt for Judas hanging himself on a Judas Tree after betraying Christ. And also the reddish-purple of judas trees was the colour of Byzantine royal family; only members of the Byzantine royalty could wear clothes which had the colour of flowers of Judas Trees, and the heirs of Byzantine Empire were all born in a room which was coloured as such, because it was believed that the Byzantine Empire was founded on the day when the Judas Trees bloomed.
It is said that Theodora, Empress of the Byzantine Empire, declined the advise of fleeing from rioters of Nika riots by saying, “The most beautiful shroud is erguvan coloured cape.”
March 27, 2009
March 22, 2009
March 18, 2009
March 13, 2009
March 11, 2009
March 8, 2009
March 7, 2009
February 27, 2009
February 24, 2009
February 20, 2009
February 18, 2009
February 17, 2009
February 15, 2009
February 14, 2009
February 13, 2009
February 10, 2009
February 6, 2009
February 2, 2009
February 1, 2009
January 30, 2009
January 29, 2009
January 28, 2009
January 26, 2009
January 25, 2009
January 24, 2009
January 20, 2009
January 5, 2009
lucknow !!
galauti kabab, sakhawat, mayawati, men urinating, 120/19 jagpal krishna lane, sanjay muttoo mian, tunday kababi, nasirbhai, mehmoodabad ke rajasaheb, kachche gosht ki biryani, shabdeg, korma, amirmian, shami kabab, nukti kabab, itr, gud ka gajak, gud ki revdi, butler palace, litigations, ambedkar park, 250 crore rupees, blue lights, blue flags, shahi tukde, landed elite and marxist elite, maulana mateen, nawablets in training, pappu jeweller in training, lachhmi narayan jewellers, a resha in an emerald, nimish, cycle rickshaws, single screen cinemas, the ganj, magai paan, bsp, power horns,
sharma guest house on mall avenue near the cong office, brigadier and mrs. sharma, umanath and gaurishankar, seelan, roots creeping through roofs, bara imambara, asif ud daula, martiniere, claude martin, central drug research institute, malai paan, bhune hue pedhe, beautiful vegetables, kali gaajar, giant zucchini which are actually kaddu, early morning mist, hina-sikandar-kirti-the kids, chowk, gomtinagar,
the missing nihari kulche, the missing kakori kabab
January 4, 2009
January 3, 2009
January 2, 2009
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