Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius
The Statue of Marcus Aurelius is an Ancient Roman bronze statue located in Rome in the Capitoline Museums. It was erected in 160-185 CE. The author of this statue is unknown. The horses played a huge role in the life of past generations. Therefore famous people or warlords were often depicted with horses or riding them.
Originally a gilded equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius was located on the hillside near the Capitol of the Roman Forum. This is the only equestrian statue surviving from antiquity, as in the Middle Ages, it was believed that it depicts Emperor Constantine I the Great, whose Christian church canonized as “the holy apostle.” In the XII century, the statue was moved to the square of the Lateran. In 1538 it was placed in the Capitol according to the order of
Pope Paul III. Further, Michelangelo made the plinth for the statue.
The monumental nature of the work and gesture of Marcus Aurelius depicts a triumph and celebration of victory. However, Marcus Aurelius is also portrayed as a philosopher. He spent his life in the war campaigns, which is why he looks like a soldier but not an emperor. The image of the Emperor is the embodiment of the ideal of citizenship and humanity. He wears a tunic, a short cloak, and sandals. This statue symbolizes both the great mind of the Emperor and his power.
2 Hagia Sophia
Until 360 CE, this place was a pagan temple of Artemis. Later, Emperor Constantine ordered to make a small church from it in honor of St. Sophia. In the VI century, according to legend, Emperor Justinian saw a dream about an angel who told him to build a new grand cathedral. The construction of the most beautiful cathedral in Asia Minor lasted for five years. The main designers were Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles. It is located in the historical center of Istanbul, Sultanahmet.
In the middle of the XV century, the troops of Sultan Mehmed II conquered Constantinople and built a minaret in Hagia Sophia.
Therefore it became a Muslim mosque. Golden Crescent, which replaced the cross on the dome, stood until 1935, when Harga Sophia was turned into a museum. Nowadays, Hagia Sophia combines architectural styles. It is a place where Eastern and Western culture is united, where two religions left their marks. These factors make this place unique.
Hagia Sophia is full of symbolizm. To the right of the altar, there is a colored stone mark. This place was considered the center of the Universe. The Byzantine emperors were crowned here. In the Byzantine Empire, the cathedral was located in the center of Constantinople near the Imperial Palace.
