Black felt-tip pen and fine-tip black ink pen on transparent paper taped on artist board
63.98 cm x 37.78 cm (25 3/16 in. x 14 7/8 in.)
The architectural plan of the Holy Apostles, as it existed from the sixth century onward, was reconstructed on the basis of surviving textual records, for no archaeological survey has ever been allowed on its site, occupied since the middle of the fifteenth century by the Fatih mosque. The Rhodian credits the construction to Anthemios of Tralles and Isidore the Younger, the famous architects of Justinian’s Hagia Sophia. Although very dubious, this statement bears witness to the importance of the Holy Apostles in the eyes of the later Byzantines.
This plan is significantly smaller than the publication-quality plan (see here), and differs only in displaying the location of the Mese (main street) and in not having an outer narthex.
More Exhibit Items
MS.BZ.019-BF.F.1993.F2822
Page 27 of a draft version by Paul A. Underwood. MS.BZ.019-03-01-045.