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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Sergios - Bakkhos Kilisesi (Küçük Ayasofya) |
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For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
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Type:
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Church |
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Plan Type:
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Central Plan |
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Year of Costruction:
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531 - 536 |
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Phase:
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Early |
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Investigation Method:
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Survey Excavation Restoration |
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Altitude:
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5 |
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Region:
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Marmara |
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Province:
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Istanbul |
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District:
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Fatih |
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Village:
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Küçük Ayasofya Mah. |
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Antique Name:
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Constantinople |
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| Location: It is located in the Küçük Ayasofya Camii Avenue of the Küçük Ayasofya Quarter in the Fatih District of Istanbul. |
| Geography and Environment: It is situated very close to the Sea of Marmara. The Justinian Harbor and the Palace of Hormisdas stood near the building during the Early Byzantine Period. The courtyard of the building was commonly used with the adjacent St. Petrus and Paulus Church [Kuban 1996]. Approximately 25 m to the south of the Küçük Ayasofya Mosque (Church of Sergius and Bacchus), which was built close to the Great Palace complex, lie the sea walls of Marmara, approximately 180 m to the northeast is the Hippodrome (2nd-4th century), and approximately 200 m to the east are the remains of the Boukoleon Palace (5th century). |
| Research and Excavation: It was surveyed by many researchers like J. Ebersolt, C. Gurlitt, A. van Millingen, R. Janin and C. Mango until present. A thorough restoration work was performed following the researches in 2008. |
| Description: Building Phases: Presumably built between 531-536, it became one of the most significant centers for the counter movement during the Iconoclastic Period [Müller-Wiener 2001:177-180]. It was an important pilgrimage center in the 14th and 15th centuries. Being converted into a mosque by Küçük Hüseyin Aga in the 16th century, it sustained a damage by an earthquake in 1648, and following the restoration work in 1740, it underwent several restorations due to many fires it suffered. Some modifications were performed in 1937, and 1955 [Oyhon-Etingü 1999], but it was damaged again during the earthquake of 1999, and a large scale restoration was initiated in 2003. Architectural Features: It consists of an octagonal building, enlarged by cross exedras in the center, and an ambulatory with galleries surrounding it. To the east is a projecting apse, and to the west is the narthex [Ötüken 1997]. The fact that the walls, which constitute the exterior contour of the church are not right angled, is presumably a result of several buildings surrounding the church building [Fletcher 1967]. It measures ca. 33x28 m. Although the exterior surface of the dome, which is supported by an externally invisible drum is low, the interior dome with a lower hanger is higher. The diameter of the dome pierced by eight windows is 15.85 m with a height of 21.25 m [Ünsal 2001]. To the south of the building with a gallery floor is a staircase which underwent repairworks during the Ottoman Period. Made of green breccia and red porphyr stones, 16 out of a total of 34 columns are in the lower storey, and 18 in the gallery. Although it was found during the restorations initiated in 2003 that the original floor of the building was 0.7-0.8 m below the ground level, a hollow crypta was found in the bema of the building [Mathews 1976:242-243, pics. 29.1-29.30; van Millingen 1974:62-79, pics. 21-30]. Decorative Features: The masonry of the Late Ancient-Early Byzantine Period on the capitals and friezes is noteworthy. The decorations on the basket-type capitals bear the traces of transition to the Early Byzantine art. The monograms of Justinian can be read on these capitals [Swainson 1895]. The marble friezes separating the two storeys from each other have characteristics of the Ancient Age. Among them is an inscription on a frieze running inside the building, indicating that the building was dedicated to Saint Sergius by Justinian and his wife Theodora. The painting decorations of the church were made again following the Iconoclastic Period [Müller-Wiener 2001]. Hundreds of mosaic cubes that were found among the debris during the restoration activities in 2003, suggest that the building was once decorated with mosaics. |
| Finds: Many potsherds and fragments of sealed bricks and architectural elements were revealed among the floor debris during the restorations initiated in 2003. A grave was uncovered on the right side of the apse. And, a monoblock marble architrave with a cross-section of 0.7x0.8 m, and a length of 2.5-3 m bearing a cross rosette at the center was revealed under the floor in the gallery facing sea on the right side of the building. |
| Interpretation: R. Krautheimer compares it with the churches of St. Donat in Zadar, and S. Vitalein in Ravenna [Krautheimer 1986]. On the other hand, B. Fletcher claims that it is an advanced model of the tetraconchos plan [Fletcher 1967]. |
| Destruction: Some parts of the church was protected with the restorations in recent years and preventive measures were taken against the negative effects of the railroad that passes in the south. The building was used as a mosque following restorations and sound, lighting and security systems were installed [TAYEx 03.09.2008]. |
