Istanbul: A City on Two Continents - The Wise World Traveler: Becoming a Part of All that You Meet - page 217

a backdrop of the heavens in their majesty. Portraits in mosaic are stylized. Postures and
attitudes are conventional. Their intent is to convey the everlasting, unchanging majesty of
their subjects.
During the Byzantine epoch, every church was characterized by its (almost flat) central
dome; its interior was a mosaic blaze; its portraits (its icons to be revered and worshipped)
were masterpieces of the mosaic art form. After Constantinople surrendered to Islam, mo-
saics were destroyed or painted over. Islam makes use of parallels, the Code of Moses (the
Mosaic Code) that forbids graven images. Fortunately, a few of the old churches remain,
with their mosaics fairly well preserved. The Church of St. Savior in Chora is probably the
paramount mosaic display still in situ. The stylized, static icons can help remind the travel-
er of the enduring qualities of New Rome-Constantinople-Istanbul. [169]