A short photo on the Mosaics of #HagiaSophia a book of photographs published in 1950 by the Byzantine Institute in limited number to commemorate the uncovering of the Byzantine mosaics...1/
#medievaltwitter

The black & white photographs of the newly-uncovered mosaics are accompanied by a type-written descriptive booklet with some elements added by hand, by Thomas Whittemore himself?...2/

The official booklet describes the establishment of Ayasofya müzesi...3/

...however, the process of uncovering the #HagiaSophia mosaics took longer. Here are a few freshly uncovered imperial figures & some decorative motifs...4/

There is one photograph of the process of discovery and how the mosaics looked when they were last plastered over. And an image of the empty building where you can really see the sultan's lodge...5/

My grandfather's copy of the #HagiaSophia Mosaics book also has part of the November 15, 1950 issue of the @thecrimson Harvard Crimson, which describes the process of uncovering the mosaics...with dental tools! And how the whole thing was funded...6/

Apparently Byzantine Christ's typical expression is that of "the awful judge" (who knew!)... totally not like the Western "tender shepherd" (sure guys... whatever you say ) #orientalism ...7/

The Crimson article describes the early years of @DumbartonOaks ...which were apparently not that much different from when I was a fellow there in 2018...8/

And here is Indiana Jones... I mean, Thomas Whittemore ... at the Kariye müzesi/Chora Museum, which is now a mosque as well...END.