Evening star., 1911-08-10
GREAT BYZANTINE DOME
VICTIM OF THE AGES
Sixteen Centuries of Shock
Have II Near the Point
of Ruin.
Foreign Correspondence Of The Star.

/
CONsTANTINoPLE. July %. 1911.
The magnificent dome Of the world
famed Byzantine fame of St. Sophia c'Di-
vine WISDOM. an Incompatible archi-
tectural marvel of ages past. is beginning
to yield to the heavy weight OF its six
teen centuries Of existence Time. humid
ity. earthquakes, confasrations and bonn
bardments have each and ali contributed
their share of damage. undermining slow
ly but surely the strength and solidity or
a proud memorial Of Hellenic inspiration
and Hellenic achievement
II Is not likely that the dome will ever
be restored to its full original beauty and
magnificence. as only its designer, An
| themius of Tralies. who died In the sixth
century. knew the mysterious problems
and the secrets of its marvellous con-
struction. Already the casual observer
perceives that tie external aspect or the
cupola presents no more a smooth even:
semicircular outline. The eastern part or
1t defects downwari
Destroyed by Earthquake in 55s.
This is the part that has suffered most
in the course OF ages. In 5JS 1t was de-
stroyed by an earthquake. together with
the apse and the ambon. When 1t was
rebuilt the whole dome was raised sew
eral feet higher than its original eleva-
tion-a performance which was regarded
as q wonderful architectural feat.
The Emperor John VI Palaeologus, in
the fourteenth century. did much to pre-
serve the temple In more more recent cent, VINES Mae
jd undertook the reparation of the dam
age done by time and earthquake. He
employed the italian architect Fossati.
who performed. on the whole; exceed
torations, the temple OF St SOPHIA was
able to Withstand the assaults OF several
disastrous earthquakes.
During the calanitous earthquake OF
1893 the dome was again greatly damaged,
and several serious assures were opened:
Through these rainwater permeated, AMI
still permeates. the whole masonic tex
ture of the dome. thus constantly weak
ening it. Several cracks and assures also,
barely perceptible to the naked eye, dis
figure the harmony Of the superb mosaics
in the interior OF the dome.
Beyond Turkish Skill.
Several local attempts to fill up these
CHI nks have proved far beyond Turkish
skill and knowledge and what once was
an object OF glory and splendor Is now a
picture of decay and OF threatening ruin
A Constantinople expert declares that IL
nothing is done soon the dome will break
down in about fifteen or twenty years.
Last wear the Ottoman government en-
gagged the we'll known italian architect.
Signor Marangoni, who had restored the
campanile on the Piazza ST. Marco in
Vienna. to investigate St Sophia's dome
and submit a detailed account of neces-
cary repairs. Sgnor Marangoni estimat-
ed the cost of these repairs at about
$500 ZOO. The Ottoman government con-
sidered this was too high a sum to be
spent on an object that Is. after all, or
no paramount national interest TO the
Moslems themselves, since the ed.fice Is,
OF course a Christian house OF worship.
They commenced, therefore. to bargain
with Signor Marangoni, who left Con-
stantinople in disgust
A special commission has now been
formed OF French. Italian and Turkish
experts. But as is generally the case n
Turkey. an Intern nable period of dis
cussion must first ensue, during which al
fairs are left to fate. competent au-
thority states, however. that this ccnlrais-
sion is quite unable to perform the task:
and that. in the end. Signor Marangon.
will again be requested to undertake ths
restoration OF the dome. this time with a
free hand.