The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-11-08

softest shade Of green taken from the
site OF the ruins of the famous temple
OF Diana. These support the large
galleries. Rome. which had about
that time handed YER the mastery of
the world to its eastern rival, contri-
P9,tea lkewise in a generous manner.
Eight porphyry columns that were
originally part of the temple of the
u at Baalbek were sent by its citi-
zens. Whatever could be taken from
the most famous temples of antiquity
was conveyed to st. Sophia. The tenn
pie enc presents a diversified aspect
in it's interior that does not fail to
please.
According to Greek historians, more
IMAM lO,0OO men were engaged day and
night in the work of construction dur
ing the six years of it's building. The
mos famous of Byzantine emperors.
Justinian. directed the work clad as
an d laborer. Silver of the val
ue OF $4,000 were Used in making
various ornaments. The holy vases
were OF the purest gold, in which. gems
OF inestilnable value were set. Various
historians assert hat over 5000, 900
were spent on this building by Justin.
ian alone.
n whole undertaking was consid.
cred a pious m This is we'll shown
ny the fact that every brick for the
dome was inscribed with sentences
from the gospels. Relics of saints
were placed in h mortar that bound
formed their labor while listening to
religious choirs.
i'omc Was a Bold Conception.
n most noteworthy feature of the
edffice is its DOME. 1t represents the
aterializatio of one of the boldest
conceptions in the history Of architec-
ture. for 1t was here that a circular
structure was first laid over Il rectanR.
ular base: This departure was due
70 the daring of Anthemius of Thrales,
enc OF the most renowned engineers of
antiquity. The problem was solved by
the building of a huge square formed
ny columns the heads Of which were
connected by arches to one another. II
was ound that by simply fitting the
corner OF III frame to the croWn of
the arch the resulting uppermost sur
lace was that of a circle whereon the
dome could be conveniently erected.
ms Is the tamous p%endentive of BY
zantine architecture.
The diameter of this remarkah ,e
dome is 1O7 feet and it's height ia for
y 1eet. These proportions impress
one with the idea of beholding a huge
inverted bowl above ones head. Ey.
crSthing appears to hang in mid.air.
50 much SO that the holiness Of the
ecutio cannot pass unnoticedi. A
row of small windows. some forty in
number. are pierced at the base. This
produces effects of SURPRISING beauty.
Tor thc light Is thereby not only SOFTLY
dispersed. but is also uniformly distri.
butcd. II is narrated that Justinian
mad abstined from inspecting the
building. shortly before it's completion
and that when the day Of Inauguration
arrived. tho only remark he could
make was:
go Solomon. have surna ...d .ho.
indeed!" N
Christian Pictures Wcrc Preserved.
During the days when Constantine.
PIE was n christian city. the base of
inc dome was covered with mystic rem.
RESERVATIONS of the Virgin and the
saints, which were executed mostly in
beautiful mosaics. Today as one stands
below the dome, the eye. cast upward.
meets huge discs on which gilded
Arabic inscriptions have been painted
against a green background. The only
vestige Of christianity still In evidence
is represented by the wings Of huge
mosaic archangles. which have been
carelessly overlooked by the Turks II
must be stated In all fairness, however.
that the obliteration Of christian mic.
lures has been confined to whitewash.
ing the byzantine paintings.
Many are tho legends connected
wit hthe edifce. One Of the most uni
fall of Constantinople, and ia known
10 every christian in the Balkans. The
terrified populace sought shelter with
In the church.. and the Turkish soi.
otery. bent on massacre. swarmed in.
Terror was communicated to thu