Thursday, July 17, 2008. Reflections and new Byzantium Perceptions. The iconoclasm controversy was actually a very interesting topic because I was aware prior to this class that the followers of Islam were iconoclasts and at the fall of the Eastern Empire many religious images were either destroyed or covered with plaster. It just seems amazing that during the middle of the Byzantine era, where icons were aplenty in every structure, they became an issue of debate.

Reflections on Byzantine Art and Architecture. Friday, July 18, 2008. So when I thought of the Grand Bazaar, I had visions of the Disney movie Aladdin. I envisioned, wrongly, people plying their wares like individual infomercials calling out features of their products in five languages and so on. That I went to the flea markets in. In preparation for coming to the Bazaar, and they laughed. While hard bargaining is not my forte.

Thursday, July 17, 2008. Sunday, July 13, 2008. The Mosaic Museum of the Great Palace. They were outdoor mosaics, and each one was a floor mosaic that was meant to be walked on. It is hard to imagine that people once walked on these beautiful and intricate pieces of art. Although this was how the pieces were meant to be enjoyed, in its present museum presentation visitors have to walk along a platform above the mosaics.

Friday, July 18, 2008. Prior to coming to Istanbul, I only had a vague idea of what the term Byzantine meant. It seemed to conjure images of a far away ancient place very different from my own home. The term Byzantine was often used to describe things such as the US government, which is highly complex and confusing. Thursday, July 17, 2008. Yedikule Fortress and the Byzantine Walls.