Word: haghia
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Dates: during 1950-1950
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Demotri Kessel, one of Life's top photographers, made a special trip with his staff last fall to Istanbul, Turkey in order to photograph the mosaics. They decorate the interior of the Haghia Sophia mosque, which will celebrate its 1,413 birthday this Christmas. Selected pictures from over 1000 shots should appear in a full-color spread much like Life's article last Christmas on the Sistine Chapel in Rome...
...Haghia Sophia remained in this state, until 1930, except for the addition of four Mosque spires. During that year Thomas Whittemore, former keeper of Byzantine Coins and Seals at Fogg Museum and lecturer at the University, received permission from Mustapha Kemal Attaturk, President of Turkey, to uncover the mosaics...
Whittemore was not sure how the President could grant consent without incurring the wrath of Turkish citizens. The morning after receiving the go-ahead he went to Haghia Sophia to start work and saw the sign "Cloned for repairs." A little later, Attaturk quietly proclaimed the mosque a national museum...
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