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Intercessory Prayer to Mary
The icon clearly functions as an intercessory image, in which the viewer prays to the Virgin Mary to intercede with Christ on behalf of...
Floral Decorations and Inscriptions
The lower edge of the icon is decorated with a garland of flowers, including roses, tulips, and violets with green leaves. These floral motifs...
The Icon’s Main Figures
The icon shows the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child at its center. Mary is dressed in a green undergarment covered with a bright...
The Church of St John in Philadelphia
The church that has been named after St John in ancient Philadelphia (modern Alaşehir) was an important Byzantine building. It was rectangular in shape...
Ancient Philadelphia (Alaşehir)
Ancient Philadelphia, known today as Alaşehir, was founded by Attalos II Philadelphos, the king of Pergamum, who ruled between 159 and 138 BCE. The...
The Main Assembly Hall of the Synagogue
The main hall of the synagogue in Sardis was very large. It is believed that it could hold nearly one thousand people. This shows...
The Hittite Relief near Sardis
Near ancient Sardis, a remarkable Hittite rock relief dates to the fourteenth century BCE. This relief shows a standing male figure holding a spear....
Christian Remains from Thyateira
The other remains connected with the Christian history of Thyateira are today displayed in the Manisa Archaeological Museum. These objects are modest in number,...
Those Who Remained Faithful
Despite the serious problems described in the letter to the church in Thyateira, St John makes it clear that not all believers had given...
Theories About the Path of the Theodosian Walls
After the Kerko Porta, the Theodosian Walls, which were the main line of defense for Constantinople, did not continue in a straight line. Historians...
