St Sophia Mosque 1915 Underwood

Newspaper illustration of the interior of Aya Sofya, Istanbul, Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey). Original caption: Photo by Underwood & Underwood. FAMOUS ST. SOPHIA MOSQUE IN CONSTANTINOPLE The only photograph ever taken inside a Mohammedan place of worship. The faithful are seen at noon prayer. The dome of the mosque is supported by four arches, which in turn are supported by 107 gigantic and beautiful pillars of green marble and red prophyry, with capitals in Byzantine style. It is believed that in the vaults under the church there lie superb treasures of classical art thrown there by Ottoman when they conquered Constantinople.