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Photo Gallery of
Muslim Turkey and the former Byzantine capital
by James Mayfield (Chairman, European Heritage Library)
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this Article • About
the Author • Bibliography/Sources
This is a gallery of my photographs
from my vacation in 2007 to Turkey. Understanding the cultural
and social, and especially religious dimensions of this ultra-nationalistic
nation is important to answer the question of whether or not
Turkey, as by no means a European nation or culture, is right
or not for EU membership.
To read the complete history
and cultural, ethnic, and religious observation of this magnificent
Muslim country, read my other
article.
A statue of Mustafa Kamal, the founding father, next to a
massive Islamic flag.
My photo of a huge gallery of sultans' tombs inside a mosque,
with hand-sewn cloths with Arabic inscriptions and strange
"headstones" with turbans. (click to enlarge)
My photo of flags everywhere. This is not simply a trait of
monuments; such is seen with every turn of the head. (click
to enlarge)
Islam, the Ottoman heritage, and Turkish national pride are
indivisible despite the ultra-secular law code
My photo of Istanbul from the sea. Notice the massive minarets
everywhere (Suleyman mosque left, Hagia Sophia right). (click
to enlarge)
My photo of the magnificent Blue Mosque. (click to
enlarge)
My photo of the Blue Mosque interior. (click to enlarge)
My photo of the Blue Mosque interior. (click to enlarge)
My photo of another interior shot. No infidels (Jews, Christians)
allowed in the main area. Women are segregated.
My photo of another interior wall with Arabic inscription
on a plaque.
My photo of the Blue Mosque's ceiling.
My photo of an ablution bath for ritual bathing under an Arabic
verse from al-Qur'an.
My photo of Muslims performing ritual collective bathing.
Women are segregated. (click to enlarge)
An obvious foreigner sitting with shoes on the steps of the
mosque. The sign reads "sitting on the steps is absolutely
forbidden." Turks look at her with rage.
My photo of the ancient government-subsidized silkworm extraction
art for rugmaking. (click to enlarge)
The House of the Virgin Mary. Mythology or truth? (click
to enlarge)
A wall for pilgrims' notes and offerings to Heaven, Mary,
and Jesus.
My photo of the Greco-Roman Celsus Library, considered one
of the greatest ancient monuments still standing. (click
to enlarge)
My photo of the Greco-Roman city of Ephesus' walkway. Akin
to stepping back in time. (click to enlarge)
My photo of a downtown Turkish bazaar only 20 paces from a
lovely mosque. (click to enlarge)
My photo of downtown Kusadasi with a mosque in view next to
restaurants and a huqqah bar. (click to enlarge)
My photo of an ancient Roman water reservoir.
My photo of the exterior of the legendary Hagia Sophia --
one of the greatest buildings ever built. (click to
enlarge)
My photo of the interior of the Hagia Sophia. (click
to enlarge)
My photo of another interior shot. (click to enlarge)
The center of the Ayasofya mosque: the Mihrab. This shows
the direction of Makkah.
An ancient ablution area for ritual bathing outside the Hagia
Sophia.
My photo of a covered Christian mosaic in the Ayasofya. It
was sealed after the jihad succeeded. Depictions of God or
prophets (like Jesus/Isa) is forbidden in Islam, at least
so long as his face is not shown (click to enlarge)
My photo of the entrance to the Grand Bazaar, with Arabic
script atop.
My photo of the interior of the Grand Bazaar.
My photo of the entrance to the Topkapi sultan's palace. (click
to enlarge)
My photo of the exit gate to the palace.
My photo of a sultan's mausoleum. (click to enlarge)
My photo of a ceiling of a mosque in the Topkapi palace, the
sultan's main home.
My photo of Mehmet II the Conquerer's sword with verses from
al-Qur'an written on it. He is the sultan whose Jihad ended
the Byzantine Empire forever.
________________________________________
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR:
James Mayfield is a historian
and the Chairman of the European Heritage Library. I have
a Cum Laude BA in History with a Minor in Germanic Studies
(language and history), am presently working for my Masters
in History, and plan to immediately progress to my PhD Doctorate.
I have a special academic interest in Europe's diverse ethnic
identities, languages, and cultures, and the political struggles
of native European and immigrant minority identities. See
my staff entry for more information.
BIBLIOGRAPHY/SOURCES
USED:
No additional citations or
sources necessary.
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