ABSTRACT
Through its history, Hagia Sophia, the central cathedral of Constantinople, had multiple functions in different compartments within the building. This chapter examines these markings, their location in the gallery, and their relevance to a neighboring mosaic decoration in the central bay. It concludes that these floor markings are probably remains of the patriarch’s throne and therefore were a part of the sacred space of the south gallery of Hagia Sophia. In early churches, including Hagia Sophia, the patriarch’s throne or seat during the liturgy was in the synthronon located in the central apse. A study of the gallery plan as well as the location of the floor marks, the historical sources, and the liturgy of Hagia Sophia suggests that the floor marks in the north side of the east wall of the south gallery probably belonged to the throne of the patriarch of Hagia Sophia.
