Caroline Giles Banks
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Hagia Sophia, the magnificent complex in Istanbul, was built in the 6th century as a Christian church, then repurposed as a mosque in the 15th century during the Ottoman Empire. Under Ataturk, founder of the secular Republic of Turkey, it opened in 1935 as a museum, before becoming a mosque again in 2020.
prayer rugs
beside Doric columns
bending the same knee
Ever reminding us of Christianity’s and Islam’s shared historical origins, the syncretic amalgamation of mosaics depicting Christianity with soaring minarets is an enduring testament to the power of art and architecture to reflect our common humanity in the face of cultural diversity, conflict, and change.
Xmas cacti bud
in Ramadan
shared roots
The Babylon Sidedoor (December 2022)