Istanbul the shards of a beautiful mosaic

The cistern, together with the nearby Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, formed a close circle, physically and symbolically. The Grecian and Roman legacies, the Islamic cultures - all took root and flourished on this fertile ground. There were of course instances when one culture invaded and replaced another. But on other occasions, as in the case of Hagia Sophia, or the Suleymaniye, whose design combines Islamic and Byzantine architectural elements, what happened was cultural blending and seeping-through, because of or despite the will of the rulers.

The result is a mosaic, like the tile floor in some Grecian or Byzantine-era abode, or pixilated window panes in the opulent palaces of sultans, with psychedelic patterns that absorb and reflect the many beams of light emanating from the depth of history.