PodcastMosaic cover-ups in Istanbul's Chora Museum 'unqualified, destroys artistic value'
The cover-up of the ancient mosaics and frescoes was "unqualified to the point of destroying the structure's character and artistic value," Istanbul Municipality Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat said. The 4th-century museum was transferred to the property of the state's religious authority, and will open for Muslim worship on Oct. 30.
Duvar English
Ancient mosaics were once again veiled in Istanbul's historic Chora Museum that will be opened to Muslim prayer on Oct. 30, months after the conversion of the iconic Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
Istanbul Municipality Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat shared photographs of the 4th-century structure, where the mosaics were boarded up extensively.
"The covering up of the frescos and the mosaics in Chora, considered masterpieces in art history, was unqualified to the point of destroying the structure's character and artistic value," Polat tweeted along with photos of the museum's new state.
Dünya sanat tarihinin baş yapıtlarından Kariye fresk ve mozaiklerinin kapatılması ne yazık ki yapının karakterini ve sanatsal değerini öldürecek vasıfısızlıkta.
— Mahir Polat (@mhrpolat) October 27, 2020
Solda eski hali, sağda yeni hali. Proje Türkiye kültür mirası yöneten ve koruyan bakanlık ve kurumları. pic.twitter.com/ijItpmLxCz
A presidential decree dated Nov. 11, 2019 reverted the structure's allocation as a museum, owned by the Education Ministry, transferring ownership to the Directorate General of Religious Affairs (Diyanet).
A separate decree to allow worship in Chora Mosque was released on August 21, and the first prayer was scheduled for Oct. 30.
Istanbul's Chora Museum to open for Muslim prayers following Hagia Sophia