Church of St. Polyeuctus

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Church of St. Polyeuctus, Byzantine church ruin in Saraçhane district, Istanbul, Turkey

The remains of this early Byzantine church reveal foundations, marble walls, and fragments of ornate architectural elements near the Valens Aqueduct.

Anicia Juliana, a Roman imperial princess, commissioned this church between 524 and 527 CE as the largest religious structure in Constantinople before Hagia Sophia.

The church incorporated Persian decorative elements, marble carvings of peacocks, pomegranates, and palm trees inspired by the Temple of Solomon.

Archaeological excavations by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality continue at the site, uncovering new artifacts and architectural elements from the Byzantine period.

Several architectural pieces from this church now reside in Venice's St Mark's Basilica, including the Pilastri Acritani columns.

Location: Istanbul

Inception: 6 century

Architectural style: ancient Roman architecture, Byzantine architecture

GPS coordinates: 41.01423,28.95296

Latest update: May 11, 2025 06:33

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« Church of St. Polyeuctus: Byzantine church ruin in Saraçhane district, Istanbul, Turkey » is provided by Around Us (aroundus.com). Images and texts are derived from Wikimedia project under a Creative Commons license. You are allowed to copy, distribute, and modify copies of this page, under the conditions set by the license, as long as this note is clearly visible.

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