Sainte-Sophie Aya Sofia

Marble screen whose date and purpose is not known, in the south gallery of St Sophia. It is not an original part of the church but a later addition. It is made in the form of two pairs of false double doors with elaborately ornamented panels, the so-called gates of Heaven and Hell. During the early history of the building the entire gallery was used as the women's quarter. In later centuries most of the southern gallery was reserved for the use of the royal family so that they were able to perform their religious duties without being seen by the crowd in the nave.