Editing Hagia Sophia (section)

===Southwestern entrance mosaic===

The southwestern entrance mosaic, situated in the tympanum of the southwestern entrance, dates from the reign of [[Basil II]].<ref>Lorenzo Riccardi, Observations on Basil II as Patron of the Arts, in Actual Problems of Theory and History of Art, I, Collection of articles. Materials of the Conference of Young Specialists (St. Petersburg State University, 1–5 December 2010), St. Petersburg 2011 ({{ISBN|978-5-288-05174-6}}), pp. 39–45; Lorenzo Riccardi, Alcune riflessioni sul mosaico del vestibolo sud-ovest della Santa Sofia di Costantinopoli, in Vie per Bisanzio. VIII Congresso Nazionale dell'Associazione Italiana di Studi Bizantini (Venezia 25–28 novembre 2009), a cura di Antonio Rigo, Andrea Babuin e Michele Trizio, Bari, Edizioni di Pagina 2012 ({{ISBN|978-88-7470-229-9}}), pp. 357–71.</ref> It was rediscovered during the restorations of 1849 by the Fossatis. The Virgin sits on a throne without a back, her feet resting on a pedestal, embellished with precious stones. The [[Christ Child]] sits on her lap, giving his blessing and holding a scroll in his left hand. On her left side stands emperor Constantine in ceremonial attire, presenting a model of the city to Mary. On her right side stands emperor [[Justinian I|Justinian&nbsp;I]], offering a model of the Hagia Sophia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hagiasophia.com/listingview.php?listingID=10 |title=Southwestern Vestibule |author=Hagia Sophia |work=hagiasophia.com |access-date=27 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220110314/http://www.hagiasophia.com/listingview.php?listingID=10 |archive-date=20 December 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The composition of the figure of the Virgin enthroned was probably copied from the mosaic inside the semi-dome of the apse inside the liturgical space.<ref name="Skhirtladze-2014">{{Cite journal |last=Skhirtladze |first=Zaza |date=2014 |title=The Image of the Virgin on the Sinai Hexaptych and the Apse Mosaic of Hagia Sophia, Constantinople |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24643764 |journal=Dumbarton Oaks Papers |volume=68 |pages=369–386 |jstor=24643764 |issn=0070-7546}}</ref>
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