THE ULTIMATE
On this day, May 11th 330 AD/CE, the Roman Emperor Constantine made Byzantium the new capital of the Roman Empire - that city also known as Constantinople, is now Istanbul - Turkey's most populous city, and the only city in the world to straddle two continents!
Istanbul sits on both sides of the Bospurous Strait, so one half is in Europe and the other in Asia. At times it has been the most populous city in the world, and the Hagia Sophia, seen in our picture, has been a cathedral and a mosque, now a museum, was once the largest building in the world. Constantine's desion to make Byzantium the new capital of the Roman Empire, moved the centre of the Empire eastwards. Constantine viewed it as a 'New Rome', though the name didn't take off, whilst Constantinople basically means the 'City of Constantine', whilst the city's current name Istanbul, is an alteration over time of the Greek 'In to the city'. Constantine was the first Christian Roman Emperor, who did numerous acts linked to Christianity during his rein, for example using the Chi-Ro symbol for Christ on the shields of his soldiers, only converted on his death bed. He was also acclaimed Roman Emperor when he was fighting as a general in Britain, the Roman soldiers declaring him Emperor at the city of Eboracum, now York in Northern England. Whilst, football fans may recall Istanbul as the city where in 2005 one of the most dramatic Champions League Finals occurred, with Liverpool 3v0 down by half-time and in disarray, they pulled the three goals back and won the European Cup on penalties. Some may say that Steven Gerrard, Liverpool's inspirational captain, was the Emperor that night!
0 Comments
Eight year-old, Yahya from Bradford, has created his own mosque with a little help from his family, to allow him to celebrate Ramadan.
The cardboard structure in his room, includes a wonderful arch and dome, with lovely symmetrical designs on the exterior of the arch. The mosque allows Yahya space to pray and consider his faith and the Quran over the month of Ramadan. See Yahya's wondeful mosque on the BBC at: .co.uk/news/av/uk-england-leeds-52396107/coronavirus-boy-s-homemade-mosque-for-ramadan-in-lockdown |
Archives
January 2021
Categories
All
|