Problem
In her article "Performing the Sacred in Byzantium" Bissera Pentcheva discussed how the interior space of the Byzantine basilical church Hagia Sophia became enlivened, particularly at the time of worship and ritual, with light, sound, images, smell, and breath. Discuss how this author imagines the space of the church to have been configured with respect to this kind of a sensorial experience. How do the different architectural elements of this church contribute to the religious experience of Byzantine worshippers? Compare Hagia Sophia to other Byzantine churches you have seen in class. What is the role of mosaic imagery on Byzantine church walls? Discuss with examples.