gate greek main ceremonial entrance great palace constantinople byzantine period means bronze gate given bronze bronze tiles roof interior decorated marble exterior façade featured number statues prominent icon christ major symbol chapel dedicated christ erected 10th century gate gate demolished 13th century chapel survived early 19th century history gate lay southeastern corner main ceremonial plaza city cathedral northern southern western sides structure location erected architect reign emperor celebrate victory war like city center structure burned riots subsequently rebuilt building extensively described historian 7th 8th centuries prison emperor repaired converted law court emperor attached small chapel dedicated christ later rebuilt scale emperor endowed relics buried rebuilding facilitated fact predecessor emperor enclosed palace new wall reduced longer attached main gatehouse bronze gates emperor reign mentioned byzantine chapel survived long mentioned largely intact russian pilgrims 14th century ottoman times ruins chapel known functioned remains chapel depicted 18th century drawings finally demolished description literary descriptions gate survive earliest prominent source accounts statues gatehouse façade come later rectangular building engaged piers supporting central dome turn rested barrel arches typical byzantine fashion piers south north somewhat lower east west central structure smaller chambers south north featuring vaulted roof relation gate unclear suggested located left proposed actually built atop gatehouse known chapel placed atop elevated platform 18th century depictions locate southeast interior decoration described walls decorated multi colored marble ceilings covered depicted empress flanked senate victories gothic wars return bearing defeated kings kingdoms emperor external decoration comparatively unknown record existence statues probably placed central doorway included emperor wife children pair statues philosophers taken athens stretching arms statues emperor heads temple surround sign cross text records statues emperor entire located nearby exact location statue relation building unclear studied problem recorded concluded references came text written great images emperor family unlikely survived overthrow murder icon christ main entrance stood icon christ called christ christ origins icon obscure based mention existed stated certainty prominent display entrance imperial palace city major religious symbols consequently removal emperor major political statement spark violent rioting city marked beginning official prohibition icons empire icon restored time removed replaced simple cross definitive restoration icons mosaic icon famed monk artist replaced exact appearance icon unclear early image interpreted bust christ type late byzantine references coins mosaic use term depictions standing christ pedestal
Chalke