Charles Félix Marie Texier (1802-1871) was a French archaeologist and architect. In 1823 he entered the School of Fine Arts and by 1827 he had already become inspector of public works in Paris. He conducted excavations in Fréjus and Ostia. During 1828 and 1829 he directed archaeological missions on behalf of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres. In 1833, after just one journey, Texier published "Asie mineure: description géographique, historique et archéologique des provinces et des villes de la Chersonnèse d’Asie", overshadowing all the preceding rather simplistic related studies.

With R. Chandler (1765), W.M. Leake (early 19th century) and Texier, travellers begin gradually to penetrate the vast interior of Asia Minor. The first explorations were made in the area of Bithynia but the easternmost regions, linked more with looting antiquities than with romantic itineraries, held a dual attraction for travellers, because of their rich Graeco-Roman past and the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse.

In 1839 Texier set out on an archaeological mission to Armenia, Mesopotamia and Persia, the results of which were published over the years 1843-1845. From 1840 he was Professor of Archaeology at the Collège de France, from 1843 an inspector of public building in Algeria and in 1855 he was elected an academician. Texier was among the first scholars to study Byzantine architecture. This impressive edition in large format is a pioneering as well as fully documented work on the subject. The author collected his material during his three journeys to Asia Minor, Trebizond and Thessalonica. Scholars from Russia, Germany and England came to Paris to see and discuss this material, on which Texier worked from 1854 to 1862.

The text opens with an introduction to Byzantine architecture, focusing on churches, edifices of circular plan and fortifications. The following chapters deal with architecture before Constantine the Great, buildings in Cappadocia, religious ceremonies in churches, the conversion of ancient temples into Christian places of worship, and mosaic pavements. The edition includes information and illustrations on Christian architecture in Jerusalem, Bursa, Trebizond, Syria, and almost all the churches of Thessalonica (St George-Rotunda, the Virgin Chalceon, Hagia Sophia, Holy Apostles, Acheiropoietos, and Prophet Elijah).

Written by Ioli Vingopoulou

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  Remains of Byzantine structure in Palatia, on the island of Marmara.

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  St. Sophia's, Trebizond. West elevation.

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  St. Elias. Broussa. Ground plan. Section.

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  St. Sophia's. Thessalonica. Transverse section. Longitudinal section.

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  Stamps on bricks of Rotonda, Thessaloniki.

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  Caravanserai, Thessalonica.

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  Interior of the Cathedral of Aix en Provence, France.

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  Plan of Temple at Vernegue.

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  Church of St. Marcellinus and St. Peter.

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  Gümüşkesen, Roman mausoleum in Mylasa (Milas).

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  Temple of Bacchus, Laodicea-Lattakia. Elevation of inner side of columns. Plan.

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  The Hittite relief at Karambel, on the route from Kemalpaşa to Torbali. According to modern research, it is most probably a depiction of Hittite king Tarkasnava.

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  Agora of Gods (or scene of holy wedding) from Yazilikaya sanctuary near Hattousa (Boǧazkale), capital of the Hittites. Central scene depicts Storm-god Teshub and sun-goddess Hebat. Teshub stands on two mountain deities and Hebat on a panther. Behind Hebat, their son Sharruma and daughter Alanzu.

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  Relifs of gods from Yazilikaya sanctuary near Hattousa (Boǧazkale), capital of the Hittites.

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  Remains in Hattousa (Boǧazkale), capital of the Hittites.

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  Sanctuary in Knidos.

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  1. Gate in the walls of Hattousa (Boǧazkal), capital of the Hittites. 2. Gate in the walls of Hattousa.

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  Walls of Aphrodisias in Caria.

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  Houses in the vale of Xanthus in Lydia.

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  Rock-cutLycian tombs.

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  The monument called “Tomb of Midas” in Gordium, Phrygia, possibly a temple of Cybele.

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  Elevation and plan of the monument called “Tomb of Tantalus”.

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  Temple of Athena in Assus.

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  Rock-cut Lycian tombs in Makri (anc. Telmissos, today Telmissos).

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  Reliefs from the temple of Athena in Assus.

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  Gate in the walls of Assus.

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  Temple of Apollo in Didyma.

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  Temple of Dionysus in Teos.

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  Temple of Zeus in Labraunda.

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  Tomb of Amyntas in Makri (anc. Telmissos, today Fethiye).

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  Tomb of Claudia Regilla. Tomb of Ptolemy in Antifellos (today Kas).

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  Monumentum Ancyranum (Temple of Augustus and Rome in Ancara).

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  Marble sarcophagus in Aphrodisias, Caria.

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  Remains of the Basilica of Saint John in Pergamon.

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  Hagia Sophia of Trabzon.

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  Remains of the Seljuk Palace of the Sultans of Rum in Konya.

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  Mosque of Murad II in Bursa (Muradiye mosque).

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  Grand Mosque of Bursa (Bursa Ulu Camii).

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  Coranic school (madrasa) of Murad II in Bursa.

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  Mausoleum of Hunat Hatun in Caesarea.

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  Yenisehir Gate in the walls of Nicaea.

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  Covered bridge in Bursa (Irgandı Köprüsü).

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  View of Kütahya.

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  Hacı Bayram Mosque in Ancara.

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  View of Izmir.

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  Gypsies dancing.

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  Remains of the palace built by Ioannis Doukas Vatatzis in Nymphaeum (Nif – Kemalpaşa), winter residence of the emperors of Nicaea.

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  View of Tralles (Güzelhisar-Aydın).

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  Isa Bey mosque in Seljuk, near ancient Ephesus.

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  View of Kayseri (Caesarea). Mount Erciyes in the background.

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  View of Kekova (anc. Cyaneai) with the town fortress and Lycian tombs.

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  Remains of structures in Kekova (anc. Cyaneai).

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  Rock-cut tombs in Myra, Lycia.

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  Fossils of oysters discovered in Mount Taurus.

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  Portraits of emperors of Trebizond from Hagia Sophia in Trabzon.

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  Map of Asia Minor at the time of Alexander the Great.

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  Map of Asia Minor, Roman era.

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  Map of Asia Minor at the time of emperor Heraclius.

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  Χάρτης της Μικράς Ασίας στα μέσα του δεκάτου ενάτου αιώνα.

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  The northern gate of the walls of Nicaea (Iznik).

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  Relief from Byzantine parapet.

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  Triumphal Arch at Reims.

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  Fortifications of Nicaea [today Iznik].

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  Tomb at Dana.

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  Plan of the city of Perga.

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  View of the city of Perga.

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  Christian tombstones at Sour Ghozlan (Auzla), Africa.

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  Rock cut church, east of Kayseri, Cappadocia.

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  Rock cut tombs at İncesu, Cappadocia.

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  Rock cut Christian tomb near Ürgüp, Cappadocia.

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  Entrance to rock cut church, near Ürgüp, Cappadocia.

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  The church of Saint Anthony, on the the site of Baal's Temple, at Beit Mery, Lebanon

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  Fortifications of Dara.

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  Plan of the Temple of Baal, at Cavesus [Beit Mery], in [Lebanon].

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  Plan of the Temple of Venus at Aphrodisias.

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  Plan of the Temple of Rome and Augustus [Ankara].

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  Temple of Portumnus, Ostia.

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  Temple of Portumnus, Ostia. Elevation. Section.

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  Church at Riez.

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  Reconstructive drawing of the Roman Temple of Zeus at Vernegue (France), to which it was added the Romanic chapel of Saint Caesareus.

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  Capitals from the Roman Temple of Zeus at Vernegue (France), to which it was added the Romanic chapel of Saint Caesareus.

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  The Temple of [Rome and] Augustus at Vienne, converted into a church dedicated to Notre-Dame-de-Vie.

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  Relief from Byzantine parapet.

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  Plan of Thessalonica.

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  St. Demetrius, Thessalonica. Ground plan.

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  St. Demetrius, Thessalonica. Transverse section looking east.

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  St. Demetrius, Thessalonica. Transverse section looking west.

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  St. Demetrius, Thessalonica. Longitudinal section.

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  St. Demetrius, Thessalonica. Details of bay of nave [narthex].

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  St. Demetrius, Thessalonica. Details of west end [narthex].

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  St. Demetrius, Thessalonica. Capitals in nave.

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  St. Demetrius, Thessalonica. Capitals in nave & pilaster capitals.

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  Thessalonica Mosaics, & c.

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  Rotonda (Thessaloniki): Elevation.

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  Rotonda (Thessaloniki): Perspective view.

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  Ambo, or pulpit, of Rotonda (Thessaloniki).

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  Plan of the cathedral of Bozrah, in Syria.

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  Rotonda (Thessaloniki): Mosaics of Dome.

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  Rotonda (Thessaloniki): Mosaics of Dome.

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  Rotonda (Thessaloniki): Mosaics of Dome.

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  Rotonda (Thessaloniki): Mosaics and border from Dome.

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  St. Sophia's. Thessalonica. Ground plan.

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  St. Sophia's. Thessalonica. Upper plan.

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  St. Sophia's. Thessalonica. Capitals.

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  St. Sophia's. Thessalonica. Mosaics of Dome.

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  St. Sophia's. Thessalonica. Mosaics of Dome.

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  Plan of Acheiropoietos church, Thessaloniki.

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  Acheiropoietos church, (Thessaloniki): Transversal section. Longitudinal section.

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  N. E. View of the Church of the Holy Apostles. Thessalonica.

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  S. E. View of the Church of the Holy Apostles. Thessalonica.

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  Church of the Holy Apostles. Thessalonica. Ground plan.

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  Church of the Holy Apostles. Thessalonica. Longitudinal section.

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  Stamps on bricks in the church of St. Elias.

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  Church of Panagia Chalkeon (Thessaloniki): West elevation. South elevation.

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  St. Elias. Thessalonica. Ground plan.

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  St. Elias. Thessalonica. West elevation. Transverse section.

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  St. Elias. Thessalonica. Longitudinal section.

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  Baths of Mahomet II. Constantinople.

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  Church at Dana. Transversal section. Plan.

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  Church at Dana. Longitudinal section. Columns in nave.

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  Castle of Edessa.

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  Plan of the Castle of Edessa.

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  View of Trebizond.

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  S.E. view of St. Sophia's, Trebizond.

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  St. Sophia's, Trebizond. Ground plan.

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  St. Sophia's, Trebizond. Longitudinal section. South elevation.

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  Plan of Trebizond.

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  St. Sophia's, Trebizond. Details of sculpture.

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  St. Sophia's, Trebizond. Fresco in apse.

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  Portraits of Irene Palaiologina, Alexios III Komnenos and Theodora Kantakouzene in the Monastery of Theoskepastos, near Trabzon.

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  Mosque of Orta Hissar. Trebizond. Ground plan.

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  Mosque of Orta Hissar. Trebizond. Longitudinal section.

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  Inscriptions. Fig. 1,2. Inscriptions from the Temple of Jupiter [Beit Mery]. Fig. 3. Inscription from the church of St. Demetrius [Thessaloniki]. Fig. 4, 5. Inscription from the Temple of Aphrodisias. Fig. 6. Inscription from the church of [Church of Panagia Chalkeon (Thessaloniki)]. Fig. 7. Inscription from the gate of Aphrodisias. Fig. 8. Inscription from the altar at Auriol. Fig. 9. Altar at Auriol. Fig. 10 & 11. Details of altar at Auriol.

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  Rotonda (Thessaloniki): Mosaics of Dome.

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  Rotonda (Thessaloniki): Longitudinal plan. Ground plan.

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  Reliefs from Yazilikaya sanctuary near Hattousa (Boǧazkale), capital of the Hittites. a) Goddess of love and war, Shaushka. b) King Tudhaliya IV. c) Nergal, god of the underworld. d) God Sharruma shelters King Tudhaliya IV.

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  Map of Asia Minor, Persian era.

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  View of Trebzon.

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  View of Marmaris.

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  Traditional costumes of Inegi in Cappadocia.

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  Ürgüp in Cappadocia.

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  The Acropolis of Assus.

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  View of Afyonkarahisar.

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  Mausoleum of Batal Gazi in Seyyid Gazi.

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  The main street of Nicomedia (Izmit).

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  Gate of Leuke in the walls of Nicaea.

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  Bodrum Castle, built by the Knights Hospitaller at the port of Bodrum (anc. Halicarnassus).

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  Theatre in Patara.

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  Rock-cut Odeon in Aperlae, Lycia.

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  Temple of Apollo in Aphrodisias.

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  Relief of warrior from Konya.

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  Relief from Byzantine parapet.

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  Corinthian Columns.

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  Position of Dana.

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  Church of St. Nicolas. Myra. Longitudinal section. Plan.

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  St. Elias. Thessalonica. North elevation.

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  Church of the Holy Apostles. Thessalonica. West Elevation.

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  Acheiropoietos church, (Thessaloniki): Capitals.

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  St. Sophia's. Thessalonica. East elevation. West elevation.

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  Church of Panagia Chalkeon (Thessaloniki): Longitudinal section. Ground plan.

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  St. Demetrius, Thessalonica. Capitals in nave.

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  St. Demetrius, Thessalonica. Capitals in nave.

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  The silver ciborium in the church of St. Demetrius.

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  St. Sophia's, Trebizond. Mosaic Pavements.

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  Mosaic pavements.

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  View of the Temple of Bacchus, Laodicea-Lattakia.

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  Votive fresco from church at Ürgüp, Cappadocia.

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  Plan of Anazarbus.

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  The putative Tomb of Ezekiel at Al Kifl, near Baghdad.

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  Title page.

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  Title page.

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  Title page.

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  Temple of Zeus in Aizanoi.

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  Rotonda (Thessaloniki): Mosaics of Dome.