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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Severus Alexander, post: 4799535, member: 84744&quot;]In Istanbul, it&#039;s a shocking experience to go from the lush decorations in the Hagia Sophia into the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Irene" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Irene" rel="nofollow">Hagia Irene</a>, which retains its stark iconoclastic decoration from its reconstruction in the 8th century under Leo III&#039;s son, Constantine V.</p><p><br /></p><p>When I saw the cross in the apse (at least I think it&#039;s called the apse!), it reminded me of the crosses on the miliaresia:</p><p><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/wecityguide/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/09163625/Hagia-Irene-ceiling-with-cross-1920x1272.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><img src="https://i2.wp.com/www.istanbulhistorichotels.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/hagia_irene_01.jpg?fit=1024%2C768" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><br /></p><p>The fabric of the miliaresion was copied from the dirhams prevalent in the Muslim world that was so strongly impacting the Byzantines at the time.&nbsp; It seems the success of the (anti-graven-image) Muslim armies persuaded the Byzantine soldiers on the other side that iconoclasm was a good idea.&nbsp; It&#039;s well known that it originated with the army, and that&#039;s where Leo III got the idea.&nbsp; The citizens of Constantinople weren&#039;t so happy about it though.</p><p><br /></p><p>Dirham dated AH 99 i.e. 717-18, coinciding with the first year of Leo III&#039;s reign:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1165559[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>I wonder what denomination was mostly used to pay the soldiers?&nbsp; Based on the imagery one would guess they were paid in silver...[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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