The marble omphalos of Saint Sophia in Constantinople : An analysis of an opus sectile pavement of Middle Byzantine Age

The paper deals with the extraordinary opus sectile panel in St Sophia of Constantinople decorating the SE part of the nave, near the great southern pilaster at the base of the cupola. This area is apparently not a part of the Justinianic sixth-century pavement, which is characterized by large slabs of Proconnesian marble. Square in shape, the panel has a large central disc that is partially linked to smaller discs of different sizes located around its edge. In the interstices, there appear finely detailed geometrical sections, which probably belong to subsequent restorations. The aim of this study is to analyze and identify the materials that constitute this unique “insertion” within the pavement. (Excerpt from the author’s abstract.)