Photo Comparison: Rome and Istanbul

Modern Displays of Identity

The first photo above is of a typical fountain found along the streets of Rome, supplied by an aqueduct and constantly flowing with cool water. This particular fountain is in the Campo de’ Fiori, and is frequently used for refilling water bottles on a hot day, or rinsing off fresh fruit from the market. The second photo is of an inside archway at Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, a cathedral turned mosque, and eventually turned museum. In this picture three different “layers” of Hagia Sophia can be seen—the base of the building, early Christian mosaics, and plaster with painted Islamic designs.

Both of these photos were particularly striking as images of how Rome and Istanbul display their history and identity. Although practical, the fountain is a physical and symbolic manifestation of Roman history—a history Romans are still very connected to and proud of. Carved on the front of almost every public fountain is the modern day Roman coat of arms containing the acronym S.P.Q.R., or Senatus Populus Romanus, which was the signature of the ancient Roman Republic. Every time someone bends down for a sip of water, they see this acronym and are reminded of Rome’s infamous history. Even more significant, the water they are drinking is connected directly to antiquity—the fountains are fed by ancient aqueducts, some of the crowning achievements of the early city. So, these fountains are both a physical display of ancient Roman history, and a symbolic connection to Rome’s past greatness. Throughout Rome, even trivial items, such as these fountains, are connected to a defined and absolute history that all Romans still uphold.

Conversely, Istanbul is a city that has been historically occupied by great, yet decidedly different, empires. The different layers visible in Hagia Sophia are tangible representations of these different occupations; these layers also show that for the city of Istanbul, its history is not as clear-cut as that of Rome. Religiously, Istanbul identifies with the Ottoman Empire, the most recent to rule in Istanbul. But, the city cannot deny it was the capital of the Roman and Byzantine Empires for more than one-thousand years, both Christian empires. The question of how to display this diverse history becomes a complicated one. For instance, remnants from the triumphal arch of Theodosius (the last Eastern Roman emperor) are left unprotected on the side of the road, but there is a plaque explaining what they are. At Hagia Sophia, some of the Christian mosaics have been uncovered, but many are left painted over. There are only spots throughout the building that look like the image above. All though Istanbul, there is this issue of how to display its mixed history, and reconcile it with the modern city and its residents. Walking around the city, it was impossible to pinpoint one history to connect to, or how the people of Istanbul relate to their history. This was a very different experience than walking around Rome.

These small details of both cities convey the overall identity each city seems to project. For Rome, this is a proud and certain identity that is still upheld today. For Istanbul, this is a powerful yet highly diverse identity that may still be difficult to unite.