World War II – In 1940, the works were moved to Nigde for the security concerns as the war began. In 1949, the collection composed of 7 thousand pieces brought to the Istanbul.
Magka Arsenal was moved to the sports hall of the old Arsenal following the handover of the building to the Istanbul Technical University. Then this building was restored and transformed to the Harbiye Military Museum according to the project of the Architect Nezih Eldem.
Mosaics were covered…
World War II – St. Irene is an outstanding Byzantine edifice with its columns. domes and walls made of stones and bricks. St Irene taken as the unique “Byzantine church with atrium” still standing in Istanbul has undergone many transformations during centuries with its plan similar to the Hagia Sophia and fourteen of the 24 windows situated around the dome have been closed by covering with bricks. Although all churches of I. Justinianos era are decorated with magnificent embellishments, the most important mosaic still standing today from St. Irene is a gold gilding cross describing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The mosaic remained untouched when the edifice was used as a museum during the Ottoman era, its was only covered with a cloth…
Remembered again…
During the Republican era, St. Irene was remembered again in 1983 thanks to the “Anatolian Civilisations Exhibition ” organised by the Ministry of Culture and today it hosts many performances during the International Istanbul Festival. St. Irene continuing to serve as an outstanding concert and art performance center is certainly one of the most important precious treasuries of the culture life of Istanbul…Some of the different corridors and divisions in the edifice…The debt of gratitude to the olive tree…
