Recently uncovered Byzantine Empire mosaics, called by scholars the finest in the world," will receive their first American showing in the Christmas issue of Life Magazine, if the editors' current plans are not changed. Credit for uncovering these art treasures must go to the Byzantine Institute, which is staffed and financed largely by University professors and alumni, and to Dumbarton Oaks, the Byzantine research center owned by the University.

Demotri Kessel, one of Life's top photographers, made a special trip with his staff last fall to Istanbul, Turkey in order to photograph the mosaics. They decorate the interior of the Haghia Sophia mosque, which will celebrate its 1,413 birthday this Christmas. Selected pictures from over 1000 shots should appear in a full-color spread much like Life's article last Christmas on the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

The mosaics date back to 537 A.D., 207 years after the beginning of the Byzantine Empire. In that year the Christian Roman emperor Justinian dedicated the present mosque as the "Great Church of Holy Wisdom," after it had been under construction five years at his command.

From 537 A.D. until Constantinople fell to the Turks in 1453 A.D., anonymous Greek mosaic painters contributed various religious scenes in the Hellenic tradition to the inside walls and dome of the church.

The conquering Turks immediately converted the "Church of Holy Wisdom" into a Mosque. Because the Islamic religion prohibits the depicting the the human figure in places of worship, the Turks covered over the Christian mosaic scenes with plaster and paint.

Haghia Sophia remained in this state, until 1930, except for the addition of four Mosque spires. During that year Thomas Whittemore, former keeper of Byzantine Coins and Seals at Fogg Museum and lecturer at the University, received permission from Mustapha Kemal Attaturk, President of Turkey, to uncover the mosaics.

Whittemore was not sure how the President could grant consent without incurring the wrath of Turkish citizens. The morning after receiving the go-ahead he went to Haghia Sophia to start work and saw the sign "Cloned for repairs." A little later, Attaturk quietly proclaimed the mosque a national museum.

Financial Problem

The problem of financing this venture led Whittemore to establish the Byzantine Institute. Although the Institute was founded on a national level, much of its personnel and funds have come from University sources.

A large part of the $500,000 Whittemore raised for the Institute was contributed by College alumni interested in Byzantine research. One of these, Robert Woods Bliss '00, also gave the University the $5,000,000 Dumbarton Oaks estates in 1940. Fogg Museum contributed gifts too.

At present, John Nicholas Brown '22, member of the Visiting Committee to Dumbarton Oaks, is president of the Institute. He succeeded Robert P. Blake, late professor of Byzantine History. William Emerson '95, Dean Emeritus of M.I.T.'s School of Architecture, is vice-president, and Charles Francis Adams '88, former Secretary of the Navy, is treasurer. Soth T. Gano '07 holds the post of secretary.

Palnstaking Task

When Whittemore died last June, Sterling Dow '25, Hudson Professor of Archaeology, became domestic director of the Institute. Dumbarton Oaks contributed Paul A. Underwood, associate professor of Byzantine Art and Archaeology, as field director. He is now in Istanbul supervising the last stages of the uncovering of the mosaics.

Supported by the Institute, Whittemore and his workers began the painstaking task of removing the paint and plaster from the mosaics without injuring the delicate surface of the stones. Scaffolds 100 feet high, equipped with electric are lights and small chemical laboratories, were built to reach the highest pictures.

Whittemore's hardest problem was to find the best possible instruments with which to accomplish this job, never before attempted. He decided that dental tools best serve the purpose. His aim was to preserve the mosaics as found rather than to restore them.