Bk. IX. Ch. IV. SALONICA. 457 between the death of Justinian and the fall of the city. Yet there is no evidence that the Turks destroyed any. Why should they? They converted them into mosques, finding them especially convenient for that purjiose, and they have maintained them with singularly little alteration to the j^resent day. Salonica. This deficiency of examples in the capital is to some extent supplied by those which are found existing at Salonica. Four churches belonging to this age are illustrated in Texier and Pullan's work. 902. Apse of Cliurch of the Apostles, Salonica. (From Texier and rullan.) The oldest and the largest of these is that of 8ta. Sopliia. It ia a church of considerable dimensions, considering its age and style, measuring 140 ft. east and west by 118 over all externally, and with a central dome 33 ft. in diameter. It possesses also an upper gallery, and its arrangements generally are well considered and artistic. There does not seem to be any documentary evidence of its age, but, judging from the published details, it belongs probably to the 9th or 10th century, certainly not earlier than the first date, nor lower than the latter. Its dome still retains its mosaics. Next to this comes the church of St. Bardias, very similar in style though very much smallei*, measuring only 53 ft. by 37, exclusive of the apse. Its date is perfectly ascertained -^ viz., 937. There is
