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[denizaksulu]

[u]Thats right George10[/u]: Istinpoli it was. Even in its dying throes (Late 19th Century)the Ottoman currency had the words Konstantiniyye on it. That says a lot to me. Had the Turks wanted to wipe out "Greekness" out of Turkey they sure did not try hard enough. And they had all the time to do it in. 554 years to be precise.
Every time I visit the Hagia Sofia I adore the mosaics of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him), the son of Mary. They were beautifully created, and preserved for all these years. Especially the red tinge on the prophets cheeks look so life like. BTW, Did anyone say how many Mosques were left in Greece?

[DT.]

preservance of culture is a luxury reserved for the conqueror my friend. The conquered have to deal with their own demons which when freed do not always react in the appropriate manner.

How succesfully have the 2 reacted as the stereotypes i describe is up to you to decide.

[alexISS]

There are many mosques in northeastern Greece where muslims live. Also, a mosque is being built in Athens as we speak, to serve the needs of the muslim IMMIGRANTS. There are no muslim Greeks living in Athens so noone is denied his rights. Things could be better of course, but Greece is in a much better place than Turkey as far as religious toleration and freedom are concerned

[alexISS]

Thats right George10: Istinpoli it was. Even in its dying throes (Late 19th Century)the Ottoman currency had the words Konstantiniyye on it. That says a lot to me. Had the Turks wanted to wipe out "Greekness" out of Turkey they sure did not try hard enough. And they had all the time to do it in. 554 years to be precise.
Every time I visit the Hagia Sofia I adore the mosaics of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him), the son of Mary. They were beautifully created, and preserved for all these years. Especially the red tinge on the prophets cheeks look so life like. BTW, Did anyone say how many Mosques were left in Greece?

Unfortunately the Ottomans did not bless us with a building with the grandeur of the Hagia Sophia during those 554 years

[denizaksulu]

alexISS, true very true. The Ottomans did indeed use the Hagia Sophia as the basis of their future architectural style. Obviously they had no problem with that. Nobody in their right sense would deny that. I seen lots of engravings of the Mani and northern Greece. I am pleased that they are still standing. The last time I visited Crete there was a derelict mosque in Khania with an old Turk sitting in front of it. I wonder if he is still alive. All cultures' archaelogy and sites should be respected and protected. We(all of us) no longer live in the middle ages. Isnt that right. We must all condemn these uncivilised actions. I am sure most GCs and TCs will join in this condemnation.
Regards
DA

[paliometoxo]

does turkey not silence the kurds and other religeions and espesially in the north torn down buldings and turned into mosques all of our land and buildings turned into nothing