I'd like to see photos of these runes.

Hello.

According to a message in the OldNorseNet List, there are two known
runes in the Hagia Sophia.
 
1) *alftan* = probably Halvdan, which was a common name both in
Denmark and Sweden during the Viking Era.
2)  *ari:k* = Are, a male name followed by  k or g. "
Source: The Runic Inscriptions of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, hostedy by
hum.gu.se
http://www.hum.gu.se/arkiv/ONN/1996/ONN.01/0746.html

I have located images of these runes.
The "alftan"/"halvdan" image is pictured on the Albrektson Family's
Turkey 2001 photo page. It's the image in the top right.
Visit: Albrektson Family's Turkey 2001
http://64.30.203.214/photoweb/Family/2001.1%20Turkey/Page0006.html
Click on the image to enlarge. (warning:  it is a big image and may
load slowly)
http://64.30.203.214/photoweb/Family/2001.1%20Turkey/dsc00306.jpg

Use this link for a different picture (a smaller image with different
lighting):
http://viking.hgo.se/Files/VikHeri/quiz/EQ10Bys.jpg
This image is part of the answer to Question #10 of a Viking Quiz
http://viking.hgo.se/Files/VikHeri/quiz/questions.html

There is also an illustration of the "Halfdan" rune on this page:
AEROSOL ART ARCHIVES, Glossary: H, hosted by djingis.se:
http://kublai.djingis.se/memb/ovre/aerosolart/aerosolart/pages/hac_hip.html

Finally, the other rune is picture in this image:
http://www.snith.nu/lars/travel/turk5.jpg
Source: Lars Snith: travel photos
http://www.snith.nu/lars/travel.htm

search terms: rune, runes, runic, viking, vikings, hagia, sofia,
sophia, instanbul

I hope this helps.

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Clarification of Answer by juggler-ga on 08 Mar 2003 22:05 PST

Sorry for that typo. It should have read:
"... other rune is pictured..."

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Request for Answer Clarification by thorgunna-ga on 09 Mar 2003 05:25 PST

Thank you, Juggler.  However, the first two photo links won't open
(and I bet they're the best ones).  The "Family 2001" photos of
Turkey.

Is there a better URL to those photos?

Thanks,

Peggy

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Clarification of Answer by juggler-ga on 09 Mar 2003 10:08 PST

Hi.

I'm not sure what to recommend. As of 10:00 AM PST, the links still
work for me.
How about trying Google's cache of the page?
http://216.239.57.100/search?q=cache:NDqpZeh8Z8EC:64.30.203.214/photoweb/Family/2001.1%2520Turkey/Page0006.html+Viking+graffiti+on+balcony+at+Hagia+Sophia&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&client=googlet

It definitely is the best photo (especially the enlarged version):
http://64.30.203.214/photoweb/Family/2001.1%20Turkey/dsc00306.jpg

Let me know if you continue to have problems and I'll see what I can
come up. Thanks.

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Request for Answer Clarification by thorgunna-ga on 09 Mar 2003 10:34 PST

That photo totally rocks!  It was a bit tricky, but I did get it to
open.  Worth the wait.  Is it true that these Runes are inscribed at
the base of a statue of St. Sophia?

Thank you!

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Clarification of Answer by juggler-ga on 09 Mar 2003 10:50 PST

Hi.

Great! I'm glad you were able to open the photo.  

From what I understand, the runes are carved into marble balcony rails
in the gallery of the church.

See this PBS transcript:
"Inside, Runic letters can be found carved into the marble balcony
rails. Graffiti scrawled by visiting Vikings, including a message,
mostly faded, from 'Halvdan.'"
Source: NOVA: The Vikings:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcripts/2708vikings.html

"Runic inscription on a marble screen of the south gallery in the
Hagia Sophia, Constantinople."
Source: The Original Varangian Guard
http://users.bigpond.net.au/quarfwa/miklagard/references.htm#ref[3]

I hope this helps. Thanks.