HAGIA SOPHIA: Mosaic of Empress Zoe (1028-1050) and her third husband, Constantine IX Monomachus (1042-1055) surrounding Christ, commemorating their gifts to the church. She holds a list of donations and the emperor, a bag of gold. It is thought that the mosaic was originally commissioned by Zoe's first husband, Romanus II Argyrus (1028-1034), who paid for extensive repairs to the church. Evidently his head and name were replaced with those of her two successors, both of whom married the royal widow. This is the Zoe after whom our hotel was named.