No 2

Location: On the northwestern column in the western exedra of the southern gallery. On the opposite side of the marble column with the first graffiti.

Material: Marble surface, 6th century.

Dimensions: Height 6 cm, length 3 cm, 152 cm above the floor level.

Condition: Clearly carved, not intersected with others.

Technique: Incised.

Description: A schematic representation of three ship stems with stylized animal heads, facing right. They are arranged in a line and overlapping each other to form impression of a fleet of ships.

Type: B/Ia.

Attribution: Viking warships with dragonheads arranged in battle order.

Publications: Th. Thomov. Four Scandinavian ship graffiti from Hagia Sophia, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies XXXVIII/ 2, 2014, 168-184; Tomov, Potajnostite na "Sv. Sofia", 63-64.

Commentary: Tomov, Potajnostite na "Sv. Sofia", 64.

Date: Mid-9th to the end of the 11th century AD.