No 1

Location: On the the northwest column in the western bay of the south gallery (immediately after entering the gallery).

Material: Marble surface, 6th century.

Dimensions: Height 1.5 cm, length 14 cm at approximately 1.39 cm from the floor. The animal head has a length of approximately 2.5 cm and a height of 4.5 cm. 

Condition: Lightly incised, with the exception of the stem, which is deeply carved into the marble not intersected by others.

Technique: Incised.

Description: A complete ship depicted from the port side. The hull is long and narrow with  a dragon-head adorning the prow. Some of the lines on the stem could be interpreted as lines of the planking. Two round shields are hung over the vessel’s sheer strake (that is to say, the top strake of the hull). A single vertical line amidships represents the mainmast, which is devoid of a sail.  On the side of the vessel two lightly sloping lines towards the prow and two downwards suggest mooring lines rather than oars.
Another detail is a steering oar (side rudder) at the aft. It is shown as being on the port side. The other structure in the aft (with two vertical lines meeting one line slanting downwards to the aft) could be a type of cabin.

Type: C/Ia.

Attribution: A Viking warship with a dragon-headed prow in harbour.  

Publications: Th. Thomov. Four Scandinavian ship graffiti from Hagia Sophia, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies XXXVIII/ 2, 2014, 168-178; Tomov, Potajnostite na "Sv. Sofia", 58-63.

Commentary: Tomov, Potajnostite na "Sv. Sofia", 59-63.

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