The marble jars placed either side of the Emperor's Gate have a capacity of 1200 l each and are a legacy of Sultan Murad III. They are used by devout Moslems for the ritual washing known as the 'Abdest'. From the upper galleries, two Eclipse spotlights per jar accentuate the three-dimensionality of these containers.

The Byzantine architects Isidor of Miletus and Anthemios of Tralles understood that natural light was to be regarded as an essential building material. This simple recognition lead to the Hagia Sophia becoming one of the greatest masterpieces in architectural history. In a discrete yet accentuating manner, artificial light helps additionally emphasise the unique intensity and beauty.