Above this stretches a series of panels round the whole nave--a panel of _rosso_, with two vertical slabs of a dark marble like _porto venere_ on either side, each surrounded by the sculptured frames. The space from the top of this series to the lowest cornice is adorned with two bands of yellow [alabaster], and between them is sheathing similar to that below. The upper division of the nave starts above the cornice with horizontal bands of white and verde antique; above which are vertical panels of porphyry, set in a frame of yellow [alabaster], with slabs of the russet marble on either side. [Then follows another horizontal band of oriental alabaster, and above it a range of vertical slabs of verde antique alternating with Synnadan.] Beyond this again, and immediately below the upper cornice, is the band made up of different marbles[279] [_opus sectile_]. A dark brown marble forms the groundwork, the tendril ornament is white, and the rest is of red, like rosso antico, and of green serpentine. Similar work incrusts the spandrils of the gynaeceum arcade. The centre of each is a disc of green marble, and the whole spandril is edged by a three-inch strip of pale red. Above the centre of each arch in this spandril decoration are discs containing crosses, from the arms of which hang seals.[280] The soffites of the arches are covered with glass mosaic. The aisles are lined with marbles similarly arranged to those in the nave. The walls of the bema are covered with panels of inlaid marble.[281] These panels in pairs are separated by a plain slab of porphyry. By the side of the arched opening into the gynaeceum is a panel of porphyry with a pattern in slight relief, and surrounded with yellow alabaster. The arched opening into the gynaeceum is closed with a parapet of white marble, with a carved framework above, formerly fitted, as holes show, with a metal lattice. The lower division of the bema walls is decorated by two rows of panels, divided by a horizontal band of verde antique. Salzenberg’s Plate xxii., Fig. 6, shows the frieze directly below the bema cornice, and the top of a porphyry pilaster-strip with a capital of white marble; a similar pilaster fills the narrow space on each side of the apse. The walls of the apse are shown on Salzenberg’s Plate xxi. The frieze beneath the cornice is given in Plate xxii., Fig. 8. The porphyry ground has an inlaid pattern which slightly projects: the serpentine in the frieze, Fig. 6, also projects from its rosso ground. The lower portion of the apse, formerly occupied by the seats of the priests, is now plated with a white gray marble. This is probably Turkish. The height of this probably gives the height of the iconostasis, as there is no sign of any change in the decoration above.