The Story of the Nika Rebellion

The story has it all - intrigues, violence, great philosophical and legal debates and changes, proud empresses and loyal, brilliant servants.

Wikipedia's take.

War and Game's Overview.

A More Personal Approach from Catholic Men's Quarterly

A section of the Second Hagia Sohpia (the current incarnation, built 532 and 537 AD, is the third), destroyed during the Nika Rebellion (more here and here) on 532 AD. The Church had a wooden roof, and it burned along with much of the city. There are 12 lambs total, representing the 12 Apostles.

The hilltop prior to the Nika Revolt (including Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome and the Palace (now occupied by the third Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, a park, a plaza and stores, shops and cafes. The Cistern is still below.)

The site of the Hippodrome. now a small plaza with two obelisks. Also the site of many pigeons, who may not understand the theory of circles, but in maintaining their "attack distance" (or, in this case "flight distance") have created one anyway. (Attack distance being the minimum distance at which an animal will attack/flee. It is roughly the same for all member of a species, be it pigeons or tigers, which is how one gets circular pigeon line-ups.