Hagia Sophia

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Historical building in Istanbul, Turkey

Hagia Sophia (Greek: Ἁγία Σοφία , "Holy Wisdom"; Turkish: Ayasofya ) is a historic building located in Istanbul, Turkey. Originally constructed as a Christian cathedral, it later served as an Islamic mosque and is now a museum. The structure is renowned for its massive dome, which was considered an engineering marvel of its time.

History

Byzantine Era

Hagia Sophia was commissioned by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I and designed by the architects Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles. Construction began in 532 and was completed in 537. It served as the cathedral of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and was the world's largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years.

Ottoman Era

In 1453, after the Fall of Constantinople, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque. Several Islamic features were added, including four minarets, a mihrab, and a minbar. It remained a mosque until 1935.

Modern Era

In 1935, under the secular government of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum. In 2020, it was reconverted into a mosque by the Turkish government, although it remains open to visitors.

Architecture

Hagia Sophia is famed for its massive dome, which measures 31.24 meters in diameter and is 55.6 meters high. The building combines a longitudinal basilica and a centralized building in a wholly original manner, with a huge 32-meter main dome supported by pendentives and two semi-domes.

Interior

The interior of Hagia Sophia is decorated with mosaics, many of which depict Christian iconography. Notable mosaics include the Deesis mosaic, the Emperor Alexander mosaic, and the Virgin and Child mosaic.

Exterior

The exterior features a combination of Byzantine and Ottoman architectural elements. The four minarets, added during the Ottoman period, are a prominent feature of the skyline of Istanbul.

Cultural Significance

Hagia Sophia has been a symbol of both Christian and Islamic heritage. It has influenced the architecture of many other buildings, including the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and the St. Mark's Basilica in Venice.

Related Pages

• Byzantine architecture
• Ottoman architecture
• Fall of Constantinople
• Blue Mosque
• St. Mark's Basilica
• Justinian I
• Mustafa Kemal Atatürk