One of the greatest structures in the world, Hagia Sophia previously housed one of the biggest cathedrals. Despite being more than 1500 years old, it was only constructed in a matter of six years. This has made its architects somewhat well-known.
Oddly, Hagia Sophia was first a church, then a mosque, and a museum. After some time Hagia Sophia turned back into mosque. What a lack of diversity. The top ten facts about Hagia Sophia paint a clear image of the magnificent work of art's history and location in Istanbul.
1. The Hagia Sophia's renovation was mandated by the first great Byzantine emperor.
The Hagia Sophia is unquestionably the most significant structure from the Byzantine (Istanbul) Empire and one of the most magnificent structures in the entire globe. During the 38 years that Justinian the Great ruled, there was an uprising, and the church was completely demolished. However, the emperor commissioned, oversaw, and inaugurated the Hagia Sophia in 537 CE. Of this work, he felt incredibly proud.
2. Hagia Sophia has a large dome as one of its highlights.
The walls of Hagia Sophia previously needed to be rebuilt to support the enormous dome that is perched atop it because its weight forced the walls to tilt outward. Its staggering dimensions—31.7 meters in diameter and 55.6 meters above floor level—are mind-blowing. Another unusual element employed in building at the time was the pendentives that are located in the spaces between the arches supporting the dome.
The Hagia Sophia has captured people's attention since it is extraordinary to get a round dome to stay atop a square structure by itself.
The enormous dome is thought to represent the glory of the heavenly realm. Given that it is the most remarkable feature of Hagia Sophia and the second-largest dome in the world (the Pantheon in Rome has a slightly larger dome), this dome deserves to be mentioned.
3. Hagia Sophia’s design has been used as an architectural yardstick
The Hagia Sophia building is remarkable because of its basilica form and enormous 32-meter dome. Its approximately square structure has three aisles that are divided by columns and have galleries above them. A large dome that rests on top of the marble piers provides stability.
Hagia Sophia contains windows that, when the light shines, conceal the supports, giving the canopy the appearance of floating.
Hagia Sophia is more than just a typical mosque because to these and numerous other architectural wonders; in fact, Hagia Sophia's architecture served as an inspiration for the Sultan Ahmed Mosque and the Blue Mosque of Istanbul.
4. Hagia Sophia boasts Islamic and Christian influences
Hagia Sophia was built as a Cathedral and its name means holy wisdom. It was built under an officially Christian state at a time when citizens were dissatisfied with their government and were rioting. Justinian, the ruler then, managed to quell the riots and had the Hagia Sophia built with simple decorations that were mostly images of the cross, and later ornate mosaics.
With the end of Justinian’s rule by way of defeat by Mehmed II, sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque and changes in decorations were made. Christian decorations were covered up rather than destroyed. These were later unearthed, hence present-day Hagia Sophia museum presents both Muslim and Christian influences.
5. Hagia Sophia lost a lot of art to iconoclasm
Both Muslim and Christian works of art are abundant in the Hagia Sophia museum. If iconoclasm, which is the belief in the importance of the destruction of pictures and monuments for fear that they become the center of veneration instead of God, had not taken place, one can only speculate how much more Christian artwork there would have been today.
Many works of art or imagery were covered up, destroyed, or completely eliminated during the iconoclasm era. In fact, people would make wishes and offer prayers in front of the icons at Hagia Sophia in the hope that they would be granted.
6. The "Weeping Column" in Hagia Sophia is reputed to have therapeutic properties.
The Wishing Column, Sweating Column, or Perspiring Column is a column at Hagia Sophia that is moist to the touch. It is situated on the northwest side of the church, and it has a hole in it where people can stick their fingers to get well. It is thought to have St. Gregory's blessing, who appeared there, and thus brings about healing.
One's desires being granted and the supply of healing are thought to be indicated by the finger emerging from the hole moist. Pilgrims still managed to access the hole despite protective bronze plates being placed over it.
7. Hagia Sophia became a museum
In 1923, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk became the country's first president. He westernized Turkey and outlawed various Islamic practices. This served as a model for the secularization of the Hagia Sophia, which was afterwards turned into a museum.
The main mosque in Istanbul was the Hagia Sophia before it was converted. As it would impart fresh knowledge, its conversion was seen favorably by the Eastern nations and the rest of the globe.
The Kariye mosque in Turkey was challenged in court. The modification was deemed illegal, hence the decision was in its favor. This may have given other museums that were originally mosques, including Hagia Sophia, the green light to turn back into mosques.
8. Two additional churches once stood where Hagia Sophia now stands.
The third building to be built on the site where Hagia Sophia now stands. The other two buildings were also churches. The first one, known as Megál Ekkls and denoting "Great Church," burned down in 404.
A new church was built as per Theodosius II's instructions, but it was also destroyed during an uprising against Emperor Justinian I. After the uprising, this emperor hired Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles to design the Hagia Sophia.
The two guys were, respectively, mathematicians and physicists and mathematicians and geometricians.
9. Windows of Hagia Sophia
The Hagia Sophia's 40 windows that are located beneath the enormous dome all around the structure are another notable aspect of the structure in addition to the Hagia Sophia itself and its dome. Sunlight beams inside the cathedral, creating a wonderful glow that reflects into the nave.
The iconic windows let light into the building but also revealed wear and tear or structural issues while relieving the dome's strain on the pendentives.
10. Significant materials were used to construct Hagia Sophia.
One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, provided the columns for Hagia Sophia. While black stone came from the Bosphorus, large stones came from Egypt. Additionally, yellow stone and green marble were imported from Syria and Thessaloniki, respectively. Hagia Sophia's magnificence is a result of the resources it contains, which come from all around the Byzantine Empire and beyond.
The Hagia Sophia's elements are magnificent, and visiting it would let you realize both how unique each feature is and how they work together to create the building's overall aesthetic. The church was transformed into a mosque and later into a museum, ensuring that everything could be seen.
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