Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia (Church of Holy Wisdom), now known as the Ayasofya Museum, is a former Eastern Orthodox church converted to a mosque in 1453, converted into a museum in 1935, in the Turkish city of Istanbul. It is universally acknowledged as one of the greatest buildings of the world and sometimes considered the Eighth Wonder of the World. Its conquest by the Ottomans at the fall of Constantinople is considered one of the great tragedies of Christianity by the Greek Orthodox faithful. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x688, 180 KB) Description: Einer der bekanntesten Bauten der Spätantike: die Hagia Sophia (Baubeginn 325), nach einem Brand wieder neu errichtet unter Justinian I Source: German Wikipedia, original upload 18. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x688, 180 KB) Description: Einer der bekanntesten Bauten der Spätantike: die Hagia Sophia (Baubeginn 325), nach einem Brand wieder neu errichtet unter Justinian I Source: German Wikipedia, original upload 18. ... The Eastern Orthodox Church is a Christian body that encompasses national jurisdictions such as the Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Serbian Orthodoxand other Churches (see Eastern Orthodox Church organization). ... A church building (or simply church) is a building used in Christian worship. ... The Badshahi Masjid in Lahore, Pakistan with an iwan at center, three domes, and five visible minarets A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... The National Gallery in London, a famous museum. ... Istanbul (Turkish: , Greek: , see other names) is Turkeys most populous city, and its cultural, and economic centre. ... Eighth Wonder of the World is a term sometimes used to describe things in comparison to the Seven Wonders of the World, the widely-known list of seven remarkable constructions of classical antiquity. ... Imperial motto (Ottoman Turkish) دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power (1683) Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital Söğüt (1299-1326), Bursa (1326-1365), Edirne (1365-1453), Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) (1453-1922) Imperial anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Sovereigns Padishah... Combatants Byzantine Empire Ottoman Empire Commanders Constantine XI† Mehmed II Strength 7,000 100,000 Casualties Entire garrison killed or captured Unknown, but heavy The Fall of Constantinople was the conquest of the Byzantine capital by the Ottoman Empire under the command of Sultan Mehmed II, on Tuesday, May 29... Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on Jesus of Nazareth, and on his life and teachings as presented in the New Testament. ... Greek Orthodox Church can refer to any of several hierarchical churches within the larger group of mutually recognizing Eastern Orthodox churches: the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, headed by the Patriarch of Constantinople, who is also the first among equals of the Eastern Orthodox Communion. ...

The name comes from the Greek name Αγία Σοφία, a contraction of Ναός της Αγίας του Θεού Σοφίας (Church of the Holy Wisdom of God). It is also known as Sancta Sophia in Latin and Ayasofya in Turkish. Latin is an ancient Indo-European language. ...

Description

Hagia Sophia is covered by a central dome with a diameter of 31 meters (102 feet) and 56 metres high, slightly smaller than the Pantheon's. The dome seems rendered weightless by the unbroken arcade of arched windows under it, which help flood the colourful interior with light. This article is about the building structural element. ... The Pantheon, Rome, in front of which stands the obelisk Macuteo, one of fourteen ancient Egyptian obelisks in Rome. ...

The dome is carried on pendentives — four concave triangular sections of masonry which solve the problem of setting the circular base of a dome on a rectangular base. At Hagia Sophia the weight of the dome passes through the pendentives to four massive piers at the corners. Between them the dome seems to float upon four great arches. St Peters Basilica, Rome A dome is a common structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. ...

At the western (entrance) and eastern (liturgical) ends, the arched openings are extended by half domes carried on smaller semidomed exedras. Thus a hierarchy of dome-headed elements builds up to create a vast oblong interior crowned by the main dome, a sequence unexampled in antiquity. An exedra adopted by James Cameron for a neoclassical interior space, at the Hermitage In architecture an exedra is a semicircular recess, headed by a half-dome, which is usually set into a buildings facade. ...

All interior surfaces are sheathed with polychrome marbles, green and white with purple porphyry and gold mosaics, encrusted upon the brick. On the exterior, simple stuccoed walls reveal the clarity of massed vaults and domes. Porphyry is a very hard igneous rock consisting of large-grained crystals, such as feldspar or quartz, dispersed in a fine-grained feldspathic matrix or groundmass. ...

Construction

A section of the original architecture of Hagia Sophia

Nothing remains of the first church that was built on the same site during the 4th century. Following the destruction of the first church, a second was built by Constantius II, the son of Constantine I, but was burned down during the Nika riots of 532. The building was rebuilt under the personal supervision of Emperor Justinian I and rededicated on December 27, 537. As a means of recording the passage of time, the 4th century was that century which lasted from 301 to 400. ... Constantius II coin, celebrating the 15th year of reign. ... Head of Constantines colossal statue at Musei Capitolini Gaius Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus[1] (February 27, 272–May 22, 337), commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or (among Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic[2] Christians) Saint Constantine, was a Roman Emperor, proclaimed Augustus by his troops on... The Nika riots (Greek: Στάση του Νίκα), or Nika revolt, took place over the course of a week in Constantinople in 532. ... Events First year in which Anno Domini calendar is actually used for numbering (in Dionysius Exiguuss treatise) January 11 - Nika riots in Constantinople; the cathedral is destroyed. ... Justinian I depicted on one of the famous mosaics of the Basilica of San Vitale. ... December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (362nd in leap years). ... Events Pope Silverius deposed by Belisarius at the order of Justinian, who appoints as his successor Pope Vigilius. ...

Justinian chose Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles, a physicist and a mathematician, as architects; Anthemius, however, died within the first year. The construction is described in Procopius' On Buildings (De Aedificiis). The Byzantine poet Paulus the Silentiary composed an extant poetic ekphrasis, probably for the rededication of 563, which followed the collapse of the main dome. Isidore of Miletus was the architect who together with Anthemius of Tralles designed Hagia Sophia in modern day Istanbul The Emperor Justinian I decided to rebuild the 4th century basilica in Constantinople which was destroyed during the Nika riots of 532. ... Anthemius of Tralles (c. ... Procopius (in Greek Προκόπιος, c. ... Ecphrasis or ekphrasis (from Greek ek out + phrasis speaking, verb ekphrazein, to proclaim or call an inanimate object by name) in modern times is taken to be the graphic, often dramatic description of a visual work of art while anciently the word applied to a description of any things, persons... Events Saint Columba, the Irish missionary, founds his mission to the Picts and his monastery on Iona. ...

Hagia Sophia is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. Of great artistic value was its decorated interior with mosaics and marble pillars and coverings. The temple itself was so richly and artistically decorated that Justinian proclaimed "Solomon, I have surpassed thee!" (Νενίκηκά σε Σολομών). Justinian himself had overseen the completion of the greatest cathedral ever built up to that time, and it was to remain the largest cathedral for 1,000 years up until the completion of the cathedral in Seville. Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire. ... This article is about a decorative art. ... Venus de Milo, front. ... Artists depiction of Solomons court (Ingobertus, c. ... Cathedral from the Patio of Oranges Interior of the Cathedral Façade of the Cathedral The Cathedral of Seville, formally Catedral de Santa María de la Sede (Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See) was begun in 1402, with construction continuing into the 16th century. ...

Interior of the Hagia Sophia, June 1994

Justinian's basilica was at once the culminating architectural achievement of late antiquity and the first masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. Its influence, both architecturally and liturgically, was widespread and enduring in the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Muslim worlds alike. Hagia Sofia Interior, Istanbul, June 1994, copyright User:Alex756 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Hagia Sofia Interior, Istanbul, June 1994, copyright User:Alex756 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... It has been suggested that Greco-Roman be merged into this article or section. ... Eastern Orthodoxy (also called Greek Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy) is a Christian tradition which represents the majority of Eastern Christianity. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Turkish: Müslüman, Persian and Urdu: مسلمان) is an adherent of Islam. ...

The dome of the Hagia Sophia has spurred particular interest for many art historians and architects because of the innovative way the original architects envisioned the dome. The dome is supported by pendentives which had never been used before the building of this structure. The pendentive enables the round dome to transition gracefully into the square shape of the piers below. The pendentives not only achieve a pleasing aesthetic quality, but they also restrain the lateral forces of the dome and allow the weight of the dome to flow downward. St Peters Basilica, Rome A dome is a common structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. ...

Although this design stabilizes the dome and the surrounding walls and arches, the actual construction of the walls of the Hagia Sophia weakened the overall structure. The bricklayers used more mortar than brick, which, of course, constitutes a weak wall. The structure would have been more stable had the builders at least let the mortar dry before they began the next layer, however, they did not do this. When the dome was placed atop the building, the weight of the dome caused the walls to lean outward because of the wet mortar underneath. When Isidorus the Younger rebuilt the original dome, he had to first build up the interior of the walls so that they were vertical in order to support the weight of the new dome. Another probable change in the design of the dome when it was rebuilt was the actual height of the dome. Isidorus the Younger raised the height of the dome by approximately twenty feet so that the lateral forces would not be as strong and the weight of the dome would flow more easily down the walls.

A second interesting fact about the original structure of the dome was how the architects were able to place forty windows around the base of the dome. The Hagia Sophia is famous for the mystical quality of light that reflects everywhere in the interior of the nave, which gives the dome the appearance of hovering above the nave. This design is possible because the dome is shaped like a scalloped shell or the inside of an umbrella with ribs that extend from the top of the dome down to the base. These ribs allow the weight of the dome to flow between the windows, down the pendentives, and ultimately to the foundation. Links to full descriptions of the elements of a Gothic floorplan are also found at the entry Cathedral diagram. ...

The anomalies in the design of the Hagia Sophia show how this structure is one of the most advanced and ambitious monuments since the fall of Rome. The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, a major literary achievement of Eighteenth Century, was written by the English historian, Edward Gibbon. ...

History

Hagia Sophia was the seat of the Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople and a principal setting for Byzantine imperial ceremonies. The Patriarch of Constantinople is the Ecumenical Patriarch, ranking as the first among equals in the Eastern Orthodox communion. ...

The structure has been severely damaged several times by earthquakes. The dome collapsed after an earthquake in 558; its replacement fell in 563. There were additional partial collapses in 989 after which an Armenian architect named Trdat was commissioned to repair the damage. During the Latin Occupation (1204-1261) the church became a Roman Catholic cathedral, and its many treasures and relics were dispersed. It was converted to a mosque after the Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks under Sultan Mehmed II in 1453. In 1935, under the order of Turkish president Kemal Atatürk, Hagia Sophia was secularized and turned into the Ayasofya Museum. Global earthquake epicenters, 1963–1998. ... Events May 7 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses. ... Events Saint Columba, the Irish missionary, founds his mission to the Picts and his monastery on Iona. ... For the video game developers, see 989 Studios. ... Tiridates, or Teridates is a Persian name, given by Arrian in his Parthica (preserved by Photius, cod. ... // Events February - Byzantine emperor Alexius IV is overthrown in a revolution, and Alexius V is proclaimed emperor. ... Events July 25 - Constantinople re-captured by Nicaean forces under the command of Michael VIII Palaeologus, Byzantine Empire re-formed August 29 - Urban IV becomes Pope, the last man to do so without being a Cardinal first Bela IV of Hungary repels Tatar invasion Charles of Anjou given rule of... The Badshahi Masjid in Lahore, Pakistan with an iwan at center, three domes, and five visible minarets A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... Combatants Byzantine Empire Ottoman Empire Commanders Constantine XI† Mehmed II Strength 7,000 100,000 Casualties Entire garrison killed or captured Unknown, but heavy The Fall of Constantinople was the conquest of the Byzantine capital by the Ottoman Empire under the command of Sultan Mehmed II, on Tuesday, May 29... The Ottoman Turks were the ethnic subdivision of the Turkish people who dominated the ruling class of the Ottoman Empire. ... Mehmed II (also known as el-Fatih (الفاتح), the Conqueror, in Ottoman Turkish, or, in modern Turkish, Fatih Sultan Mehmet) (March 30, 1432 – May 3, 1481) (Arabic: محمد الثاني) was first the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to 1446, and later from 1451 to 1481. ... Events May 29 - Fall of Constantinople to Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire). ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881–10 November 1938), until 1934 Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha, Turkish army officer and revolutionist statesman, was the founder and the first President of the Republic of Turkey. ...

For almost 500 years the principal mosque of Istanbul, Ayasofya served as model for many of the Ottoman mosques such as the Shehzade Mosque, the Suleiman Mosque, and the Rüstem Pasha Mosque. The Suleiman Mosque The Suleiman Mosque (Süleymaniye Camii) is a grand mosque in Istanbul. ... The Rüstem Pasha Mosque is an Ottoman mosque located in Hasircilar Carsisi (Strawmat Weavers Market) in Eminonu, Istanbul. ...

Since more conservative factions of Islam consider the depiction of the human form to be blasphemous, its mosaics were covered with plaster. One must note, however, that due to the foresightedness and tolerance of the Ottoman Sultans, the plaster was periodically removed, the mosaics maintained, and replastered. Many restorations and repairs were done by Ottoman architects. The most famous and most extensive work was done by Mimar Sinan in the 16th century as structural supports were added to the exterior of the building, the old minarets were demolished, the minarets were added which can be seen today, as well as much of the Islamic pulpits and art. For other uses, including people named Islam, see Islam (disambiguation). ... Sinan should no be confused with Sinan Pasha. ...

However, the 19th century restoration of the Fossati brothers, who also built a pulpit (minbar) and the four circular medallions hanging on the walls of the nave that bear the names of Muhammad and the first caliphs, is widely deemed to have destroyed much of the original mosaics. A Minbar (Arabic: منبر) is a pulpit in the mosque where the Imam (leader of prayer) stands to deliver sermons (khutbah خطبه ). The minbar is usually shaped as a small tower with a pointed roof and with a stair leading up to it. ...

20th Century restoration

The interior of the dome undergoing restoration.

Restoration work in the 20th century was begun in 1932 by the American Byzantine Institute, during which most of the figures were uncovered. ImageMetadata File history File links Aya_Sophia_Under_Restoration. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Aya_Sophia_Under_Restoration. ...

Due to its long history as both a church and a mosque, a particular challenge arises in the restoration process. The Christian iconographic mosaics are being gradually uncovered. However, in order to do so, important, historic Islamic art would have to be destroyed. Restorers have attempted to maintain a balance between both Christian and Islamic cultures. In particular, much controversy rests upon whether the Islamic calligraphy on the dome of the cathedral should be removed, in order to permit the underlying Pantocrator mosaic of Christ as Master of the World, to be exhibited (assuming the mosaic still exists). Iconography usually refers to the design, creation, and interpretation of the symbolism within religious art. ... Calligraphy in a Latin Bible of AD 1407 on display in Malmesbury Abbey, Wiltshire, England. ... Pantocrator (Greek Παντοκρατορ) literally means Lord (or master) of Everything (the universe). It is one of the names given to Christ by Greek Orthodox Christians. ...

Restoration controversies

Work has reportedly been purposely slow on the Hagia Sophia due to its important position and symbolism within the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Ecumenical Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church has claimed that the Turkish Government has denied offers to provide monetary assistance for the further restoration of Hagia Sophia in order to downplay its importance. Some Orthodox and Catholic Christians have gone so far as to demand the return of Hagia Sophia to the Orthodox Christian religion as a condition of Turkey's entry into the European Union. The Eastern Orthodox Church is a Christian body that encompasses national jurisdictions such as the Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Serbian Orthodoxand other Churches (see Eastern Orthodox Church organization). ... The Patriarch of Constantinople is the Ecumenical Patriarch, the first among equals in the Eastern Orthodox Communion. ...

In 2002 Reuters reported that many mosaics and icons stored in the basement of the cathedral had been damaged by moisture; this has caused some to question whether the Turkish authorities were capable of preserving the monument. It was further pointed out in 2005 that the scaffolding beneath the dome of the cathedral had been placed there since 1995 without restoration of the dome being completed, again giving rise to questions whether such restoration work was genuine.

Gallery

Justinian I (left) offering the Church of Holy Wisdom and Constantine I (right) offering the City of Constantinople to the Virgin Mary (middle). Image File history File links Ayasophia - from Hebrew wikipedia File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Justinian I depicted on one of the famous mosaics of the Basilica of San Vitale. ... Head of Constantines colossal statue at Musei Capitolini Gaius Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus[1] (February 27, 272–May 22, 337), commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or (among Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic[2] Christians) Saint Constantine, was a Roman Emperor, proclaimed Augustus by his troops on... Map of Constantinople. ... According to the New Testament, Mary (Judeo-Aramaic מרים Maryām Bitter; Arabic مريم (Maryam); Septuagint Greek Μαριαμ, Mariam, Μαρια, Maria; Geez: ማሪያም, Māryām; Syriac: Mart, Maryam, Madonna), was the mother of Jesus of Nazareth, who at the time of his conception was the betrothed wife of Saint Joseph (cf. ...	Mosaic Icon of Christ Pantocrator. Image File history File links Christ_Hagia_Sofia. ... Christ Pantocrator in a mosaic at Dafni, Greece The iconic image of Christ Pantocrator (Christ, Ruler of All) was a major image of Christ that eventually developed in the Early Christian Church, and remains a central icon of the Eastern Orthodox Church. ...	Mosaic of Saint John Chrysostom. ImageMetadata File history File links Johnchrysostom. ... Saint John Chrysostom John Chrysostom (347 - 407) was a notable Christian bishop and preacher from the 4th and 5th centuries in Syria and Constantinople. ...	Second floor marble. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 727 KB) Second floor of the mosque. ...
A close-up of the Hagia Sophia ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x1800, 2764 KB) Summary A close up shot of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey. ...	A layout of the building ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1440x960, 1636 KB) Summary A layout of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey. ...	Apse Image File history File links Altar. ...	12th century mosaic showing the Virgin Mary and Child, Emperor Johannes Kommenos II (left), and Empress Irene (right) Image File history File links Aya_Sophia_Mosaic. ... According to the New Testament, Mary (Judeo-Aramaic מרים Maryām Bitter; Arabic مريم (Maryam); Septuagint Greek Μαριαμ, Mariam, Μαρια, Maria; Geez: ማሪያም, Māryām; Syriac: Mart, Maryam, Madonna), was the mother of Jesus of Nazareth, who at the time of his conception was the betrothed wife of Saint Joseph (cf. ... John II Komnenos or Comnenus (Greek: Ιωάννης Β΄ Κομνηνός, Iōannēs II Komnēnos) (September 13, 1087 – April 8, 1143) was Byzantine emperor from 1118 to 1143. ... Piroska of Hungary (1088 - 13 August 1134) was a daughter of Ladislaus I of Hungary and Adelaide of Swabia. ...
Faint outline of cross from iconoclastic period Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1200x1600, 447 KB)Hagia Sophia - interior. ...	The Hagia Sophia at night. Image File history File linksMetadata Istanbul086. ...

See also

• Byzantine architecture
• Timeline of Islamic history
• Islamic architecture
• Islamic art
• List of Mosques
• List of Cathedrals
• Sultan Ahmed Mosque

Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire. ... There is much more to Muslim history than military and political history; this particular chronology is almost entirely of military and political history. ... Islamic architecture, a part of the Islamic studies, is the entire range of architecture that has evolved within Muslim culture in the course of the history of Islam. ... Islamic art is the art of Islamic people, cultures, and countries. ... A list of mosques around the world: // Asia Afghanistan Id Gah Mosque in Kabul Kabul Masjid Qalb-e-Herat Rawze-e-Sharif Bahrain Al Fateh Mosque is Bahrains largest mosque Khamis Mosque believed to be the first mosque in Bahrain Bangladesh Baitul Mukarram Binat Bibi mosque High Court Mosque... This is a list of cathedrals around the world, including both actual cathedrals (seats of bishops in episcopal denominations, such as Catholicism, Anglicanism, and Orthodoxy) and a few prominent churches from non-episcopal denominations that have the word cathedral in their names. ... The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (in Turkish Sultanahmet Camii) is a mosque in Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey and the capital of the Ottoman Empire from 1453 to 1923. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Hagia Sophia

• Contemporary description by Procopius, Buildings (De Aedificiis), published in 561.
• Photos with explanations
• Interactive floor plan
• Deesis Mosaic of Christ - from the South Gallery of Hagia Sophia
• Photos with explanations
• Some 100 photos taken by Dick Osseman
• Introduction, with floor plan and elevations.
• Very brief illustrated report on restorations
• Bibliographies to Hagia Sophia
• Painting by Turkish painter Ismail Acar: Before Hagia Sophia, The Era of East Roman Empire, One of the most famous Christ mosaic of Hagia Sophia, Hagia Sophia's horses, now in Venice Square
• Hagia Sophia Video
• Hagia Sophia Photos
• Information about Hagia Sophia (Turkish)
• Silvia Foschi, Santa Sofia di Costantinopoli: immagini dall'Occidente in Annali di architettura n° 14, Vicenza 2002 (in pdf)

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... Procopius (in Greek Προκόπιος, c. ... İsmail Acar İsmail Acar is a Turkish painter. ...

References

• Mainstone, Rowland J. (1997). Hagia Sophia: Architecture, Structure, and Liturgy of Justinian's Great Church (reprint edition). W W Norton & Co Inc. ISBN 0-500-27945-4.
• Hagia Sophia Church Also known as, Mosque of Holy Wisdom.
• Pictures of Hagia Sophia
• Pictures of Hagia Sophia2