#Great Holy Mosque of Ayasofya
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Some miscellaneous photos of architecture Izumi-san took while visiting Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey. Most are of the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, built (for the third time) during the sixth century.
While its library only takes up a small portion of its vast interior, the domes and free-standing columns of the mosque's exterior can be seen in Belehebei-Tzi, the capital of the Hyron Autonomous Region spotted during Theo's conveyance to Aftzaak in chapter 15.
Some excerpts from the Hagia Sophia's official website:
The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque / Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi, with its innovative architecture, rich history, religious significance and extraordinary characteristics has been fighting against time for centuries, was the largest Eastern Roman Church in Istanbul. Constructed three times in the same location, it is the world’s oldest and fastest-completed cathedral. With its breathtaking domes that look like hanging in the air, monolithic marble columns and unparalleled mosaics, is one of the wonders of world’s architecture history. The sheer dazzling beauty of mosque with its magnificent play on space, light, and color provokes worship in the believer!
Today's Hagia Sophia (Turkish: Ayasofya, Latin: Sancta Sophia, Spanish: Santa Sofia, Russian: Собор Святой Софии, literally: Holy Wisdom or Divine Wisdom) is the third building constructed in the same place with a different architectural understanding than its predecessors. Hagia Sophia considered the embodiment of Byzantine Architecture and also said changed the history of architecture.
From the time of Fatih Sultan Mehmet Khan, every sultan strived to beautify the Hagia Sophia even more, and the Hagia Sophia was transformed into an entire complex with structures such as mihrab, minbar, rostrum, minarets, sultan’s office, shadirvans (fountain providing water for ritual ablutions), madrasah, library, and soup kitchen. In addition, great importance was attached to the interior decorations of the Hagia Sophia Mosque during the Ottoman period. Hagia Sophia was adorned with the most elegant examples of Turkish arts such as calligraphy and tile art and the temple gained new aesthetic values. Thus, Istanbul's Hagia Sophia was not only converted into a mosque but also this common heritage of humanity was preserved and improved. [...] The Hagia Sophia has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985 as a section called the Historic Areas of Istanbul, which includes Istanbul’s other major historic buildings and monuments. Today it is a landmark of Istanbul and one of the most visited sights in Türkiye.
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Hello! How are you? Hope you are doing well! In btw, I was just wondering into the ottoman history. What is meant by "Imperial Funeral"? Is their any narration about it? Please do write!
It's a funeral fit for a sultan or a member of the dynasty. Like Nurbanu's, for example:
The funeral procession was also of the magnitude accorded to a sultan. Murad, in his black mourning robe, led his mother’s coffin on foot up to the front gate of the palace, where he mounted his horse and trot behind the procession, with his viziers, commanders, and the ulema behind him. The black eunuchs carried the Queen Mother’s coffin on their shoulders from Nurbanu’s palace in Yenikapi to her final resting place.
Selaniki relates: With all the magnificent ulema, honorable sheiks, and functionaries of state, all on foot along the sides of the coffin, and the Padishah, Protector of the World, clad in a robe of mourning and in tears, coming from behind, the procession reached the holy mosque of ancient Sultan Mehmed Han—may he rest in peace—where the public was waiting. After the funeral prayers were recited, the Exalted Padishah, Protector of the Religion, left for the Great Palace, while the grandees of government, ulema, and sheiks carried the coffin toward the Great Ayasofya and buried her in the nearby holy türbe of Sultan Selim Han, whom God has taken into His mercy and forgiven his sins—may he rest in peace. Until the completion of the forty days of mourning, the grand viziers and chief judges of the empire did their prayers without interruption, never neglecting to visit [the grave] twice a day. The Exhalted Qur’an was continually recited from beginning to end, prayers and litanies were said and, endless bounties and limitless nourishment were distributed as alms to the poor and abject. May God take into His mercy Your Valide Sultan [991/1583] !
The funeral ceremony for the Valide Sultan was indeed striking in its intensity and ceremonial grandeur. Unlike former Ottoman queen mothers, Nurbanu was buried alongside her husband, in Selim II’s mausoleum, located in the prestigious Hagia Sophia. The floor of the türbe was covered with precious vases containing the rarest of flowers brought by the highest ranking pashas, thousands of sheep and cows were lined up for ritual slaughter, and prayers were called continually from the minarets of all the principal mosques of Istanbul. That the funeral procession was depicted in miniature is a significant fact in itself, as only the most important imperial events were likely to be put into this iconic medium in those times. [...] Morosini adds that Murad made sure that all the great functionaries of state attended the funeral services in the forty-day period by sending observers to report to him any neglect on the part of his subordinates in this regard, while sequestering himself from the pages, comedians, and buffoons during this period. — Pinar Kayaalp-Aktan, The Atik Valide Mosque Complex: A testament of Nurbanu’s prestige, power and piety
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Hagia Sofia was a cathedral for a millennium until 1453 when Sultan Mehmet II converted it into a mosque. This was after the rise of the Ottoman Empire and the conquest of Constantinople.
As empire fell and Turkey moved into a secular republic in 1934, the monument was turned into a museum by its rulers.
Its main dome which is 180 feet above ground level was the largest dome for nearly a 1,000 years till other cathedrals rivaled it.
That architectural marvel, Hagia Sophia, Sancta Sophia in Latin, formerly the ‘Church of Holy Wisdom’ is now the Great Mosque of Ayasofya.
Structures are not mere structures. They are representatives of the republic they are in. For long, Hagia Sofia remained as a secular symbol of the secular republic of Turkey. Both have drifted from secularism now.
Wonder how to analyze India vis-a-vis Babri Masjid demolition and court's order to build Ram temple at the very site. What signals does it send about India as a republic?
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In Game:
The Hagia Sophia, otherwise known as the Sancta Sophia or the Church of Holy Wisdom, was a former Eastern-Orthodox Christian basilica located in the Imperial District of Constantinople. Following the fall of the city in 1453 to Ottoman hands, it was converted into an Islamic mosque by Mehmet II, where it was also used as a library.
Ezio Auditore da Firenze recovered Ishak Pasha's scattered memoirs in 1511 and entered the mosque, where within minutes, he had climbed to the ceiling of the dome and activated an entrance to the armor's storage room, before taking the set back to the Galata headquarters.
While locating the second Masyaf Key, Ezio climbed one of the Hagia Sophia's minarets, where he used his Eagle Sense to locate a book on one of the landmark's rooftops.
Also in 1511, Sofia Sartor requested some white tulips from Ezio, and, after he tracked a florist to the Hagia Sophia, he learned that he could find some of the flowers in the courtyard. Following this, he also discovered that Sofia had prepared a picnic in the shadow of the great mosque before he handed the bouquet he had picked with his Hidden Blade over to her.
The Hagia Sophia was also a purchasable landmark in Constantinople, for the price of 60,400 Akçe.
In Real Life:
Hagia Sophia, Turkish Ayasofya, Latin Sancta Sophia, also called Church of the Holy Wisdom or Church of the Divine Wisdom, cathedral built at Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey) in the 6th century ce (532–537) under the direction of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. By general consensus, it is the most important Byzantine structure and one of the world’s great monuments.
The Hagia Sophia was built in the remarkably short time of about six years, being completed in 537 ce. Unusual for the period in which it was built, the names of the building’s architects—Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus—are well known, as is their familiarity with mechanics and mathematics. The Hagia Sophia is a component of a UNESCO World Heritage site called the Historic Areas of Istanbul (designated 1985), which includes that city’s other major historic buildings and locations.
The original church on the site of the Hagia Sophia is said to have been built by Constantine I in 325 on the foundations of a pagan temple. It was damaged in 404 by a fire that erupted during a riot following the second banishment of St. John Chrysostom, then patriarch of Constantinople. It was rebuilt and enlarged by the Roman emperor Constans I. The restored building was rededicated in 415 by Theodosius II. The church was burned again in the Nika insurrection of January 532, a circumstance that gave Justinian I an opportunity to envision a splendid replacement.
(Image source)
The structure now standing is essentially the 6th-century edifice, although an earthquake caused a partial collapse of the dome in 558 (restored 562) and there were two further partial collapses, after which it was rebuilt to a smaller scale and the whole church reinforced from the outside. It was restored again in the mid-14th century. For more than a millennium it was the Cathedral of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. It was looted in 1204 by the Venetians and the Crusaders on the Fourth Crusade. After the Turkish conquest of Constantinople in 1453, Mehmed II had it repurposed as a mosque, with the addition of minarets (on the exterior, towers used for the summons to prayer), a great chandelier, a mihrab (niche indicating the direction of Mecca), a minbar (pulpit), and disks bearing Islamic calligraphy. Kemal Atatürk secularized the building in 1934, and in 1935 it was made into a museum. Art historians consider the building’s beautiful mosaics to be the main source of knowledge about the state of the mosaic art in the time shortly after the end of the Iconoclastic Controversy in the 8th and 9th centuries.
Sources:
http://www.hagiasophia.com/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hagia-Sophia
https://www.livescience.com/27574-hagia-sophia.html
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5 Days Trip in Istanbul, Turkey
(Sultan Ahmed Mosque at night. Picture was taken by me, December 2018)
Istanbul is one of my favorite place to travel, especially because Turkey's meatball is so delicious (I think it is one of the best food in the world!). Compared to Europe, this place is also not so expensive in terms of accommodation and food. Last year, I spent 5 days in Istanbul, since I just finished my exam and want to do super chilled travelling. In my normal pace, maybe 3 days will be enough to explore the city.
Visa to Turkey
You can apply for e-visa for Turkey. Everything is online, you don't need to go to any office and you can receive the visa immediately. You can access the e-visa application here.
How to Travel to Istanbul
I came from Budapest, and there are two direct airlines with route Budapest-Istanbul, Pegasus and Turkish Airlines. I chose Pegasus since it was so much cheaper (like 100 euro difference at that time) and it only 2 hours flight. The difference between Pegasus and Turkish is the airport in Istanbul. Using Pegasus, I landed in SAW Istanbul Sabiha Airport instead of Istanbul Atatürk Airport (now, they move Turkish Airlines to Istanbul Airport).
It took around 1.5 - 2 hours from the airport, longer time than from Atatürk. But don't worry, the transportation in Turkey is nice and just by asking around, they can help you. I don't use any packet data when I was there and I survived.
To use bus/tram in Turkey, there is Istanbul transportation card available outside the airport. You can buy it from machine, but they only accept cash, so make sure you bring Lyra or withdraw it from ATM inside the airport (afaik, there is no ATM outside the airport, so I need to go back to airport to withdraw my money). I top up with 30 Lyra and it can last me until the end of my trip.
Where to Stay
I stayed at a hostel in Sultanahmet area. The most popular place to stay is Sultanahmet or Taksim Square area, however I choose Sultanahmet since it is has tram stop and also walking distance to Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Sultan Ahmed Mosque.
I have 4-bed female dormitory room and it cost me around 10 euro per nights with breakfast. They served Turkish tea, eggs, bread, cheese, fruits and salads for the breakfast. With only 10 euro, I think it was really worth the money. It was in December and low season, so I shared the room only with one girl and for the last 3 days, I have the room for myself.
Where to Eat
I tried several places, but the one that I recommend is Tarini Sultanahmet Koftecisi Selim Usta, located near to Sultanahmet stop. The grilled meatball are just really delicious, and for Asian, don't worry, they have rice too.
What to See
Since in this trip I was in relaxation mode, I visited (of course) the mainstream location such as
Basilika Cistern
For you who watch Inferno, there is a scene where the villain wants to spread the disease through underground water system, and yes, that's Basilika Cistern. I am in awe of its structure and the fact that they can build it underground. There is also Medusa statues on the two of its pillar with weird position (upside down and sideways). The myth has it that Medusa turn the people who look at her into stone, those the weird position is to prevent that thing from happening. However, logically, people think that the Medusa head were placed there to support the structure.
I personally think that this place is one of my favorite in Turkey. Although it is not as big as I expected, but I rarely see this kind of structure underground, especially with water underneath. However, it is not included in Istanbul museum pass, so you need to pay it separately.
The Istanbul Museum Pass covers other placese such as Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Harem, Chora Church, Istanbul Archaeological Museums, etc. It cost around 30 euro for 5 days after first use. I bought the ticket in front of Topkapi Palace and I think it is good value since I can skip the queue to buy ticket for each place after that.
Hagia Sophia
Known also as Ayasofya or Sancta Sophia or Church of the Holy Wisdom, it displays the meeting of Islam (central mihrab, direction of Mecca) and Christian religions (Virgin Mary and Christ with John the Baptist). You can walk here from Sultanahmet stop, in my case I just need 10 minutes walk from my hostel.
Topkapi Palace
I think, Topkapi palace is the biggest place that I've visited in Istanbul. I love their "kitchen" section, and they also provide nice and (imho) complete information. I really like the fact that they can provide "complete" facts such as how many lambs they need to order for the entire kitchen, what is the food for king or for other family members.
Sultan Ahmed Mosque
Also known as Blue Mosque, because of blue tiles surrounding the walls of interior design. If you are muslim, you can pray here too. It will be closed during prayer time, so of you just want to see inside, better to not come during prayer time, especially midday Friday prayer.
Men should wear long trousers, while women should cover their hair, arms and their legs from knees up. Before go to the mosque, you should put your shoes in plastic bags (free of charge) provided at the entrance. There is also a room where you can ask more about Islam if you are interested to know more about the religion.
Galata Mevlevi House
If you want to understand and learn more about Sufi's way of life, their history and tradition, this place is right for you. I enjoyed the time I spent there, especially since I have read about Sufi especially Jalaluddin Rumi from my father's book collection. I remember when I was a child, I got confused with his concept about God-human relationship, especially through one of his poem. However, now I kinda find that he has interesting point of view.
Don‘t think that saying "I am God"
is proclaiming one‘s greatness.
It is actually total humility.
Some one who says,
"I am the servant of God"
infers two – God and himself –
whereas someone who says,
"I am God", negates himself.
He relinquishes his own existence.
"I am God" means
"I don‘t exist.
Everything is God.
Only God exists. I am nothing.
I am utter emptiness".
Market (Spice Bazaar and Grand Bazaar)
I love both of the market and although I am not buying anything except Turkish snacks, I really like spending my time there. They have lots of collection from lamp (genie lamp!), kitchen utensils, clothes, or gold. I especially love the spices section and the various tea that they have.
I also visited other places such as Chora museum, Galata Kulesi and Taksim Square but not really spent much time there. If you only have limited time in Istanbul, I would definitely recommend you to go to Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Basilica Cistern. Have extra time? Then Sultan Ahmed Mosque and the market place can also be added on your list.
I think that's all what I can share from my trip. If you have any questions, just drop me a message. Hope you have nice trip!
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Istanbul Turkey the oldest capital of Byzantine and Ottoman Empires
Istanbul turkey has been the capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires for more than 1500 years.
It is the only city in the world built on two continents, Asia and Europe.
Istanbul turkey has become a capital gathering various cultures, nations, and religions. These cultures, nations, and religions are the small pieces that make up the mosaic of Istanbul.
The most important construction work in Istanbul began in the Byzantine period and then developed during the days of the Ottoman Empire.
Istanbul Turkey Architecture
Istanbul Turkey Architecture
Istanbul turkey is dazzling its visitors, with museums, churches, palaces, grand mosques, bazaars, and natural beauty sites.
You can relax on the western shores of the Bosporus at sunset and see the red evening light reflected on the other continent, this is why Istanbul is considered one of the greatest cities in the world.
Istanbul turkey is considered Turkey’s most developed and greatest city. The latest discoveries indicate that the history of human life dates back to about 400,000 years. Istanbul turkey was conquered by the Ottomans in 1453 and then became the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
During the Byzantines, Istanbul turkey was decorated with a number of great monuments, making it the most magnificent city in the world, even during the declining years of the empire.
Istanbul turkey was conquered by the Ottomans in 1453 and then became the capital of the Byzantine Empire. During the Byzantines, Istanbul was decorated with a number of great monuments, making it the most magnificent city in the world, even during the declining years of the empire.
Striking Multi-religious Identity
Striking Multi-religious Identity in Istanbul
The identity of Istanbul emerged during the period of the Ottoman Empire. Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror declared Istanbul the capital of the Ottoman Empire after the invasion of the city in 1453.
The Ottomans were tolerant of all religions and dedicated many places of worship to Christian and Jewish communities so that they could practice their religion unhindered.
Thus, in Istanbul, the mosques, the churches, and synagogues stood side by side to show that Istanbul was a symbol of tolerance and brotherhood of all religions.
Glorious Treasures
Glorious Treasures in Istanbul
Istanbul turkey is rich in architectural monuments that reflect the splendor of the past. You can see the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman palaces, mosques, churches, monasteries, monuments, walls, and monuments.
There are places of worship, government, commerce, and entertainment.
The historical monuments of Istanbul are clustered on the historic peninsula, surrounded by the Marmara Sea from the east and south, from the Golden Horn to the north and the city walls to the west.
Sultan Ahmet Square is the heart of the historical peninsula, where you can find the most important historical monuments. Historic areas of Istanbul were listed in the UNESCO World Heritage in 1985.
The most important example of Byzantine and Ottoman architecture is Sultan Ahmet Square which is the heart of the historical peninsula.
Living Heritages of Byzantines
The center of the city, during the Byzantine period, was the racecourse and its environs. The Palace, Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya), was a spectacular religious building which was considered an entertainment center.
Finally, this center became a site for the circumcision ceremonies of the Sultans’ sons during the Ottoman period.
Great Mystic Symbols
Architecture including hagia sophia ayasofya
The Hagia Sophia referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World, is the most famous architectural heritage of the Byzantine Empire and one of Istanbul’s largest icons.
It is also one of the most important examples of Byzantine art from the ninth to twelfth centuries.
The Kariye Museum (Chora Church) is another Byzantine monument which is famous for mosaics and magnificent frescoes. There are holy places for Jews in Istanbul, such as the temples of Neve Shalom, Ahrida and Aşkenazi synagogues.
There is also the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque, built between 1609 and 1616, and includes the tomb of its founder, Sultan Ahmad I, a madrasah and a hospice.
Historic Areas of İstanbul
Historic Areas inİstanbul
The historic areas of Istanbul, listed in the World Heritage List in 1985, include four main areas: The Archaeological Park, the Süleymaniye Mosque and its associated conservation area, the Zeyrek Mosque and its conservation area, and the walls of Istanbul.
According to the International Council of Antiquities and Sites in the Evaluation Report, the World Heritage List without Istanbul, which has been associated with the world’s major political, religious and artistic events for more than 2,000 years, cannot be imagined.
Cultural properties, in this area, include many unique monuments and wonders of world architecture, including Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) and Süleymaniye Mosque.
One of the leading architects of the military architecture is the walls of the city of Theodosius II, an area of 6650 meters, which was created in 447.
The Archaeological Park, the Süleymaniye Mosque and its associated conservation area, the Zeyrek Mosque and its conservation area, and the walls of Istanbul.
According to the International Council of Antiquities and Sites in the Evaluation Report, the World Heritage List without Istanbul, which has been associated with the world’s major political, religious and artistic events for more than 2,000 years, cannot be imagined.
Cultural properties, in this area, include many unique monuments and wonders of world architecture, including Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) and Süleymaniye Mosque.
One of the leading architects of the military architecture is the walls of the city of Theodosius II, an area of 6650 meters, which was created in 447.
The Other Shore
The former Pera region, which means “the other beach” is another historic area in Istanbul, on the beach opposite the Golden Horn. It was settled by Genoese and Venetians in the twelfth century, and represents the western face of the city.
The ancient city of Istanbul is characterized by buildings such as the Galata Tower built by Genoese, the luxurious consulates that were the embassies before the capital was moved to Ankara, and the modern art buildings on İstiklal Avenue.
St Antoine’s Cathedral, a silent and quiet spot on this street, is frequently visited by loyal visitors of every religion. Istanbul is also famous for its elegant wooden houses.
The new Istanbul
Istanbul is a global city with a financial center and services in banking, telecommunications, marketing, engineering, and tourism because it is a city of glorious past.
The city features international conferences, festivals, exhibitions, fashion shows, sports, and art shows. Istanbul offers all the support and services for various conferences. It offers excellent transportation, communications, and accommodation with the latest technology.
The Bosporus
The Bosphorus Strait is a strait that separates Europe from Asia, and you can see a wonderful mix between past and present in its beautiful beaches. Yali is wooden villas facing the sea, where there are modern hotels, and there are rural stone castles and beautiful complexes near fishing villages.
If you want to see the Bosphorus, you have to take a boat along the beach. The trip can take about six hours back and forth at very reasonable prices. There are also night cruises. On the front of the Bosphorus beach, you can watch the water moving fast.
All artists meet in Ortakwe on Sunday to show their works, in an exhibition on the side of the street. the Boğaziçi, in Ortaköy, is the largest suspension bridges which link Europe and Asia. It shows the beauty of İstanbul’s traditional architecture.
Shore Excursion
One of the beautiful bridges in Istanbul is Beylerbeyi Palace which lies near the bridge on the Asian side and behind the palace rises Çamlıca Hill where you can see the beautifully landscaped gardens.
The wooden Ottoman villas of Arnavutköy are on the opposite shore. You can enjoy the amazing beauty of the bridge and the Bosphorus from Duatepe Hill on the European side and you can see beautiful Emirgan Park bursts with wonderful colors in the spring.
The fishing village, Kanlica, is on the Asian shore and it is a favored suburb for wealthy İstanbul residents. People come to this village to visit the restaurants and cafes along its shores to try its famous yogurt.
At the Tarabya Bay on the European side, you can see the yachts dancing in the marinas. There are also bars and fish restaurants on the coastal road. Sarıyer, Istanbul’s largest fish market, is also famous for its delicious milk and pastries.
The Golden Horn
Istanbul is divided into two parts by the horn-shaped estuary, the Golden Horn where the best natural harbors in the world were centered here.
In this place, you can watch beautiful parks and promenades on the shores where the setting sun drops a golden color on the water.
There are many old wooden houses, churches and synagogues which date from Byzantine and Ottoman times while at Fener, the Orthodox Patriarchy resides.
Many believers come to Eyüp, a place a little further up, to visit the Tomb of Eyüp hoping their prayers will be granted. There, they can find The Pierre Loti Café, a wonderful place on the hill overlooking the shrine where they can enjoy an alternative view of İstanbul.
Arts, culture, and entertainment
culture, and entertainment in Istanbul
Istanbul is considered the international center of arts and culture. There, you can find a rich tradition in opera and ballet, theatres performing both Turkish and international works. There are also concerts, exhibitions, festivals, auctions, conferences, and museums.
In Istanbul, you can find both permanent and temporary exhibits that feature many of the most famous Turkish painters.
The only international exhibition for the contemporary art in Turkey is Contemporary İstanbul where many art-lovers, collectors, art galleries and artists from all over the world meet.
The most important cultural events are the international festivals which are organized by the İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts. They include classical music, ballet, modern dance, opera, folklore, jazz/pop, cinema, drama and visual arts, seminars, conferences, and lectures.
Splendid Entertainment
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Exploring ISTANBUL & Taksim Square Nightlife!
Istanbul offers many bars, pubs, nightclubs, and discos in addition to different restaurants in which you can enjoy Turkish cuisine with all its local varieties.
There is also the Italian, French, Japanese, Chinese and Lebanese cuisine. Nightclubs can offer various kinds of drink throughout dinner. Besides, there are Turkish songs, belly-dancing, and modern discos.
Kumkapı is the best district in Istanbul for eating great kinds of Turkish seafood and drink. There is also Ortaköy, on the beaches of the Bosphorus, where you can get the best nightlife in Istanbul. You can find there its nightclubs, jazz clubs, fine seafood restaurants, and bars. In those places, you can see the fishermen dressed in traditional Ottoman clothes.
Shopping
Shopping in Istanbul
Istanbul is considered a paradise of shopping for all customers. Here, you can find covered markets and workshops with ancient traditions in addition to malls and department stores. The two most visited markets in Istanbul are the Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı) and the Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı).
After Kapalı Çarşı has developed, today it can sell various things like antiques, jewelry, and gold in over 3000 shops. The same thing with Mısır Çarşısı which has the same aim of supporting Yeni Cami (New Mosque).
Both markets were primary trading places during the Ottoman Period and this is why you can see some traditional wares there.
You can also find authentic goods and handicrafts in Arasta Çarşısı (Arasta Bazaar) which situated behind the Sultan Ahmet Mosque. People who love old books should go to the Sahaflar Çarşısı (Booksellers’ Market) situated between Beyazıt Mosque and Kapalı Çarşı.
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Hagia Sophia
LOcation–Istanbul, Turkey. Height–55m (180 ft). Length–82m (269 ft). Width–73m (240 ft). Material–Ashlar, brick. Beginning Date–532.A.D. Completion Date–537.A.D. (1480 years ago).
Hagia Sophia (/ˈhɑːɡiə soʊˈfiːə/; from the Greek: Ἁγία Σοφία, pronounced [aˈʝia soˈfia], “Holy Wisdom“; Latin: Sancta Sophia or Sancta Sapientia; Turkish: Ayasofya) was a Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal basilica (church), later an imperial mosque, and now a museum (Ayasofya Müzesi) in Istanbul, Turkey. From the date of its construction in 537 AD, and until 1453, it served as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral and seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople, except between 1204 and 1261, when it was converted by the Fourth Crusaders to a Catholic cathedral under the Latin Empire. The building was later converted into an Ottoman mosque from 29 May 1453 until 1931. It was then secularized and opened as a museum on 1 February 1935. Famous in particular for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and is said to have “changed the history of architecture”. It remained the world’s largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years, until Seville Cathedral was completed in 1520.
The current building was originally constructed as a church between 532 and 537 on the orders of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I and was the third Church of the Holy Wisdom to occupy the site, the previous two having been destroyed by rioters. It was designed by the Greek geometers Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles The church was dedicated to the Wisdom of God, the Logos, the second person of the Trinity, its patronal feast taking place on 25 December, the commemoration of the birth of the incarnation of the Logos in Christ. Although sometimes referred to as Sancta Sophia (as though it were named after Sophia the Martyr), sophia being the phonetic spelling in Latin of the Greek word for wisdom, its full name in Greek is Ναὸς τῆς Ἁγίας τοῦ Θεοῦ Σοφίας, Naos tēs Hagias tou Theou Sophias, “Shrine of the Holy Wisdom of God”. The church contained a large collection of relics and featured, among other things, a 15-metre (49 ft) silver iconostasis. The focal point of the Eastern Orthodox Church for nearly one thousand years, the building witnessed the excommunication of Patriarch Michael I Cerularius on the part of Humbert of Silva Candida, the papal envoy of Pope Leo IX in 1054, an act that is commonly considered the start of the East–West Schism.
In 1453, Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Empire under Mehmed the Conqueror, who ordered this main church of Orthodox Christianity converted into a mosque. By that point, the church had fallen into a state of disrepair. Nevertheless, the Christian cathedral made a strong impression on the new Ottoman rulers and they decided to convert it into a mosque. The bells, altar, iconostasis, and sacrificial vessels and other relics were destroyed and the mosaics depicting Jesus, his Mother Mary, Christian saints and angels were also destroyed or plastered over. Islamic features—such as the mihrab, minbar, and four minarets—were added. It remained a mosque until 1931, when it was closed to the public for four years. It was re-opened in 1935 as a museum by the Republic of Turkey. Hagia Sophia was, as of 2014, the second-most visited museum in Turkey, attracting almost 3.3 million visitors annually. According to data released by the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry, Hagia Sophia was Turkey’s most visited tourist attraction in 2015.
From its initial conversion until the construction of the nearby Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque of Istanbul) in 1616, it was the principal mosque of Istanbul. The Byzantine architecture of the Hagia Sophia served as inspiration for many other Ottoman mosques, such as the aforementioned mosque, the Şehzade Mosque, the Süleymaniye Mosque, the Rüstem Pasha Mosque and the Kılıç Ali Pasha Complex.
History
Church of Constantius II
The first church on the site was known as the Μεγάλη Ἐκκλησία (Megálē Ekklēsíā, “Great Church”), or in Latin “Magna Ecclesia”, because of its larger dimensions in comparison to the contemporary churches in the City. Inaugurated on 15 February 360 (during the reign of Constantius II) by the Arian bishop Eudoxius of Antioch, it was built next to the area where the imperial palace was being developed. The nearby Hagia Eirene (“Holy Peace”) church was completed earlier and served as cathedral until the Great Church was completed. Both churches acted together as the principal churches of the Byzantine Empire.
Writing in 440, Socrates of Constantinople claimed that the church was built by Constantius II, who was working on it in 346. A tradition which is not older than the 7th or 8th century, reports that the edifice was built by Constantine the Great. Zonaras reconciles the two opinions, writing that Constantius had repaired the edifice consecrated by Eusebius of Nicomedia, after it had collapsed. Since Eusebius was bishop of Constantinople from 339 to 341, and Constantine died in 337, it seems possible that the first church was erected by the latter. The edifice was built as a traditional Latin colonnaded basilica with galleries and a wooden roof. It was preceded by an atrium. It was claimed to be one of the world’s most outstanding monuments at the time.
The Patriarch of Constantinople John Chrysostom came into a conflict with Empress Aelia Eudoxia, wife of the emperor Arcadius, and was sent into exile on 20 June 404. During the subsequent riots, this first church was largely burned down. Nothing remains of the first church today.
Church of Theodosius II
A second church on the site was ordered by Theodosius II, who inaugurated it on 10 October 415. The basilica with a wooden roof was built by architect Rufinus. A fire started during the tumult of the Nika Revolt and burned the second Hagia Sophia to the ground on 13–14 January 532.
Several marble blocks from the second church survive to the present; among them are reliefs depicting 12 lambs representing the 12 apostles. Originally part of a monumental front entrance, they now reside in an excavation pit adjacent to the museum’s entrance after they were discovered in 1935 beneath the western courtyard by A. M. Schneider. Further digging was forsaken for fear of impinging on the integrity of the building.
Remains of the second Hagia Sophia
Images of the remains of the basilica that was constructed during the reign of emperor Theodosius II and stood from 415 C.E. – 532 C.E. Remains are exhibited next to the current Hagia Sophia.
Images of the remains of the basilica that was constructed during the reign of emperor Theodosius II and stood from 415 AD. – 532 AD. Remains are exhibited next to the current Hagia Sophia.
Hagia Sophia,remains of the older church; Istanbul, Turkey
Hagia Sophia,remains of the older basilica, built under emperor Theodosius II; Istanbul, Turkey
Images of the remains of the Byzantine basilica that was constructed during the reign of emperor Theodosius II and stood from 415 C.E. – 532 C.E. Remains are exhibited next to the current Hagia Sophia.
Basilica of the Hagia Sophia (current structure)
On 23 February 532, only a few weeks after the destruction of the second basilica, Emperor Justinian I decided to build a third and entirely different basilica, larger and more majestic than its predecessors.
Justinian chose physicist Isidore of Miletus and mathematician Anthemius of Tralles as architects; Anthemius, however, died within the first year of the endeavor. The construction is described in the Byzantine historian Procopius‘ On Buildings (Peri ktismatōn, Latin: De aedificiis). Columns and other marbles were brought from all over the empire, throughout the Mediterranean. The idea of these columns being spoils from cities such as Rome and Ephesus is a later invention. Even though they were made specifically for Hagia Sophia, the columns show variations in size. More than ten thousand people were employed. This new church was contemporaneously recognized as a major work of architecture. The theories of Heron of Alexandria may have been utilized to address the challenges presented by building such an expansive dome over so large a space. The emperor, together with the Patriarch Menas, inaugurated the new basilica on 27 December 537 – 5 years and 10 months after construction start – with much pomp. The mosaics inside the church were, however, only completed under the reign of Emperor Justin II (565–578).
Hagia Sophia was the seat of the Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople and a principal setting for Byzantine imperial ceremonies, such as coronations. Like other churches throughout Christendom, the basilica offered sanctuary from persecution to outlaws.
Hagia Sophia
Construction of church depicted in codex Manasses Chronicle (14th century)
Earthquakes in August 553 and on 14 December 557 caused cracks in the main dome and eastern half-dome. The main dome collapsed completely during a subsequent earthquake on 7 May 558, destroying the ambon, altar, and ciborium. The collapse was due mainly to the unfeasibly high bearing load and to the enormous shearing load of the dome, which was too flat. These caused the deformation of the piers which sustained the dome. The emperor ordered an immediate restoration. He entrusted it to Isidorus the Younger, nephew of Isidore of Miletus, who used lighter materials and elevated the dome by “30 feet” (about 6.25 meters or 20.5 feet)[clarification needed] – giving the building its current interior height of 55.6 meters (182 ft). Moreover, Isidorus changed the dome type, erecting a ribbed dome with pendentives, whose diameter lay between 32.7 and 33.5 m. Under Justinian’s orders, eight Corinthian columns were disassembled from Baalbek, Lebanon, and shipped to Constantinople around 560. This reconstruction, giving the church its present 6th-century form, was completed in 562. The Byzantine poet Paul the Silentiary composed a long epic poem (still extant), known as Ekphrasis, for the rededication of the basilica presided over by Patriarch Eutychius on 23 December 562.
In 726, the emperor Leo the Isaurian issued a series of edicts against the veneration of images, ordering the army to destroy all icons – ushering in the period of Byzantine iconoclasm. At that time, all religious pictures and statues were removed from the Hagia Sophia. After a brief reprieve under Empress Irene (797–802), the iconoclasts made a comeback. Emperor Theophilus (829–842) was strongly influenced by Islamic art, which forbids the representation of living beings. He had two-winged bronze doors with his monograms installed at the southern entrance of the church.
The basilica suffered damage, first in a great fire in 859, and again in an earthquake on 8 January 869, that made one of the half-domes collapse. Emperor Basil I ordered the church repaired.
After the great earthquake of 25 October 989, which collapsed the Western dome arch, Emperor Basil II asked for the Armenian architect Trdat, creator of the cathedrals of Ani and Argina, to direct the repairs. He erected again and reinforced the fallen dome arch, and rebuilt the west side of the dome with 15 dome ribs. The extent of the damage required six years of repair and reconstruction; the church was re-opened on 13 May 994. At the end of the reconstruction, the church’s decorations were renovated, including the addition of four immense paintings of cherubs; a new depiction of Christ on the dome; a burial cloth of Christ shown on Fridays, and on the apse a new depiction of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus, between the apostles Peter and Paul. On the great side arches were painted the prophets and the teachers of the church.
In his book De caerimoniis aulae Byzantinae (“Book of Ceremonies”), Emperor Constantine VII (913–919) wrote a detailed account of the ceremonies held in the Hagia Sophia by the emperor and the patriarch.
The Vaulting of the nave.
Upon the capture of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade, the church was ransacked and desecrated by the Crusaders, as described by the Byzantine historian Niketas Choniates. During the Latin occupation of Constantinople (1204–1261) the church became a Roman Catholic cathedral. Baldwin I of Constantinople was crowned emperor on 16 May 1204 in Hagia Sophia, at a ceremony which closely followed Byzantine practices. Enrico Dandolo, the Doge of Venice who commanded the sack and invasion of the city by the Latin Crusaders in 1204, is buried inside the church, probably in the upper Eastern gallery. In the 19th century an Italian restoration team placed a cenotaph marker near the probable location, which is still visible today. The marker is frequently mistaken by tourists as being a medieval marker of the actual tomb of the doge. The real tomb was destroyed by the Ottomans after the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 and subsequent conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
After the recapture in 1261 by the Byzantines, the church was in a dilapidated state. In 1317, emperor Andronicus II ordered four new buttresses (Πυραμίδας, Greek: “Pyramídas”) to be built in the eastern and northern parts of the church, financing them with the inheritance of his deceased wife, Irene. New cracks developed in the dome after the earthquake of October 1344, and several parts of the building collapsed on 19 May 1346; consequently, the church was closed until 1354, when repairs were undertaken by architects Astras and Peralta.
Mosque (1453–1935)
Constantinople fell to the attacking Ottoman forces on the 29th of May in 1453. In accordance with the traditional custom at the time, Sultan Mehmet II allowed his troops and his entourage three full days of unbridled pillage and looting in the city shortly after it was captured. Once the three days passed, he would then claim its remaining contents for himself. Hagia Sophia was not exempted from the pillage and looting and specifically became its focal point as the invaders believed it to contain the greatest treasures and valuables of the city. Shortly after Constantinople’s defenses collapsed and the Ottoman troops entered the city victoriously, the pillagers and looters made their way to the Hagia Sophia and battered down its doors before storming in. All throughout the period of the siege of Constantinople, the trapped worshipers of the city participated in the Divine Liturgy and Prayer of the Hours at the Hagia Sophia and the church formed a safe-haven and a refuge for many of those who were unable to contribute to the city’s defense, which comprised women, children, the elderly and the sick and the wounded. Being hopelessly trapped in the church, the many congregants and yet more refugees inside became spoils-of-war to be divided amongst the triumphant invaders. The building was significantly desecrated and looted to a large extent, with the helpless occupants who sought shelter within the church being either enslaved, physically and sexually violated or simply slaughtered. While most of the elderly and the infirm/wounded and sick were killed, a vast number of women and girls were raped and the remainder (mainly teenage males and young boys) were chained up and sold off into slavery. The church’s priests and religious personnel continued to perform Christian rites, prayers and ceremonies until finally being forced to stop by the invaders. When Sultan Mehmet II and his accompanying entourage entered the church, he insisted that it should be converted into a mosque at once. One of the ulama present then climbed up the church’s pulpit and recited out the Shahada, thus marking the beginning of the gradual conversion of the church into a mosque.
Fountain (Sadirvan) for ritual ablutions
As described by several Western visitors (such as the Córdoban nobleman Pero Tafur and the Florentine Cristoforo Buondelmonti), the church was in a dilapidated state, with several of its doors fallen from their hinges; Mehmed II ordered a renovation as well as the conversion. Mehmet attended the first Friday prayer in the mosque on 1 June 1453. Aya Sofya became the first imperial mosque of Istanbul. To the corresponding Waqf were endowed most of the existing houses in the city and the area of the future Topkapı Palace. From 1478, 2,360 shops, 1,300 houses, 4 caravanserais, 30 boza shops, and 23 shops of sheep heads and trotters gave their income to the foundation. Through the imperial charters of 1520 (AH 926) and 1547 (AH 954) shops and parts of the Grand Bazaar and other markets were added to the foundation.
Before 1481 a small minaret was erected on the southwest corner of the building, above the stair tower. Later, the subsequent sultan, Bayezid II (1481–1512), built another minaret at the northeast corner. One of these collapsed after the earthquake of 1509, and around the middle of the 16th century they were both replaced by two diagonally opposite minarets built at the east and west corners of the edifice.
In the 16th century the sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (1520–1566) brought back two colossal candlesticks from his conquest of Hungary. They were placed on either side of the mihrab. During the reign of Selim II (1566–1574), the building started showing signs of fatigue and was extensively strengthened with the addition of structural supports to its exterior by Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who was also an earthquake engineer. In addition to strengthening the historic Byzantine structure, Sinan built the two additional large minarets at the western end of the building, the original sultan’s lodge, and the Türbe (mausoleum) of Selim II to the southeast of the building in 1576-7 / AH 984. In order to do that, parts of the Patriarchate at the south corner of the building were pulled down the previous year. Moreover, the golden crescent was mounted on the top of the dome, while a respect zone 35 arşin (about 24 m) wide was imposed around the building, pulling down all the houses which in the meantime had nested around it. Later his türbe hosted also 43 tombs of Ottoman princes. In 1594 / AH 1004 Mimar (court architect) Davud Ağa built the türbe of Murad III (1574–1595), where the Sultan and his Valide, Safiye Sultan were later buried. The octagonal mausoleum of their son Mehmed III (1595–1603) and his Valide was built next to it in 1608 / AH 1017 by royal architect Dalgiç Mehmet Aĝa. His son Mustafa I (1617–1618; 1622–1623) converted the baptistery into his türbe.
The mihrab located in the apse where the altar used to stand, pointing towards Mecca.
Murad III had also two large alabaster Hellenistic urns transported from Pergamon and placed on two sides of the nave.
In 1717, under Sultan Ahmed III (1703–1730), the crumbling plaster of the interior was renovated, contributing indirectly to the preservation of many mosaics, which otherwise would have been destroyed by mosque workers. In fact, it was usual for them to sell mosaics stones – believed to be talismans – to the visitors. Sultan Mahmud I ordered the restoration of the building in 1739 and added a medrese (a Koranic school, now the library of the museum), an Imaret (soup kitchen for distribution to the poor) and a library, and in 1740 a Şadirvan (fountain for ritual ablutions), thus transforming it into a külliye, i.e. a social complex. At the same time a new sultan’s lodge and a new mihrab were built inside.
Renovation of 1847
Restoration of the Hagia Sophia was ordered by Sultan Abdülmecid and completed by eight hundred workers between 1847 and 1849, under the supervision of the Swiss-Italian architect brothers Gaspare and Giuseppe Fossati. The brothers consolidated the dome and vaults, straightened the columns, and revised the decoration of the exterior and the interior of the building. The mosaics in the upper gallery were exposed and cleaned, although many were re-covered “for protection against further damage”. The old chandeliers were replaced by new pendant ones. New gigantic circular-framed disks or medallions were hung on columns. These were inscribed with the names of Allah, Muhammad, the first four caliphs Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali, and the two grandchildren of Muhammad: Hassan and Hussain, by the calligrapher Kazasker Mustafa İzzed Effendi (1801–1877). In 1850 the architects Fossati built a new sultan’s lodge or loge in a Neo-Byzantine style connected to the royal pavilion behind the mosque. They also renovated the minbar and mihrab. Outside the main building, the minarets were repaired and altered so that they were of equal height. A timekeeper’s building and a new madrasah were built. When the restoration was finished, the mosque was re-opened with ceremonial pomp on 13 July 1849.
Museum (1935–present)
In 1935, the first Turkish President and founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, transformed the building into a museum. The carpets were removed and marble floor decorations such as the Omphalion appeared for the first time in centuries, while the white plaster covering many of the mosaics was removed. Nevertheless, the condition of the structure deteriorated, and the World Monuments Fund placed Hagia Sophia on 1996 World Monuments Watch, and again in 1998. The building’s copper roof had cracked, causing water to leak down over the fragile frescoes and mosaics. Moisture entered from below as well. Rising ground water had raised the level of humidity within the monument, creating an unstable environment for stone and paint. The WMF secured a series of grants from 1997 to 2002 for the restoration of the dome. The first stage of work involved the structural stabilization and repair of the cracked roof, which was undertaken with the participation of the Turkish Ministry of Culture. The second phase, the preservation of the dome’s interior, afforded the opportunity to employ and train young Turkish conservators in the care of mosaics. By 2006, the WMF project was complete, though many other areas of Hagia Sophia continue to require significant stability improvement, restoration and conservation. Haghia Sophia is currently (2014) the second most visited museum in Turkey, attracting almost 3.3 million visitors annually.
The interior undergoing restoration.
Although use of the complex as a place of worship (mosque or church) was strictly prohibited, in 2006 the Turkish government allowed the allocation of a small room in the museum complex to be used as a prayer room for Christian and Muslim museum staff, and since 2013 from the minarets of the museum the muezzin sings the call to prayer twice per day, in the afternoon.
In 2007, Greek American politician Chris Spirou launched an international organization “Free Agia Sophia Council” championing the cause of restoring the building to its original function as a Christian church. Since the early 2010s, several campaigns and government high officials, notably Turkey’s deputy prime minister Bülent Arınç in November 2013, have been demanding that Hagia Sophia be converted into a mosque again. In 2015, in retaliation for the acknowledgment by Pope Francis of the Armenian Genocide, the Mufti of Ankara, Mefail Hızlı, stated that he believes the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque will be accelerated.
On July 1, 2016, Muslim prayers were held again in the Hagia Sophia for the first time in 85 years.
Architecture
Hagia Sophia is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. Its interior is decorated with mosaics and marble pillars and coverings of great artistic value. The temple itself was so richly and artistically decorated that Justinian proclaimed, “Solomon, I have outdone 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 in Spain.
Section of a “restored” design.
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.
The vast interior has a complex structure. The nave is covered by a central dome which at its maximum is 55.6 m (182 ft 5 in) from floor level and rests on an arcade of 40 arched windows. Repairs to its structure have left the dome somewhat elliptical, with the diameter varying between 31.24 and 30.86 m (102 ft 6 in and 101 ft 3 in).
i) Plan of the gallery (upper part). ii).Plan of the ground floor (lower half).
At the western entrance side and eastern liturgical side, there are arched openings extended by half domes of identical diameter to the central dome, carried on smaller semi-domed exedras; a hierarchy of dome-headed elements built up to create a vast oblong interior crowned by the central dome, with a clear span of 76.2 m (250 ft).
Interior surfaces are sheathed with polychrome marbles, green and white with purple porphyry, and gold mosaics. The exterior, clad in stucco, was tinted yellow and red during restorations in the 19th century at the direction of the Fossati architects.
Narthex and portals
The Imperial Gate was the main entrance between the exo- and esonarthex. It was reserved exclusively for the Emperor. The Byzantine mosaic above the portal depicts Christ and an unnamed emperor. A long ramp from the northern part of the outer narthex leads up to the upper gallery.
Upper Gallery
West side of the upper gallery.
The upper gallery is laid out in a horseshoe shape that encloses the nave until the apse. Several mosaics are preserved in the upper gallery, an area traditionally reserved for the Empress and her court. The best-preserved mosaics are located in the southern part of the gallery.
The upper gallery contains runic graffiti presumed to be from the Varangian Guard.
Dome
The dome of Hagia Sophia has spurred particular interest for many art historians, architects and engineers because of the innovative way the original architects envisioned it. The dome is carried on four spherical triangular pendentives, an element which was first fully realized in this building. The pendentives implement the transition from the circular base of the dome to the rectangular base below, restraining the lateral forces of the dome and allow its weight to flow downwards. They were reinforced with buttresses during Byzantine and later during Ottoman times, under the guidance of the architect Sinan.
Cupola Dome, Semi-dome and apse.
The weight of the dome remained a problem for most of the building’s existence. The original cupola collapsed entirely after the earthquake of 558; in 563 a new dome was built by Isidore the younger, a nephew of Isidore of Miletus. Unlike the original, this included 40 ribs and was slightly taller, in order to lower the lateral forces on the church walls. A larger section of the second dome collapsed as well, in two episodes, so that today only two sections of the present dome, in the north and south side, still date from the 562 reconstruction. Of the whole dome’s 40 ribs, the surviving north section contains 8 ribs, while the south section includes 6 ribs.
The Hagia Sophia interior in Istanbul.
Although this design stabilizes the dome and the surrounding walls and arches, the actual construction of the walls of Hagia Sophia weakened the overall structure. The bricklayers used more mortar than brick, weakening the walls. The structure would have been more stable if the builders at least let the mortar cure before they began the next layer; however, they did not do this. When the dome was erected, its weight caused the walls to lean outward because of the wet mortar underneath. When Isidore the Younger rebuilt the fallen cupola, he had first to build up the interior of the walls to make them vertical again. Additionally, the architect raised the height of the rebuilt dome by approximately six m (20 feet) so that the lateral forces would not be as strong and its weight would be transmitted more effectively down into the walls. Moreover, he shaped the new cupola like a scalloped shell or the inside of an umbrella, with ribs that extend from the top 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.
Hagia Sophia is famous for the light that reflects everywhere in the interior of the nave, giving the dome the appearance of hovering above. This effect was achieved by inserting forty windows around the base of the original structure. Moreover, the insertion of the windows in the dome structure lowers its weight.
Minarets
The minarets were an Ottoman addition, and not part of the original church’s Byzantine design. One of the minarets (at southwest) was built from red brick while the other three were built from white limestone and sandstone, of which the slender northeast column was erected by Sultan Bayezid II while the two larger minarets to the west were erected by Sultan Selim II and designed by the famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan.
Notable elements and decorations
Originally, under Justinian’s reign, the interior decorations consisted of abstract designs on marble slabs on the walls and floors, as well as mosaics on the curving vaults. Of these mosaics, one can still see the two archangels Gabriel and Michael in the spandrels of the bema. There were already a few figurative decorations, as attested by the eulogy of Paul the Silentiary. The spandrels of the gallery are revetted in opus sectile, showing patterns and figures of flowers and birds in precisely cut pieces of white marble set against a background of black marble. In later stages figurative mosaics were added, which were destroyed during the iconoclastic controversy (726–843). Present mosaics are from the post-iconoclastic period. The number of treasures, relics and miracle-working, painted icons of the Hagia Sophia grew progressively richer into an amazing collection.
Apart from the mosaics, a large number of figurative decorations were added during the second half of the 9th century: an image of Christ in the central dome; Orthodox saints, prophets and Church Fathers in the tympana below; historical figures connected with this church, such as Patriarch Ignatius; some scenes from the gospel in the galleries. Basil II let artists paint on each of the four pendentives a giant six-winged Cherub. The Ottomans covered their face with a golden halo, but in 2009 one of them was restored to the original state.
Loge of the Empress
The Loge of the Empress is located in the centre of the upper enclosure, or gallery, of the Hagia Sophia. From there the empress and the court-ladies would watch the proceedings down below. A round, green stone marks the spot where the throne of the empress stood.
Lustration urns
Two huge marble lustration (ritual purification) urns were brought from Pergamon during the reign of Sultan Murad III. From the Hellenistic period, they are carved from single blocks of marble.
Marble Door
The Marble Door inside the Hagia Sophia is located in the southern upper enclosure, or gallery. It was used by the participants in synods, they entered and left the meeting chamber through this door.
Wishing column
At the northwest of the building there is a column with a hole in the middle covered by bronze plates. This column goes by different names; the perspiring column, the wishing column, the sweating column or the crying column. The column is said to be damp when touched and have supernatural powers. The legend states that since St. Gregory the Miracle Worker appeared at the column in year 1200, the column is moist. It is believed that touching the moisture cures many illnesses.
Notable elements of the Hagia Sophia
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The Loge of the Empress. The columns are made of green Thessalian stone.
The wishing column
marble door.
Lustration urn from Pergamon
Mosaics
Ceiling decorations showing the original Christian-Cross still visible through the later aniconic decoration.
The church was richly decorated with mosaics throughout the centuries. They either depicted the Virgin Mother, Jesus, saints, or emperors and empresses. Other parts were decorated in a purely decorative style with geometric patterns.
The mosaics however for their most part date to after the end of the Byzantine Iconoclasm of 800 AD.
During the Sack of Constantinople in 1204, the Latin Crusaders vandalized valuable items in every important Byzantine structure of the city, including the golden mosaics of the Hagia Sophia. Many of these items were shipped to Venice, whose Doge, Enrico Dandolo, had organized the invasion and sack of Constantinople after an agreement with Prince Alexios Angelos, the son of a deposed Byzantine emperor.
19th-century restoration
Following the building’s conversion into a mosque in 1453, many of its mosaics were covered with plaster, due to Islam’s ban on representational imagery. This process was not completed at once, and reports exist from the 17th century in which travellers note that they could still see Christian images in the former church. In 1847–49, the building was restored by two Swiss-Italian Fossati brothers, Gaspare and Giuseppe, and Sultan Abdülmecid allowed them to also document any mosaics they might discover during this process which were later archived in Swiss libraries. This work did not include repairing the mosaics and after recording the details about an image, the Fossatis painted it over again. The Fossatis restored the mosaics of the two hexapteryga (singular Greek: ἑξαπτέρυγον, pr. hexapterygon, six-winged angel); it is uncertain whether they are seraphim or cherubim) located on the two east pendentives, covering their faces again before the end of the restoration. The other two placed on the west pendentives are copies in paint created by the Fossatis, since they could find no surviving remains of them. As in this case, the architects reproduced in paint damaged decorative mosaic patterns, sometimes redesigning them in the process. The Fossati records are the primary sources about a number of mosaic images now believed to have been completely or partially destroyed in the 1894 Istanbul earthquake. These include a mosaic over a now-unidentified Door of the Poor, a large image of a jewel-encrusted cross, and a large number of images of angels, saints, patriarchs, and church fathers. Most of the missing images were located in the building’s two tympana.
One mosaic they documented is Christ Pantocrator in a circle, which would indicate it to be a ceiling mosaic, possibly even of the main dome which was later covered and painted over with Islamic calligraphy that expounds God as the light of the universe. The drawings of the Hagia Sophia mosaics are today kept in the Cantonal Archive of Ticino.
20th-century restoration
A large number of mosaics were uncovered in the 1930s by a team from the Byzantine Institute of America led by Thomas Whittemore. The team chose to let a number of simple cross images remain covered by plaster, but uncovered all major mosaics found.
Because of its long history as both a church and a mosque, a particular challenge arises in the restoration process. Christian iconographic mosaics can be uncovered, but often at the expense of important and historic Islamic art. 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).
Imperial Gate Mosaic
The Imperial Gate mosaic is located in the tympanum above that gate, which was used only by the emperors when entering the church. Based on style analysis, it has been dated to the late 9th or early 10th century. The emperor with a nimbus or halo could possibly represent emperor Leo VI the Wise or his son Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus bowing down before Christ Pantocrator, seated on a jeweled throne, giving His blessing and holding in His left hand an open book. The text on the book reads as follows: “Peace be with you. I am the light of the world”. (John 20:19; 20:26; 8:12) On each side of Christ’s shoulders is a circular medallion: on His left the Archangel Gabriel, holding a staff, on His right His Mother Mary.
Southwestern entrance mosaic
The southwestern entrance mosaic, situated in the tympanum of the southwestern entrance, dates from the reign of Basil II. It was rediscovered during the restorations of 1849 by the Fossatis. The Virgin sits on a throne without a back, her feet resting on a pedestal, embellished with precious stones. The Child Christ sits on her lap, giving His blessing and holding a scroll in His left hand. On her left side stands emperor Constantine in ceremonial attire, presenting a model of the city to Mary. The inscription next to him says: “Great emperor Constantine of the Saints”. On her right side stands emperor Justinian I, offering a model of the Hagia Sophia. The medallions on both sides of the Virgin’s head carry the monograms MP and ΘΥ, an abbreviation of “Mētēr” and “Theou“, meaning “Mother of God”.
Apse Mosaics
Virgin and Child.
The Virgin and Child mosaic was the first of the post-iconoclastic mosaics. It was inaugurated on 29 March 867 by Patriarch Photius and the emperors Michael III and Basil I. This mosaic is situated in a high location on the half dome of the apse. Mary is sitting on a throne without a back, holding the Child Jesus on her lap. Her feet rest on a pedestal. Both the pedestal and the throne are adorned with precious stones. The portraits of the archangels Gabriel and Michael (largely destroyed) in the bema of the arch also date from the 9th century. The mosaics are set against the original golden background of the 6th century. These mosaics were believed to be a reconstruction of the mosaics of the 6th century that were previously destroyed during the iconoclastic era by the Byzantines of that time, as represented in the inaugural sermon by the patriarch Photios. However, no record of figural decoration of Hagia Sophia exists before this time.
Emperor Alexander mosaic
The Emperor Alexander mosaic is not easy to find for the first-time visitor, located in the second floor in a dark corner of the ceiling. It depicts Emperor Alexander in full regalia, holding a scroll in his right hand and a globus cruciger in his left. A drawing by the Fossatis showed that the mosaic survived until 1849, and that Thomas Whittemore, founder of the Byzantine Institute of America who was granted permission to preserve the mosaics, assumed that it had been destroyed in the earthquake of 1894. Eight years after his death, the mosaic was discovered in 1958 largely through the researches of Robert Van Nice. Unlike most of the other mosaics in Hagia Sophia, which had been covered over by ordinary plaster, the Alexander mosaic was simply painted over and reflected the surrounding mosaic patterns and thus was well hidden. It was duly cleaned by the Byzantine Institute’s successor to Whittemore, Paul A. Underwood.
Express Zoe Mosaic
The Empress Zoe mosaic on the eastern wall of the southern gallery date from the 11th century. Christ Pantocrator, clad in the dark blue robe (as is the custom in Byzantine art), is seated in the middle against a golden background, giving His blessing with the right hand and holding the Bible in His left hand. On either side of His head are the monograms IC and XC, meaning Iēsous Christos. He is flanked by Constantine IX Monomachus and Empress Zoe, both in ceremonial costumes. He is offering a purse, as symbol of the donation he made to the church, while she is holding a scroll, symbol of the donations she made. The inscription over the head of the emperor says: “Constantine, pious emperor in Christ the God, king of the Romans, Monomachus”. The inscription over the head of the empress reads as follows: “Zoë, the very pious Augusta”. The previous heads have been scraped off and replaced by the three present ones. Perhaps the earlier mosaic showed her first husband Romanus III Argyrus or her second husband Michael IV. Another theory is that this mosaic was made for an earlier emperor and empress, with their heads changed into the present ones.
Comnenus Mosaic
The Comnenus mosaic, also located on the eastern wall of the southern gallery, dates from 1122. The Virgin Mary is standing in the middle, depicted, as usual in Byzantine art, in a dark blue gown. She holds the Child Christ on her lap. He gives His blessing with His right hand while holding a scroll in His left hand. On her right side stands emperor John II Comnenus, represented in a garb embellished with precious stones. He holds a purse, symbol of an imperial donation to the church. Empress Irene stands on the left side of the Virgin, wearing ceremonial garments and offering a document. Their eldest son Alexius Comnenus is represented on an adjacent pilaster. He is shown as a beardless youth, probably representing his appearance at his coronation aged seventeen. In this panel one can already see a difference with the Empress Zoe mosaic that is one century older. There is a more realistic expression in the portraits instead of an idealized representation. The empress is shown with plaited blond hair, rosy cheeks and grey eyes, revealing her Hungarian descent. The emperor is depicted in a dignified manner.
Deësis Mosaic
The Deësis mosaic (Δέησις, “Entreaty”) probably dates from 1261. It was commissioned to mark the end of 57 years of Roman Catholic use and the return to the Orthodox faith. It is the third panel situated in the imperial enclosure of the upper galleries. It is widely considered the finest in Hagia Sophia, because of the softness of the features, the humane expressions and the tones of the mosaic. The style is close to that of the Italian painters of the late 13th or early 14th century, such as Duccio. In this panel the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist (Ioannes Prodromos), both shown in three-quarters profile, are imploring the intercession of Christ Pantocrator for humanity on Judgment Day. The bottom part of this mosaic is badly deteriorated. This mosaic is considered as the beginning of the Renaissance in Byzantine pictorial art.
Northern tympanum mosaics
The northern tympanum mosaics feature various saints. They have been able to survive due to the very high and unreachable location. They depict Saints John Chrysostom and Ignatius the Younger standing, clothed in white robes with crosses, and holding richly jeweled Holy Bibles. The names of each saint is given around the figures in Greek, in order to enable an identification for the visitor. The other mosaics in the other tympana have not survived probably due to the frequent earthquakes as opposed to any deliberate destruction by the Ottoman conquerors.
Interior view of the Hagia Sophia, showing Islamic elements on the top of the main dome
Drawing by the Fossati brother depicting some mosaics
Another drawing by the Fossati brothers depicting mosaic of six patriarchs in the southern tympanon
Interior panorama of the Hagia Sophia
The face of the Hexapterygon (six-winged angel) on the north east pendentive (upper left), discovered but covered again by Gaspare Fossati during its restoration, is visible again.
19th-century marker of the tomb of Enrico Dandolo, the Doge of Venice who commanded the Sack of Constantinople in 1204, inside the Hagia Sophia
imperial gate
One of the mighty stone columns with metal clasps
Detail of Deësis mosaic
Mosaic in the northern tympanon depicting Saint John Chrysostom
Circa 1900 photograph, from its time as a mosque.
Mosaics with geometric pattern decorate the upper imperial gallery
Haghia Sofia from Adriaan Reland (1676-1718): Verhandeling van de godsdienst der Mahometaanen, 1719
Detail of relief on the Marble Door.
Hagia Sophia during its time as a mosque. Illustration by Gaspare Fossati and Louis Haghe from 1852.
Interior of the Hagia Sophia by John Singer Sargent, 1891
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Hagia Sophia – Seven Wonders of the Medieval Ages..! Hagia Sophia Hagia Sophia (/ˈhɑːɡiə soʊˈfiːə/; from the Greek: Ἁγία Σοφία, pronounced , "
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With all the magnificent ulema, honorable sheiks, and functionaries of state, all on foot along the sides of the coffin, and the Padishah, Protector of the World, clad in a robe of mourning and in tears, coming from behind, the procession reached the holy mosque of ancient Sultan Mehmed Han—may he rest in peace—where the public was waiting. After the funeral prayers were recited, the Exalted Padishah, Protector of the Religion, left for the Great Palace, while the grandees of government, ulema, and sheiks carried the coffin toward the Great Ayasofya and buried her in the nearby holy türbe of Sultan Selim Han, whom God has taken into His mercy and forgiven his sins—may he rest in peace. Until the completion of the forty days of mourning, the grand viziers and chief judges of the empire did their prayers without interruption, never neglecting to visit [the grave] twice a day. The Exhalted Qur’an was continually recited from beginning to end, prayers and litanies were said and, endless bounties and limitless nourishment were distributed as alms to the poor and abject.
May God take into His mercy Your Valide Sultan [991/1583] !
Mustafa Selaniki Efendi about Nurbanu Valide Sultan’s funeral
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