Features of Hagia Sophia You Never Knew

Hagia Sophiaboth Christian both the Muslim community is considered very important. The old name of Hagia Sophia is known as the Church of the Holy Wisdom. 1453 Fatih’s The 1500-year history of this building, which was converted into a mosque due to the conquest of Istanbul, is quite interesting and tumultuous.

Although it is now a mosque Christian It also attracts great attention from tourists, and we can even consider it as one of the most visited museums in the world.

Firstly; When and by whom was Hagia Sophia built?

Hagia Sophia today Byzantine Emperor Justinian I It was built in a short period of 4 years and 10 months. It is known that Hagia Sophia was built by Anthemios, a physicist and mathematician, and Isodoros, a master of geometry and mechanics.

Hagia Sophia, whose construction was completed as a patriarchal cathedral with a basilica plan, was later built in 1453. Fatih Sultan Mehmet It was converted into a mosque. Later, Hagia Sophia was turned into a museum with the approval of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the ministerial board. If in 2020 Recep Tayyip Erdogan It was converted back into a mosque.

So what makes Hagia Sophia so important for world history?

Listed as the 8th wonder of the world Hagia Sophia, Why is it so important to world history? Actually, the answer to this question is of Hagia Sophia It goes through its history from its construction to the present day.
916 years in Byzantium church When Fatih Sultan Mehmet conquered Istanbul, this building was converted into a mosque and used as a mosque for 482 years, and was used as a museum from 1935 to 2020.

Bringing so many cultures together Hagia Sophiato Today, while Muslims can pray, tourists who want to see can also enter.

Information about Hagia Sophia that you have not heard before:

• Meaning of Hagia Sophia
• built three times
• Viking script
• marble cubes
• The story of the minarets
• wish column
• Dome
• Emperors Gate
• apse mosaic
• How did the buttresses and Mimar Sinan keep Hagia Sophia alive?

Let’s start with the meaning of Hagia Sophia:

The first name of Hagia Sophia Hagia Sophia it wasn’t. which originally meant the Great Church. (Megale Ekklesia) was named. Of course, when the conquest took place, its name was changed to Hagia Sophia by Fatih Sultan Mehmet. As it is said, this name Sophia The information that it is based on a saint is considered false. to the moon (sacred) sophos (wisdom) The name Hagia Sophia was created with the combination of the words.

Hagia Sophia, which was destroyed in history, was built 3 times.

Hagia Sophia, exactly on the same place 3 times was built. Firstly II. Constantine The wooden structure, which was built by A.Ş., was destroyed 40 years after its construction as a result of the fire caused by the riots.

II. Theodosius has it rebuilt on the same place with a wooden roof. This building was built in 532. Justinian opposing Nika In his revolt, he is destroyed again by the rebels. But Justinian He will have learned his lesson that in exactly 5 years and 10 months, right after the rebellion, a very glorious and at the same time more solid Hagia Sophia is building.

Post written by Viking

9th century This article, which is thought to belong to halvdan It is thought to be the writing of a viking commander named viking. Vikings migrated, plundering everywhere. But to Byzantium they were not dealing with this purpose, but for peaceful and commercial purposes.

halvdanbelieved to have a pagan faith, he commanded. While being influenced by Hagia Sophia and performing a Christian ritual, halvdanI wrote this article because he is not a Christian. from boredom thought to be written. When the text is translated into TurkishHalvdan was hereWe can translate it as ”.

marble cubes

Sultan III. Murad These cubes belonging to the Hellenistic Period, 1250 liters He could take liquids and thanks to the taps on the lower parts, he could use them in oil lamps and Eid prayers. sherbet was being distributed.

minarets

Hagia SophiaIt was originally built as a church, so it did not have any minarets. ConquerorAfter converting Hagia Sophia into the first mosque, he had a wooden minaret built on top of one of the domes, so this minaret has not survived to the present day.

found today minaretsAlthough it is not exactly known, it is very similar to the minarets of Edirne Selimiye Mosque. Architect Sinan It is thought to have been made by

Wish Column

Lots of legends about this column and superstition there is. This stone was among people over time. holiness won and the reason for this event leaning on this column the emperorThe reason for his headache was that he had attributed it to this column. As time passed, belief in this pillar increased among people. People started to go to the stone and make wishes from the stone, and this belief is still common today.

Dome

Hagia SophiaWe can say that one of the biggest features of ‘s architecture. One of the structures that makes it seem too big for a church is the magnificent dome of Hagia Sophia. This dome It is a fairly large dome with a height of 55 meters and a length of 31 meters.

During the construction of Hagia Sophia, the architects used marble stone and brick in the construction of the building, and in the construction of the dome, so that it would not be easily destroyed in earthquakes. Rhodes Lightweight and durable bricks specially produced from the soil were used.

Emperors Gate

Only emperors This gate, which is called the gate of the emperors because it was used by Hagia SophiaIt provides access to the main space. This door, which is the largest door of Hagia Sophia, is 7 meters high and has a bronze frame.

In some sources, this door NoahIt is claimed that it was made from the woods of the ship of . The mosaic on it is known as the first mosaic in Hagia Sophia. Recently, this important building came to the fore because it was destroyed.

Apse Mosaic

Actually Hagia Sophia’It is thought that there are more figured mosaics than there are now. However, such visual figures were banned and removed in many churches during the Iknoclasm Period.

iconoclasm, we can call it the ideology that prohibits such visual figures from religion. At the end of this period, mosaics were added to the churches again, and it is one of the most magnificent and large mosaics in Hagia Sophia. Apse Mosaic done. In this mosaic; in the middle, Mary is seated on an ornate throne, holding the child Jesus in her arms.

How did the buttresses and Mimar Sinan keep Hagia Sophia alive?

We talked about the magnificent dome of Hagia Sophia. Due to the outward openings due to the size and weight of this 55-meter dome, Ottoman PeriodIn , interventions were made to strengthen the dome from the outside, but they could not suppress the weight of the dome. For this reason, both Eastern Romans and the Ottomans around the dome buttresses They tried to take precautions against possible destruction.

Although precautions were tried to be taken, the destruction of the magnificent dome of Hagia Sophia was only a matter of time. Architect Sinan the space between the piers supporting the dome and the side walls. belts added and solved this problem by supporting the structure with heavy beams.

Hagia SophiaIt is obvious that ‘ is very important for world history and our history. We can say that this is hidden in his history. historically today jerkyWe talked about Hagia Sophia, which is a very important building in terms of structure and architecture. architecture What do you think about it?