Hagia Sophia

It is among the most important monuments that survived up to now. Hagia Sophia had been a church for 916 years, a mosque after 1453 . First Hagia Sophia was built during rulership of Emperor Constantinus the 1st (324-337). It burnt down during a rebellion. Hagia Sophia was built the second time in 415 but it was burnt down in 532 during the Nika Occupation. Footboards, pillars, crests were uncovered during the excavations in 1936 . Hagia Sophia was built the third time by Isiodoroos from Miletos and Anthemios from Tralles by the order of Emperor Justinianus between 532 - 537.

Interior of the Hagia Sophia :

Hagia Sophia's Dome : The dome that is over the central space is 55.60 m. from ground level, 31.87 m. from North to South and 30.87 m. from East to West. It is renovated multiple time in the history because of the big fire nd multiple earthquakes. The most important repair is done during the reign of Sultan Abdulmecid's by the Swiss Fossati brothers. in 1849. Large cracks were filled and the steel circles were implemented to the dome's rim. The 35th verse of the Quran was written by the famous Kazasker Mustafa Izzet Efendi on the main dome.

Mosaics of Hagia Sophia : VI. Leon Mosaic Sunu Mosaic Apse Mosaic Two Angels on the Apses Dome Angel Figures Patriarch Mosaics on the Tympanum Deisis Composition Komnenos Mosaic Zoe Mosaic Emperor Alexander Mosaic Mosaics in the Priest Rooms Mosaic Signature of Sultan Abdulmecid

Great Calligraphic Panes on the walls of the main place : There are 8 of these panes containing the names of Allah, Muhammad, and the four caliphs, namely Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali as well as the grandsons of Muhammad, namely Hasan and Husayn and the Calligraphic Panes in Altar Section

Tiles :

• Tiles around the Altar
• Tiles in the Library of Sultan Mahmud I
• Tiles in the Sultan Tombs

and also

• Altar ,
• Minbar ,
• Sultan's Loge ,
• Muezzin's Loge ,
• Omphalion
• The Library of Mahmud I
• Private Sections ( Maksure )
• Marble Cubes
• Wishing Column
• Gravestone of Commandant Enrico Dandolo
• Viking scripture in Hagia Sophia from the 9th century.
• Doors of Hagia Sophia

Photo from: ayasofyamuzesi.gov.tr

Exterior of the Hagia Sophia :

• Tombs of Sultan Selim 2 , Sultan Murad 3 , Sultan Mehmed 3, Sultan Mustafa I , Sultan Ibrahim and the 4 princes and 1 daughter of Sultan Murad III
• Elementary School
• Fountain built by Sultan Mahmud I in 1740
• Timing Room: Providing prayer time to public
• Public Fountains
• 4 Minarets: Buildings constructed for notifying invitation for prayer. One is built in Fatih Sultan Mehmed period or Beyazid II . The other one is constructed in Selim II period and two other minarets in Sultan Murat III period.
• Buttresses
• Treasury Building (Skevophylakion) : It had been used as the treasure house in East-Roman period, while it had been used as provision storage of Hagia Sophia Almshouse in Ottoman period.
• Almshouse: Built by Sultan Mahmud I in 1743 for distributing food to poor and orphan people.

Address: Cankurtaran Mahallesi, Ayasofya Meydani, No:1 Fatih / ISTANBUL
Phone: +90 (212) 522 17 50 - +90 (212) 522 09 89



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