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Construction for Hagia Sophia, the Church of Holy Wisdom, started in 532. Amazingly, it took only five years to complete. It replaced two previous versions of the church that had been destroyed. For more than a thousand years, Hagia Sophia was the largest and grandest church in the world. When Sultan Mehmet II converted it into a mosque, the loss devastated Orthodox Christians. Ironically, Hagia Sophia’s design impressed the Ottomans so much that it was copied in other mosques throughout the empire. In 1935, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, declared Hagia Sophia a museum and work started to restore its mosaics. Today, it is mix of both faiths. Phone: 5220989Directions: Sultanahmet district, across from the Blue Mosque
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 The Virgin,Christchild &
Archangel Gabriel mosaics by H-TownJourneyman
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 Mosaic of the Deesis by H-TownJourneyman
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 Me At Ayasofya by H-TownJourneyman |
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 Gravemarker of Henricus
(Enrico) Dandolo by H-TownJourneyman
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The exquisite mosaics of the Hagia Sophia were protected during the Islamic years by plaster, now restored for our appreciation. Here, a selection of the most famous mosaics.
Empress Zoe mosaic - image 1 - this mosaic features Christ Pantocrator, garbed in dark blue as is traditional in Byzantine art, giving a blessing with his right hand and holding the bible in his left. To his left, the powerful Empress Zoe and to his right, the third husband of the
Empress, Constantine IX Monomachus. The purse he holds recalls a recent contribution to the church. The previous husbands of the Empress at one time had their faces in the picture with the latest husband's head replacing his predecessors. This mosaic dates from the 11th C.
The Imperial Gate mosaic - image 2 - the central door to the sanctuary could only be used by the emperor and features a striking mosaic showing Christ on a jeweled throne. To his left the archangel Gabriel, to his right the Virgin Mary. The kneeling figure with the halo is believed to be Emperor Leo VI the Wise. The mosaic is believed to demonstrate the power given to the emperors by Christ. However, at least one reference implies that Leo is simply begging forgiveness for his four marriages.
The Deesis mosaic - image 3 - is considered one of the most important in the museum, dating from 1261 and created to mark the end of the Roman Catholic rule imposed by the Fourth Crusade and a return to Orthodox faith. The Virgin Mary and John the Baptist face Christ in less than full profile, and are believed to be praying for the salvation of humanity on the Judgement Day. Art experts feel that this mosaic marks the earliest phase of the Renaissance in Byzantine art because of the less harsh facial features and softer colors. The lower part of the mosaic has deteriorated - stated to be water damage.
The Apse mosaic - Virgin and Child - image 4 - is believed to be the first mosaic created after the iconoclastic period and a copy of an image destroyed a century earlier. The mosaic is high up in a dome and attracts a crowd of photographers who line up for a chance to twist and shoot. Mary is seated on a jewelled throne without a back with her feet on a stool. The golden backdrop is typical of pre-iconoclastic art.
The entrance mosaic - image 5 - was among the first discovered by the Fossati brothers in the 19th C restorations and again features Mother Mary on a jewelled backless throne with a pedestal for her feet. It dates to 944 and features on her left the Emperor Constantine presenting a model of the city and on her right Emperor Justinian with a model of the Hagia Sofia. The symbols above her head indicate "mother of god". Leave a Comment
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 Hagia Sofia by Henrik_rrb
Four and a half day in Istanbul rans off fast, so I never got the chance to get inside the Hagia Sofia. From the outside it looks fantastic though, and for me it's even more powerfull than the Blue Mosque.
It was built and done as early as 537, and was for many hundred years the biggest church in the world, plus also the biggest building with a roof in the world.
Actually, if you're interested in history, the church was built even earlier, some 200 years. But when a huge war erased in Konstantinopel (which later on became Istanbul) the first, and much smaller, Hagia Sofia was left in ruin.
The emperior Justinianus, who won the war, decided to build a new church, more mighty than anything else. It even became a bit too mighty. During the first couple of hundred years the roof went down three times...
Well, you can't win them all - but nowadays the roof should be safe on it's place...
When Mehmet the conquerer and his men rode into Konstantinopel in in 1453 the Hagia Sofia was saved from beinged destroyed by just Mehmet, but was at the same time changed into a mosque.
Sultan Mehmet, who he later became, also tried to build something even mightier. The architect Atik Sinan got the order, but when he had finished the Fatith Mosque the sultan was annoyed with the result, and Sinan had to live the rest of his life without his head...
Today isn't the building neither a mosque. Kemal Atatürk decided that it should only be a museum, which it still is today.
Open 9.30-16.30 (until 19.00 in the summer). Closed on mondays. Entrancefee around 15 lira. Leave a Comment Directions: Next to the Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace. You can't miss it...
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 by MalenaN
Hagia Sofia - The Church of Divine Visdom was built by emperor Justinianus and inaugerated year 537. After the Ottoman conquest in 1453 it was turned into a mosque.
Aya Sofya is an architectural masterpiece.
Entance fee is 15 000 000 TL.
The museum is opened Tuesday - Sunday
and open at 9 o'clock. Leave a Comment
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 by MalenaN
In the picture is the mimber (pulpit in a mosque). On top of the columns are huge discs, with Arabic scripts, hanging. Leave a Comment
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If you happen to be in Sultanahmet district of the old Istanbul, go and visit Hagia Sophia. This is a must visit if you into art, architecture and history or just simply admiration of beauty. To me Hagia Sophia was a WOW factor.
Hagia Sophia was a Christian cathedral until it was converted to a mosque in 1453 by Sultan Mehmet the conqueror. It became his imperial mosque, four minarets were added.
Kemal Attaturk the founder of modern Turkey decided to convert Hagia Sophia into a museum and made it into national heritage to preserve and for the world to see.
The original Hagia Sophia was built in the fourth century by Constantine the Great. During Hagia Sophia long history it has been destroyed and rebuilt. In 532 AD it was burned during the Nika riots. It was rebuilt by emperor Justinian the First. Before that it was rebuilt by emperor Theodosius the Great.
The meaning of Hagia Sophia is the church of holy wisdom.
Now Hagia Sophia is acknowledged as one of the great buildings of the world and the remaining great of Byzantine architecture.
When you enter inside the building you will see the Byzantine Christian art, Islam religious art and the many standing marble pillars. On the ceiling you will see the oldest mosaic of the Virgin Mary and Jesus as a child. From outside you can admire the great Byzantine architecture.
Open: Tues-Sun 9am-5pm Address: The old Istanbul in Sultanahmet–Aya Sofya SquareDirections: Opposite the Blue Mosque, not far from Topkapi Palace and Hippodrome.
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