It was not until the 1930s that kemal ataturk turned the storied structure into a museum. The hagia sophia in constantinople is the most magnificent sacred foundation of the byzantine emperor justinian the great. It became a roman catholic cathedral from 1204 1261 ad, and then from 1261 1453 ad it once again was a greek orthodox cathedral. Isidore of miletus and anthemius of tralles formerly constantinople, rome. The ottoman empire, after taking constantinople in 1453, quickly gained. Hagia sophia also known as ayasofya, camii kebir, or sancta sophia. Hauf fh turkey 2009hagia sophia a visit to hagia sophiatour. It was the largest church in constantinople until it was destroyed in 404 ad during riots. Jan 11, 2021 a unesco world heritage site, the hagia sophia was a cathedral and then a mosque before it became a museum, thus standing as a symbol of interfaith harmony for many. Built from 532 to 537, by the eastern roman emperor justinian, hagia sophia was for centuries the principal cathedral of eastern christianity. The recent change in jurisdiction to turkeys directorate of religious affairs came on the 126year anniversary of the 1894 earthquake that greatly damaged the building. Hagia sophia and that of the early secondcentury roman pantheon, it is likely that. It can be approached from many perspectives, such as architecture, structure, history, myth, decoration and from the point of view of its influence on world architecture. Hagia sophia reimagined cappella romana, jonathan abel, and bissera pentcheva, cocreators alexander nemerov and chris chafe, hosts friday, november 4, 2016 at 7.
Abdulmecid allowed them to also document any mosaics they might discover. A landmark ruling has reversed a previous decision preventing worship in the hagia sophia after its conversion into a museum in 1934. Hagia sophia dome religious architecture free 30day. It is at the european part of the city in sultanahmet area old town, nearby topkapi palace in istanbul.
Erdogan says first prayers in hagia sophia on july 24 the. Hauf fh turkey 2009hagia sophia a visit to hagia sophia. The hagia sophia is an enormous architectural marvel in istanbul, turkey, that was originally built as a christian basilica nearly 1,500 years ago. Hagia sophia is famous particular for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of byzantine architecture and is said to have changed the history of architecture. I hereby declare that all information in this document has been obtained. Turkey history ottoman empire, 12881918encyclopedias. Fifteen centuries, two faiths and a contested fate for hagia.
Furthermore, we urge the turkish government to return to the status quo whereby hagia sophia remains a museum, respecting both its origins and history. Hagia sophia, cultural heritage, documentation, surface. Throughout history, the use of hagia sophia would change. It remained the worlds largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years thereafter, until seville cathedral was completed in 1520. Hagia sophia significance and unique facts documentarytube. This action alters the status quo that has existed for the last 85 years and causes great pain to many throughout the world. Jul 12, 2020 hagia sophia has had a rich and turbulent history, changing hands between christians and muslims and having its doors open to all as a secular building from 1935 to 2020. Scott margeson urban design politics, spring 2016 the. The hagia sophia foundation document, which was issued in the ottoman period, is among the valid documents according to cadastral law and the law on foundations.
The history of the hagia sophia and proposals for returning it to worship by andrew. The current building was originally constructed as a church between. Fifteen centuries, two faiths and a contested fate for. Hagia sophia from the age of justinian to the present scholars at. The hagia sophia was the largest church reconstructed in the 6th century by emperor justinian in the byzantine empire. The architecture is thus one of the hagia sophia s enduring meanings that clearly transcends the realm of pure politics. In 1453 ad, the ottoman turks conquered constantinople and converted the cathedral to a mosque. Two faiths hagia sophia, or divine wisdom in greek, was completed in 537 by byzantine emperor justinian. Human history regional developments hagia sophia, istanbul formerly constantinople, turkey persia came under the rule of the safavid empire in 1501, succeeded by the afsharid empire in 1736, the zand empire in 1751, and the qajar empire in 1794. Since then, the management approach towards hagia sophia has fit into the framework of what is termed the authorized heritage discourse, disregarding any ascribed sacred values that many still attribute to the site. The hagia sophia asserted its place in architectural history by simultaneously exemplifying both styles at once. Pdf conservation of dome mosaics of hagia sophia in. Light, architecture and dominant ideologies throughout.
Jul 17, 2020 the conquest of istanbul constantinople and the conversion of the hagia sophia greek for holy wisdom into a mosque are among the most glorious chapters of turkish history. Hagia sophia one of the worlds most remarkable buildings, hagia sophia has been claimed by east and west and has acted almost as a cultural bridge between them. He commissioned renowned architects isidoros milet and. The hagia sophia the influence of the byzantine culture on. The law, and origin story of istanbuls iconic hagia sophia trt world. History the hagia sophia was built in the remarkably short. Holy wisdom, officially the hagia sophia grand mosque turkish. Tripadvisor visit istanbul hagia sophia one of the.
The whole history of hagia sophia is then set to spin around the axis of the sultans. The hagia sophia, or holy wisdom, was originally built as a cathedral in constantinople now istanbul, turkey in the sixth ce. An buttress great arch buttress buttressing at base of dome figure 3. The church of hagia sophia in bizye columbia university. It was a timberroofed basilica which burned in 404. Jul 21, 2020 predecessor, president kemal ataturk, who converted hagia sophia into a secular museum in 1935. Keywords conservation, hagia sophia, mosaics, dome, constantinople, istanbul 1. Hagia sophia was beautifully decorated with mosaics within the centuries during byzantine period. Justinian, hagia sophia has undergone many restorations and constructions to protect its. Wareechatchai 6 god, that this work has been so finely tuned. Areas to the north and east in central asia were held by uzbeks and pashtuns. Then discuss with classmates whether or not procopius accurately depicts this church in his account. Hagia sophia church of holy wisdom was built as an orthodox christian church in 53237 under the auspices of byzantine emperor justinian.
The architecture is thus one of the hagia sophia s enduring meanings that. The byzantine cathedral of hagia sophia has been a source of wonder and fascination since its sixthcentury construction. Ayasofya camii one of the most hotly contested religious. The byzantine empire through primary sources document 4 laws of justinian 529534ce besides the hagia sophia the other major accomplishment of the romans of byzantine empire during the reign of justinian was the corpus juris civilis justinians code. This structure will become one of the most famous buildings in human history, a landmark that will endure for fifteen centuries. Dionysios stathakopoulos is the author of our new book, a short history of the byzantine empire. Unable to repair the damage caused by the fire, justinian ordered the demolition of the hagia sophia in 532. Besides the hagia sophia the other major accomplishment of the romans of byzantine empire during the reign of justinian was the corpus juris civilis justini ans code. Geometry, light, and cosmology in the church of hagia sophia.
Western churches and exemplified in basilica form by the basilica julia potter. Erected at the site of a former temple devastated by fire in 532, the building was conceived by two architects or scholars from asia minor. See editorial, the hagia sophia was a cathedral, a mosque and a museum. Hagia sophia was choosen a world heritage site by unesco in 1985.
It was built by justinian i between 532 and 537 and is located in close proximity to the great palace of the emperors, the hippodrome, and the church of hagia irene. Built in 537 as the patriarchal cathedral of the imperial. As the roman emperor, he had a lot of power within the church, one of those powers was to appoint the patriarch of the church. Today it is a museum, in remembrance of its long history. Which took centuries of built up roman law and codifiedstandardized it for the empire. Furthermore, in this publication, art historian prof. Sophia, known simply as the great church, was built by constantine or, more probably, by constantine ii, and was dedicated in 360 jackson, 1920.
Jul 10, 2020 of their government, to reconvert hagia sophia into a mosque. History and state of preservation the byzantine church commonly known as ayasofya hagia sophia or suleyman pasa camii is situated within the confines of the fortification walls on the southwestern slopes of the acropolis of bizye fig. This collection documents the architectural survey of hagia sophia in istanbul, turkey, conducted by robert l. Hagia sophia is nearly 1,500 years old and served as one of the most exalted seats of christian and then muslim worship in the world, meaning that any change to its status will have a profound. Analyzing issuesfind photographs of the hagia sophia. Page 1 of 3 academic essay outline title describe hagia sophia and its development as a church, conversion to a mosque and its current use introduction general topic of research background andor history of the topic define key terms why topic interesting andor important. A new church was quickly built 11 years later and this church was built to be a basilica and was bigger than the first hagia sophia. Its construction began in in 532 and was completed in 537. Following the fourth crusade 120104, when the crusaders conquered constantinople and established the latin empire of constantinople 120461, the hagia sophia became a catholic church. Accordingly, hagia sophia can be described as an immortal building. Astronomical and optical principles in the architecture of hagia sophia in constantinople. He is lecturer in byzantine studies at kings college london and has previously taught at the university of vienna and the central european university in budapest.
A map of top tourist attractions, seen with bird eye. From 537 to 1204 ad it was a greek orthodox cathedral. Describe its original construction as a church, its conversion into a mosque, and its current use. The most important symbolic monument of the city, ayasofya hagia sophia, was found as the church of the byzantine emperor in the year 360, then converted into the mosque of the ottoman sultan.
The hagia sophia itself became a great influence on the architecture of the generations that followed its construction under justinian i. Hagia sophia was turned into a museum in 1935 following the secularization of turkey. In this paper, mosaic decoration will be investigated on the conservation and tourism point of view. Hagia sophia as a museum hagia sophia in literature reference. The hagia sophia is an important monument from byzantine time. Jul 09, 2020 if hagia sophia became a mosque, it is always a mosque, spencer stated. The hagia sophia grand mosque ayasofyai kebir camii serifi, formerly a. As the byzantines awaited their fate, fearful and curious, inside the hagia sophia, muhammad entered the hagia sophia, giving assurances to the people regarding their lives and freedoms.
Erdogan says first prayers in hagia sophia on july 24. Students get to study this magnificent structure inside and out, discuss the value of preservation, learn new vocabulary through a variety of activities. The hagia sophia is statically flawed by having a central dome perched atop a long basilica structure. Pdf istanbul, having hosted many civilizations and cultures, has a long and important past. On may 29, 1453, ottoman sultan muhammad ii entered the city after a long siege and headed directly to the hagia sophia. The church of the holy wisdom, commonly known as hagia sophia in english, is a former greek. From doaks since the fossati brothers were already in hagia sophia in 1847, it seemed like a golden opportunity to draw this lovely building and some of its newly uncovered mosaics. About hagia sophia throughout history, the use of hagia sophia would change.
It was built by justinian i between 532 and 537 and is located in close proximity to the great palace of the emperors, the hippodrome, and the church of hagia. In 1453 ad, the ottoman turks conquered constantinople and converted the. Hagia sophia one of the worlds most remarkable buildings, hagia. The historical progress of hagia sophia encompasses four. Top court declares hagia sophia a mosque church militant. Hauf fh turkey 2009 hagia sophia 1tour packet 4 build a third and more majestic church in its place. The stresses that the building is under makes it particularly vulnerable to the earthquakes that are common in both greece and turkey. The new church was rededicated as hagia sophia, or holy wisdom of christ.
The conservation and restoration branch of historical buildings asked. The byzantine architecture of the hagia sophia served as inspiration for. Hagia sophia remained for centuries the biggest church in the world only being surpassed by the church of st peter in. Jul 10, 2020 here are the key facts of hagia sophia s history, the campaign to change its status, and statements by religious and political leaders about its fate. Hagia sophia was first built around 360 bc by emperor constantius, son of emperor constantinos. Ayasofyai kebir camii serifi and formerly the church of hagia sophia, is a late antique place of worship in istanbul. A masterpiece of byzantine architecture, the hagia sophia in greek, hagia holy, sophia wisdom is one of the great buildings of the world.
As citizens of the united states of america, we implore our government to intervene for the reversal of this decision. Hagia sophias contested history over 15 centuries and two. Jul 16, 2020 the conquest of istanbul and the conversion of hagia sophia into a mosque are among the most glorious pages of our entire history, he bragged. The construction of hagia sophia began in ad 532 during the nika. Hagia sophias contested history over 15 centuries and two faiths. Turkeys council of state began hearing the case on july 2 and announced that a decision would be made within 15 days. Hagia sophia a brief history hagia sophia or church of divine wisdom was built by the byzantine emperor justinian in the sixth century as a monument to christianity and the rise of the eastern roman empire. Using research in writingfind out more about the hagia sophia. So salzenberg was sent by the prussian king friedrich wilhelm iv to document the building, especially the ornamentation, to bring back ideas for the king to use. As one result a 3d photomodel was generated and stored using the data format vrml. Hagia sophia, completed in the year 537 during the reign of emperor justinian the great, served.
Its dimensions are huge for any church built at that time. Tripadvisor visit istanbul hagia sophia one of the world. Hagia sophia has a classic basilican architectural plan which is typically rectangular. Figure 1 constantinople and hagia sophia at 11th century poster, 2000 the first st. Materials in the collection include administrative records, correspondence, research notes, drafts, publications, architectural drawings, rubbings, photographs, slides, and negatives.
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