The Byzantine Empire was vast, powerful civilisation traced back to 330 AD when the Roman emperor Constantine I (272–337) dedicated a New Rome. Constantine I had been a pagan before he converted to Christianity and after he died, his son Constantine II saw Byzantine needed its own temple. Thus Hagia Sophia was consecrated by Constantine II in 360.
The wooden-roofed basilica was damaged in 404 by a fire that erupted during a riot. In Eastern Europe, where the Orthodox church flourished, the Greek Cross design(+) dominated. In contrast to the long nave crossed at one end by a transept, Eastern churches had 4 wings of equal size, out of a central, square crossing.
The restored building was re-dedicated in 415 by a great orthodox believer Emperor Theodosius II. His architrave of 12 sheep represented the 12 apostles of Christ, in front of the monumental entrance.
By 532, Emperor Justinian I had ruled the empire for 5 years. But people resented Justinian's high taxes and wanted him out of office. When a riot spread across the city, the rioters chanted Nika-victory and besieged the Emperor in his palace. After moving loyal troops into the city Justinian brutally put down the rebellion.
A month after the 532AD Nika Insurrection, Justinian began rebuilding Hagia Sophia. In 537, he entered the completed building saying Solomon, I Have Surpassed you!, a reference to Solomon’s Great Temple in Jerusalem. Rising along the shore of the Bosphorus Sea, the cathedral was the most important Byzantine structure.
The sunlight emanating from Hagia Sophia’s 40 windows surrounding its lofty cupola,
suffusing the interior and irradiating its gold mosaics. Magical!
Alas Hagia Sophia, finished in 537 AD, couldn’t survive the earth quakes of 557 and both arches and the main dome collapsed. It would not be the last earthquake.
When Hagia Sophia re-emerged, the longitudinal basilica had a 32-metre main dome supported on pendentives & semi-domes! The dimensions were impressive for any structure not built of steel: 82 meters long and 73 meters wide. There were 3 aisles separated by columns with galleries above, and great marble piers rising up to support the dome.
32-metre main dome
The original decorations were originally very simple. There were a number of mosaics that have been added over the centuries - images of the imperial family, of Christ and of different emperors. In the 8th & C9th, there was an Era of Iconoclasm (726–87 and 815–43 when imperial legislation barred figural images) that resulted in some mosaics being destroyed. Instead the cross was promoted as the most acceptable decorative form for Byzantine churches.
When the decoration of the interior of Hagia Sophia resumed, each emperor added his own image.
Note the mosaic on the apse of the church showing a huge Virgin Mary with Jesus (867 AD).
Now to the C11th when the Byzantines suffered losses in both its West and East lands. At first the Byzantines cooperated with Crusaders against Turks & Arabs. But after the 2nd & 3rd Crusades, Crusaders couldn’t recapture Jerusalem.
In 1204 the 4th Crusaders, led by Venetian Doge Enrico Dandolo, invaded Constantinople with his giant navy. The Doge plundered the city for 3 days. Relics of the True Cross, gold art, plates, chalices and furnishings were sent to churches in Venice, Germany and Italy. Venice’s four bronze Horses of Saint Mark came from Hagia Sophia.
Ottoman mosque
The next chapter in Hagia Sophia’s history began in 1453 when the Byzantine Empire ended and Constantinople fell to the armies of Mehmed II, the young sultan (23) of the Ottoman Empire (1444-46 and 1451-81). Hagia Sophia was looking tragic, yet the Christian cathedral made a strong impression on the new Ottoman rulers. The last Christian emperor, Constantine XI, bid farewell to his people, prayed in Hagia Sophia, rode into battle and died.
Sultan Mehmed entered the city, giving his soldiers 3 days to loot the churches and houses. In Hagia Sophia, he destroyed the Christian altar and converted the church into a mosque by adding a minbar, mihrab, madrasa, chandelier and wooden minaret. The Big Cross on the dome and the bell tower were of course removed by The Ottoman Conqueror.
Hagia Sophia underwent many changes in the reigns of each Ottoman Sultan. Mehmed II’s first wooden minaret was rebuilt by Selim II (1566-1574). Sultan Bayezid II (1447–1512) erected a narrow white minaret with brick stone on the southeast side of the mosque minaret. The other two identical minarets on the western side (60 ms) were built by Selim II and Murad III, both of whom commissioned Mimar Sinan the Grand Architect (1490-1588).
Four slender minarets, 60 ms tall
The wooden-roofed basilica was damaged in 404 by a fire that erupted during a riot. In Eastern Europe, where the Orthodox church flourished, the Greek Cross design(+) dominated. In contrast to the long nave crossed at one end by a transept, Eastern churches had 4 wings of equal size, out of a central, square crossing.
The restored building was re-dedicated in 415 by a great orthodox believer Emperor Theodosius II. His architrave of 12 sheep represented the 12 apostles of Christ, in front of the monumental entrance.
By 532, Emperor Justinian I had ruled the empire for 5 years. But people resented Justinian's high taxes and wanted him out of office. When a riot spread across the city, the rioters chanted Nika-victory and besieged the Emperor in his palace. After moving loyal troops into the city Justinian brutally put down the rebellion.
A month after the 532AD Nika Insurrection, Justinian began rebuilding Hagia Sophia. In 537, he entered the completed building saying Solomon, I Have Surpassed you!, a reference to Solomon’s Great Temple in Jerusalem. Rising along the shore of the Bosphorus Sea, the cathedral was the most important Byzantine structure.
To build Hagia Sophia, Justinian turned to Anthemius of Tralles & Isidore the Elder. In time the men did get the magnificent domed roof to stand and it looked to be “suspended from heaven by that golden chain”. [It collapsed 2 decades later and an architect had to rebuild a roof].
suffusing the interior and irradiating its gold mosaics. Magical!
Alas Hagia Sophia, finished in 537 AD, couldn’t survive the earth quakes of 557 and both arches and the main dome collapsed. It would not be the last earthquake.
When Hagia Sophia re-emerged, the longitudinal basilica had a 32-metre main dome supported on pendentives & semi-domes! The dimensions were impressive for any structure not built of steel: 82 meters long and 73 meters wide. There were 3 aisles separated by columns with galleries above, and great marble piers rising up to support the dome.
The original decorations were originally very simple. There were a number of mosaics that have been added over the centuries - images of the imperial family, of Christ and of different emperors. In the 8th & C9th, there was an Era of Iconoclasm (726–87 and 815–43 when imperial legislation barred figural images) that resulted in some mosaics being destroyed. Instead the cross was promoted as the most acceptable decorative form for Byzantine churches.
When the decoration of the interior of Hagia Sophia resumed, each emperor added his own image.
Note the mosaic on the apse of the church showing a huge Virgin Mary with Jesus (867 AD).
Now to the C11th when the Byzantines suffered losses in both its West and East lands. At first the Byzantines cooperated with Crusaders against Turks & Arabs. But after the 2nd & 3rd Crusades, Crusaders couldn’t recapture Jerusalem.
In 1204 the 4th Crusaders, led by Venetian Doge Enrico Dandolo, invaded Constantinople with his giant navy. The Doge plundered the city for 3 days. Relics of the True Cross, gold art, plates, chalices and furnishings were sent to churches in Venice, Germany and Italy. Venice’s four bronze Horses of Saint Mark came from Hagia Sophia.
Ottoman mosque
The next chapter in Hagia Sophia’s history began in 1453 when the Byzantine Empire ended and Constantinople fell to the armies of Mehmed II, the young sultan (23) of the Ottoman Empire (1444-46 and 1451-81). Hagia Sophia was looking tragic, yet the Christian cathedral made a strong impression on the new Ottoman rulers. The last Christian emperor, Constantine XI, bid farewell to his people, prayed in Hagia Sophia, rode into battle and died.
Sultan Mehmed entered the city, giving his soldiers 3 days to loot the churches and houses. In Hagia Sophia, he destroyed the Christian altar and converted the church into a mosque by adding a minbar, mihrab, madrasa, chandelier and wooden minaret. The Big Cross on the dome and the bell tower were of course removed by The Ottoman Conqueror.
Hagia Sophia underwent many changes in the reigns of each Ottoman Sultan. Mehmed II’s first wooden minaret was rebuilt by Selim II (1566-1574). Sultan Bayezid II (1447–1512) erected a narrow white minaret with brick stone on the southeast side of the mosque minaret. The other two identical minarets on the western side (60 ms) were built by Selim II and Murad III, both of whom commissioned Mimar Sinan the Grand Architect (1490-1588).
Suleyman the Magnificent (1520–66) put two candlestick beside the mihrab, taken in his Hungarian campaign. A marble muezzin platform and alabaster urns were added, in the reign of Murad III (1566–95). Later Mahmud I (1696–1754) added a school for children-madrasa and a mosque library adorned with Iznik tiles and bronze grilles.
Mosaics were mostly covered with plaster. In 1847, a restoration was started by Swiss architects Giuseppe & Gaspare Fossati (1809-1883), the men who had earlier been official architects at the St Petersburg court. The brothers uncovered the hidden mosaics, showing all the gold to the Sultan. But the Sultan didn’t dare display Orthodox images.
Mosaics were mostly covered with plaster. In 1847, a restoration was started by Swiss architects Giuseppe & Gaspare Fossati (1809-1883), the men who had earlier been official architects at the St Petersburg court. The brothers uncovered the hidden mosaics, showing all the gold to the Sultan. But the Sultan didn’t dare display Orthodox images.
bearing the names of God, Mohammed & grandsons; and four caliphs.
Present-day museum
Throughout Byzantine and Ottoman history, the building served as the Imperial Church or Mosque where Emperors were crowned, victories celebrated and Sultans prayed. The Turkish Republic was proclaimed by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1923. As a step en route to a secular country, the Turkish government “dereligionised” Hagia Sophia and turned it into a museum in 1934. Research, repair and restoration work still continues, as does tourism. Since 1985 Hagia Sophia became part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. For magnificent photos see here.
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20 comments:
That is quite a history and I take nothing of the original is left, just what has been built and added over the centuries. It is an important building and well worth the cost of restoration.
President Erdogan is saying they want to change the building back to a mosque. UNESCO is saying that should not happen.
It is a truly magnificent building, from both the inside and outside. It is one of the highlights on the tourist trail in Istanbul.
Andrew
there have been many re-buildings, renovations and re-decorations over the centuries, due to acts of God (earthquakes, floods and fires) or due to rampaging armies, new rulers and new religions. Every Turkish lira spent on this national and international treasure is worthwhile.
LMK
The vast majority of Turkey is Islamic and undoubtedly they want Hagia Sophia back as a mosque. But UNESCO sources have argued that changing Istanbul-based Hagia Sophia’s World Heritage Site status would require approval by the Paris-based world body. This may not be forthcoming because:
1] Millions of visitors visit Istanbul each year and they would not be able to inspect and appreciate Hagia Sophia's beauty if it was purely a working mosque. The secular status of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was very important to Turkey. And
2] Other countries (eg Greece) in the region would find the change a political and military threat to the international community and international law.
Fun60
That is so true. Years ago we drove a car from Haifa in Israel to London, spending a week in and around Istanbul. It was a highlight of our very long trip.
Hello Hels, It looks like the Hagia Sophia has been turned into something of a political-religious football. The safety and integrity of the building seems as usual to be a minor consideration. From the Wikipedia article, the care of this building is going to be an ongoing concern of major proportions (cracked roof, rising groundwater, etc.) and its mismanagement could initiate vast losses and problems.
--Jim
Parnassus
Hagia Sophia might have always been a political-religious football, nod. There were always riots by locals, invasions by enemies, damage by Crusaders, total change from Christianity to Islam. Hagia Sophia seemed to reflect every political, military and religious crisis over its long history - including now.
definitely on my Bucket List . ope it survives Erdogan , climate change and earth quakes , a big one is overdue in this very shaky region .
I also seem to remember that the Mother of the original builder went to Jerusalem to the site of Golgotha and may indeed have gotten hold of bits of the true cross as she got there pretty early after the crucifixion , relatively speaking .
mem
Do you remember the Izmit Earthquake at the beginning of this century? Nearly 20,000 civilians were killed and twice as many seriously injured. I cannot imagine living in such a physically unstable part of the world.
mem
Spot on, sister :) Constantine the Great's mother Empress Helena reported that she did indeed find wood from The True Cross when she was a pilgrim in the early 4th century. She said she brought great treasures back from the Holy Land.
I don't have a comment to add other than "what a fabulous building and history!"
CLICK HERE for Bazza’s righteously rebarbative Blog ‘To Discover Ice’
bazza
Istanbul is a ginormous city with a long and changing history. The old structure of Hagia Sophia was a great Orthodox design with traditional elements. The Byzantine mosaics are gorgeous, the marble is rich and the clever calligraphy is not just decorative.
Three million visitors each year agree with you!
I wonder if that this The T"true Cross " that is on display now wherever it is . DO you know ?
mem
there were many pieces of wood from the True Cross (on which Christ was crucified) dug up by various clerics over the centuries. But Empress Helena was a very special woman since she was the one who converted her son Constantine the Great, and Europe, to Christianity. And because the relics Helena found were in the very temple that had been built over the site of Jesus' death.
Several relics discovered by Helena are now in monasteries in Cyprus. But when Helena returned to Rome, her True Cross and other relics came with her; she kept them in safe condition in her palace's private chapel. Catholic Online is a good reference.
Speaking of Churches - there is the Hagia
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53366307
Was Jesus upset ? Is Christianity as its exists today the faith of Jesus the radical and out of the box thinker tilting against the Romans and the Pharisees ?
Jesus BROKE the oral Law w.r.t Circumcision,Wine and Pork and predicted the destruction of the idols and the Temple of Solomon (proxy for modern day Churches)
Jeuss SAID that he came to EXECUTE THE ORAL LAW ( against idolatory) and it was PAUL and the Romans, who made the Church on the death of Jesus
Jesus also said that NO ONE BEFORE HIM EVER HEARD GOD !
No man hath heard God at any time. (John 1:17-18 and John 5:37 + 61)
Jesus was an ANARCHIST, revolutionary and a radical – who would be called a TERRORIST today – Che with the Oral law = JESUS ! His BIG PICTURE ORAL LAW = PLATONIC UNIVERSALS – WHICH HE LEARNT IN THE MISSING YEARS FROM AGE 12 -32
JESUS also said that Moses was a false prophet !
For the law was given by Moses but grace and TRUTH came by Jesus Christ, (John 1:17-18 and John 5:37 + 61)
Moses gave you not that bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. (John 6:32)
SO DID ERDOGAN DO ANY WRONG ? NEIN !
Turkey has struck Gold in the Black sea !
https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-discovers-large-natural-gas-reserve-off-black-sea/a-54649882
For A Human and a Muslim – it is IMPERATIVE
Principles and Ideology !
For A Human and a REAL Muslim – it is IMPERATIVE to PROTEST the Kashmir and Gaza Genocide and SUPPORT the FREEDOM STRUGGLE in KASHMIR AND GAZA ! dindooohindoo ! JESUS WOULD DO THE SAME !
Kashmir HAS to be an independent nation !
Turkey and Erdogan is the only nation/leader,which was resolute,unflinching and unconditional in its support.
And then the reward comes for Turkey and Erdogan .
https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-discovers-large-natural-gas-reserve-off-black-sea/a-54649882
UP GOES THE LIRA !
It is culmination of the prophecy of the desruction of India by the Turks,Mongols,Persians and Afghans !
Erdogan is the Muslim Role Model and no Muslim King/Kingdom has faced as many challenges as Erdogan and Turkey !
But If you follow the Principles and ideology of Islam and THE CORE STAND OF JESUS (Not Christ !) AGAINST INJUSTICE AND EQUITY – YOU WILL WIN ULTIMATELY !
LIRA goes UP and Borsa Istanbul and XU-10O shoots up !
Ideology,Ideology,Ideology,Ideology,Ideology !
The debate about Hagia Sofia goes on. You are correct that ideology is all-important in this conflict.
The Museum might have remained, but for the events of the last decade. In Nov 2011 the Ayasofya in Iznik was reopened as a mosque. Originally a church and the setting of one of the most important early councils in AD 787, the building became a mosque with the Ottoman Conquest. But it had fallen into disrepair. For decades it functioned as a museum, until a loophole in the law was found: it had never officially been a museum, allowing for its conversion back as a mosque. Reaction has been predictable: academics and secularists have decried the move, Islamists are delighted.
Robert Ousterhout
Robert
I bet Islamists are delighted and others are devastated. The conversion of Hagia Sophia back into a mosque sparked criticism around the world.
But recently the Erdogan government planned to do the same with the Chora Museum, a former Byzantine church. Last week, the Presidential Palace announced that the Chora Museum would soon be open for Muslim prayers. Control of the former church then museum will be given to Turkey's authority for Islamic religious affairs.
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