Construction of the Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Müzesi) began in 325 AD by Emperor Constantine the Great and was completed over 200 years later during the reign of Emperor Justinian the Great. For the next 1,000 years, Hagia Sophia remained the highest and most important church in Byzantine Christendom (Eastern Orthodox Christianity). In 1453, the Ottoman Empire breached the Theodosian Walls of Constantinople, and the Byzantine Empire, which had stood for over a thousand years, vanished into the dust of history. Hagia Sophia was subsequently converted into a mosque for the Muslim world. In 1932, Kemal Atatürk, the founding father of modern Turkey, ordered the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a museum and opened it to the public. The Christian mosaics, previously covered by white paint, were restored. Today, Hagia Sophia boasts mosaics from the Christian world and Koranic verses from the Muslim world, creating a melting pot of cultures and religions. In 2020, Turkish authorities decided to convert Hagia Sophia, once a museum, back into a mosque. Because our homestay was so close to the cathedral, we visited it over five times, each time offering a different view. The different lighting at different times of day creates a different impression of the cathedral.
Following a directive, Hagia Sophia, previously a museum, was converted back into a Turkish mosque in 2020. While admission was waived, dress and precautions became similar to those for mosques, and some previously accessible areas were closed, a significant loss for visitors. Since Hagia Sophia has been converted into a mosque, dress codes are in place. Wei Li, wearing a skirt, had no problem getting from the outside to the church entrance, but was stopped inside due to inspections. Since our hotel was close, we decided to go back and change clothes before returning.
Hagia Sophia is a domed rectangular building that combines Western basilica architecture with Eastern centralized dome structures. The expansive nave is most strikingly characterized by its dome, measuring 33 meters in diameter and rising 55 meters above the ground. Besides symbolizing heaven, it also serves as a protective shield for a sacred place. The ingenuity of our ancestors, who thousands of years ago devised a method for placing a circular dome on a cubic structure, is truly remarkable. "Dome" is the architectural term for Hagia Sophia. The dome is supported by 40 powerful ribs, resting on large columns hidden within the interior walls. This creates the illusion of the main dome suspended in mid-air, creating a breathtakingly beautiful interior design.
Inside the church, in the mosaic above the center, the Virgin Mary is holding the young Christ, and the huge medallions hanging on both sides are Islamic calligraphy, which is also a masterpiece of the 19th-century calligraphy master Mustafa Izzet Efendi.
After the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople in 1453, Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque. Because Islam prohibits the worship of specific images, many mosaics were covered with plaster or Islamic calligraphy. Inside, four large circular tablets can be seen, bearing the names of Allah, Muhammad, the Caliph, and Muhammad's grandson written in Arabic.
Now, since it was reconverted to a mosque, the portion covered with white cloth has been restored. With the exception of a few sections above the first porch, the second floor is currently inaccessible, significantly reducing the number of murals visible. Below is one of the famous murals that has been exported. Now covered in green carpet, Hagia Sophia has a completely different atmosphere and "smell." After 1,261 years, the building's condition has deteriorated. Combined with Turkey's various underground and underground transportation systems and the constant flow of tourists, these factors have inevitably caused wear and tear on the old structure, necessitating constant restoration work, both major and minor.
The mosaic above the exit of Hagia Sophia is an image of the Virgin Mary holding the Child in her arms. On the left is the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, who holds the Emperor of Constantinople, and on the right is the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian, who holds the Hagia Sophia.
Tomb of Sultan Selim II These are the tombs of the sultans. They are remarkable not only for their lavish decoration, each one is different, but also because it's not just the sultan who is buried in his green sarcophagus. His family lies alongside him, in large sarcophagi for adults and smaller ones for children. So what you see here is a whole family.
