Istanbul, was first dedicated in 360 by Emperor Constantius, son of the city's founder, Emperor Constantine. Hagia Sophia served as the cathedra, or bishop's seat, of the city.The first church structure was destroyed during riots in 404; the second church, built and dedicated in 415 by Emperor Theodosius II, burned down during the Nika revolt of 532, which caused vast destruction and death throughout the city.
Immediately after the riots, Emperor Justinian I (r. 52765) ordered the church rebuilt. The new building was inaugurated on December 27, 537. Architects Anthemios of Tralles and Isidoros of Miletos most likely were influenced by the mathematical theories of Archimedes and Heron of Alexandria's writings on vaults and arch support (first century A.D.).
The vast, airy naos, or central basilica, with its technically complex system of vaults and semi-domes, culminates in a high central dome with a diameter of over 101 feet (31 meters) and a height of 160 feet (48.5 meters). This central dome was often interpreted by contemporary commentators as the dome of heaven itself. Its weight is carried by four great arches, which rest on a series of tympana and semi-domes, which in turn rest on smaller semi-domes and arcades. This complicated structural system was prone to problems: the first dome collapsed in 558, to be rebuilt in 562 to a greater height. Earthquakes and earth subsidence have also taken their toll on the building over the centuries, although the surviving main structure is essentially that which was first built between 532 and 537.
The interior of Hagia Sophia was paneled with costly colored marbles and ornamental stone inlays. Decorative marble columns were taken from ancient buildings and reused to support the interior arcades. Initially, the upper part of the building was minimally decorated in gold with a huge cross in a medallion at the summit of the dome. After the period of Iconoclasm (726843), new figural mosaics were added, some of which have survived to the present day.
After Mehmed II's conquest of the city in 1453, Hagia Sophia was converted to a mosque (Ayasofya Camii), which it remained until the fall of the Ottoman empire in the early twentieth century. A view of Hagia Sophia during the conquest is conveyed in a woodcut by Pieter Coecke van Aelst depicting the procession of Süleyman the Magnificent through the Hippodrome During this period, minarets were built around the perimeter of the building complex, Christian mosaic icons were covered with whitewash, and exterior buttresses were added for structural support. In 1934, the Turkish government secularized the building, converting it into a museum, and the original mosaics were restored.
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Cretense (68703) 2009-12-13 7:35
Excellent photo from the interior of the magnificent Hagia Sophia! Excellent framing and composition, great light management under dificult conditions, wonderful colours! Congratulations!
anokutan (15097) 2009-12-13 8:34
Burak bey merhaba,
Çok başarılı bir iç çekim.Işık ve detaylar nefis.Tebrikler.
zeynepe (0) 2009-12-13 8:44
Ayasofya hep büyülü gelir bana , baharda gideriz Berke'yi de alırız ne güzel :)
figenya (2852) 2009-12-14 1:13
Burak Bey, merhaba
Büyülü gelme konusuna hemfikirim, bu tip ortamlar başka bir boyuta alıyor bazen insanı, Ayasofya da bunlardan biri, bir daha gitmeliyim...
raszid62 (18515) 2009-12-14 6:56
What a great interior, what a magnificent copule. It is unfortunate that some time be destroyed. Beautiful ornamentation. At the round shields, probably quotations from the Koran.
hergi (4541) 2009-12-15 12:36
Süper bir detay çalışması... Yahu bi giremedim şu Ayasofyaya :) Bu yuvarlaklarda yazılan yazıları kapıdan dışarı çıkarılamasın diye özellikle içerde yapmışlar..
Enteresan hikayeleri ile Ayasofya
Sağlıcakla kal abim...
nirvana73 (0) 2009-12-15 21:28
muhteşem bir mimari
kadraj ve sunum da enfes
AiresSantos (56155) 2009-12-17 9:00
Hi dear Burak
Thanks to remember me this beautiful architecture
I was there twice and I would like to visit again
Fine POV and details
Regards my friend
papagolf21 (108233) 2014-11-20 14:22
Cher ami Burak,
Ma passion pour l'architecture est comblée à travers cette présentation architecturale.
Il est bien difficile de détacher son regard de cette composition.
jmdias (68067) 2014-12-28 12:51
very nice view of these details in the internal part of the building. very nice quality showing this famous monument. TFS.
fritzi007 (12166) 2015-04-12 2:21
very good presentation and information from the Hagia Sophia, a huge building, very well photographed!
(Yes, I am very interested in foreign cultures and historical buildings).
Wish a good Sunday
Miguel82 (27744) 2015-09-18 9:23
That picture gives prominence to the refined ceiling in Hagia sophia Burak, wonderful details : candelabrums, paintings, stones carved like lace, thanks
- Copyright: Burak Erek (berek) (50506)
- Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2009-08-02
- Categories: Daily Life
- Camera: Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3,5-5,6 IS USM
- Exposure: f/3.5, 1/8 seconds
- More Photo Info: view
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Date Submitted: 2009-12-12 22:30
- Favorites: 1 [view]