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Later history

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Irlandos at 12:00, December 2, 2005

2005-12-02T12:00:48Z

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The '''Church of the Holy Wisdom''', commonly known as '''Hagia Sophia''' in English, is a former [[Greek Orthodox Church|Greek Orthodox]] church once converted to a mosque, now a museum, in Istanbul ([[Constantinople]]). It is universally acknowledged as one of the great buildings of the world.

The name comes from the [[Greek language|Greek]] name Αγία Σοφία.

== Construction ==
Nothing remains of the first church that was built on the same site during the [[4th century]]. Following the destruction of the first church, a second was built by [[Constantius II|Constantius]], the son of [[Constantine the Great]], but was burned down during the [[Nika riots]] of [[532]]. The building was rebuilt under the personal supervision of emperor [[Justinian I]] and rededicated on [[December 27]], [[537]].

Justinian chose [[Isidore of Miletus]] and [[Anthemius of Tralles]], a physicist and a mathematician, as architects; Anthemius, however, died within the first year. The construction is described in [[Procopius]]' ''On Buildings'' (De Aedificiis). The Byzantine poet [[Paulus the Silentiary]] composed an extant poetic ''ekphrasis'', probably for the rededication of [[563]], which followed the collapse of the main dome.

Hagia Sophia is one of the greatest surviving examples of [[Byzantine architecture]]. Of great artistic value was its decorated interior with [[mosaics]] and marble pillars and coverings. The temple itself was so richly and artistically decorated that Justinian is said to have proclaimed "Solomon, I have surpassed thee!" (''Νενίκηκά σε Σολομών''). Justinian himself had overseen the completion of the greatest cathedral ever built up to that time, and it was to remain the largest cathedral for 1,000 years up until the completion of the cathedral in Seville. It is today the fourth largest cathedral in the world (by size, not height)

Justinian's basilica was at once the culminating architectural achievement of late antiquity and the first masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. Its influence, both architecturally and liturgically, was widespread and enduring in the [[Eastern Orthodox]], Roman Catholic, and Muslim worlds alike.

The dome of the Hagia Sophia has spurred particular interest for many art historians and architects because of the innovative way the original architects envisioned the dome. The dome is supported by pendentives which had never been used before the building of this structure. The pendentive enables the round dome to transition gracefully into the square shape of the piers below. The pendentives not only achieve a pleasing aesthetic quality, but they also restrain the lateral forces of the dome and allow the weight of the dome to flow downward. Although this design stabilizes the dome and the surrounding walls and arches, the actual construction of the walls of the Hagia Sophia weakened the overall structure. The bricklayers used more mortar than brick, which, of course, constitutes a weak wall. The structure would have been more stable had the builders at least let the mortar dry before they began the next layer, however, they did not do this. When the dome was placed atop the building, the weight of the dome caused the walls to lean outward because of the wet mortar underneath. When Isidorus the Younger rebuilt the original dome, he had to first build up the interior of the walls so that they were vertical in order to support the weight of the new dome. Another probable change in the design of the dome when it was rebuilt was the actual height of the dome. Isidorus the Younger raised the height of the dome by approximately twenty feet so that the lateral forces would not be as strong and the weight of the dome would flow more easily down the walls.

A second interesting fact about the original structure of the dome was how the architects were able to place forty windows around the base of the dome. The Hagia Sophia is famous for the mystical quality of light that reflects everywhere in the interior of the nave, which gives the dome the appearance of hovering above the nave. This design is possible because the dome is shaped like a scalloped shell or the inside of an umbrella with ribs that extend from the top of the dome down to the base. These ribs allow the weight of the dome to flow between the windows, down the pendentives, and ultimately to the foundation.

The anomalies in the design of the Hagia Sophia show how this structure is one of the most advanced and ambitious monuments since the fall of Rome.

== The Ottoman Restorations and Revisions ==

Many restorations and repairs were done by Ottoman architects. The most famous and most extensive work was done by the great Mimar Sinan in the 16th century: The dome of the Hagia Sophia was taken down, and a new dome was constructed, the old minarets were also demolished, the minarets were added which can be seen today, as well as Islamic pulpits and art.
In the following 400 years, after each sucessive big earthquake and largescale city fire, new repairs and renovations of the Hagia Sophia took place, to conserve it until today.

== Description ==

Hagia Sophia is covered by a central dome with a diameter of 31 meters (102 feet) and 56 metres high, slightly smaller than the Pantheon's. The dome seems rendered weightless by the unbroken arcade of arched windows under it, which help flood the colorful interior with light. The dome is carried on pendentives—four concave triangular sections of masonry which solve the problem of setting the circular base of a dome on a rectangular base. At Hagia Sophia the weight of the dome passes through the pendentives to four massive piers at the corners. Between them the dome seems to float upon four great arches.

At the western (entrance) and eastern (liturgical) ends, the arched openings are extended by half domes carried on smaller semidomed exedras. Thus a hierarchy of dome-headed elements builds up to create a vast oblong interior crowned by the main dome, a sequence unexampled in antiquity.

The structure has been severely damaged several times by earthquakes. The dome collapsed after an earthquake in [[558]]; its replacement fell in [[563]]. There were additional partial collapses in [[989]] and [[1346]]. In the era of Süleyman the Magnificent, Mimar Sinan (Sinan the Architect) built extra attachments to prevent it from collapsing.

All interior surfaces are sheathed with polychrome marbles, green and white with purple porphyry and gold mosaics, encrusted upon the brick. On the exterior, simple stuccoed walls reveal the clarity of massed vaults and domes.

== Later history ==

Hagia Sophia was the seat of the [[Patriarch of Constantinople|Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople]] and a principal setting for imperial ceremonies. During the Latin Occupation ([[1204]]-[[1261]]) the church became a Roman Catholic cathedral, and its many treasures and relics were dispersed. It was converted to a mosque after the [[Fall of Constantinople]] to the Ottoman Turks under Sultan [[Mehmed II]] in [[1453]]. Since more conservative factions of Islam consider the depiction of the human form to be blasphemous, its mosaics were covered with plaster. One must note, however, that due to the foresightedness and tolerance of the Ottoman Sultans, the plaster was periodically removed, the mosaics maintained, and replastered. For almost 500 years the principal mosque of Istanbul, Ayasofya served as model for many of the Ottoman mosques such as the Shehzade Mosque, the Suleiman Mosqueand the Rüstem Pasha Mosque.

Restoration work in the 20th century began in 1932 by the American Byzantine Institute, when most of the figures were uncovered. In [[1934]], under Turkish president Kemal Atatürk, Hagia Sofia was secularized and turned into the Ayasofya Museum.

Due to its long history as both a church and a mosque, a particular challenge arises in the restoration process. The Christian iconographic mosaics are being gradually uncovered. However, in order to do so, important, historic Islamic art must be destroyed. Restorers have attempted to maintain a balance between both Christian and Islamic cultures.

==External links==

*[http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/bible/procopius.stm Contemporary description] by [[Procopius]], ''Buildings'' (De Aedificiis), published in 561.
*[http://www.pbase.com/dosseman/istanbul_aya_sofia Some 100 photos] taken by Dick Osseman
*[http://www.focusmm.com/civilization/hagia/welcome.htm Introduction, with floor plan and elevations.]
*[http://www.archaeology.org/online/news/sophia.html Very brief illustrated report on restorations]
*[http://wiki.orientalische-kunstgeschichte.de/index.php/Konstantinopel%2C_Hagia_Sophia Bibliographies] to Hagia Sophia
*Painting by Turkish painter [[Ismail Acar]]: [http://www.ismailacar.com.tr/HsphiaHtml/006.htm Before Hagia Sophia, The Era of East Roman Empire], [http://www.ismailacar.com.tr/HsphiaHtml/009.htm One of the most famous Christ mosaic of Hagia Sophia], [http://www.ismailacar.com.tr/HsphiaHtml/007.htm Hagia Sophia's horses, now in Venice Square]

==Reference==

*Mainstone, Rowland J. (1997). ''Hagia Sophia: Architecture, Structure, and Liturgy of Justinian's Great Church'' (reprint edition). W W Norton & Co Inc. ISBN 0500279454.
* [http://www.islamicarchitecture.org/architecture/monuments/hagia.sophia.html Hagia Sophia Church] Also known as, Mosque of Holy Wisdom.
* [http://www.turkishclass.com/turkey_pictures_gallery_10 Pictures of Hagia Sophia]
* [http://kunsthistorie.com/galleri/index.php?album=Tyrkia%2FHagia+Sophia+Istanbul&page=1&sortby=name&order=asc Pictures of Hagia Sophia2]

[[Category:Byzantine Empire]]
[[Category:Justinian Dynasty]]

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 Restoration work in the 20th century began in 1932 by the American Byzantine Institute, when most of the figures were uncovered. In [[1934]], under Turkish president Kemal Atatürk, Hagia Sofia was secularized and turned into the Ayasofya Museum.
 Due to its long history as both a church and a mosque, a particular challenge arises in the restoration process. The Christian iconographic mosaics are being gradually uncovered.  However, in order to do so, important, historic Islamic art must be destroyed. Restorers have attempted to maintain a balance between both Christian and Islamic cultures.
 ==External links==

@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 *[http://www.archaeology.org/online/news/sophia.html Very brief illustrated report on restorations]
 *[http://wiki.orientalische-kunstgeschichte.de/index.php/Konstantinopel%2C_Hagia_Sophia Bibliographies] to Hagia Sophia
-*Painting by Turkish painter [[Ismail Acar]]: [http://www.ismailacar.com.tr/HsphiaHtml/006.htm Before Hagia Sophia, The Era of East Roman Empire], [http://www.ismailacar.com.tr/HsphiaHtml/009.htm One of the most famous Christ mosaic of Hagia Sophia], [http://www.ismailacar.com.tr/HsphiaHtml/007.htm Hagia Sophia's horses, now in Venice Square]
+*Painting by Turkish painter Ismail Acar: [http://www.ismailacar.com.tr/HsphiaHtml/006.htm Before Hagia Sophia, The Era of East Roman Empire], [http://www.ismailacar.com.tr/HsphiaHtml/009.htm One of the most famous Christ mosaic of Hagia Sophia], [http://www.ismailacar.com.tr/HsphiaHtml/007.htm Hagia Sophia's horses, now in Venice Square]
 ==Reference==

Hagia Sophia - Revision history

Irlandos: /* Later history */

Irlandos: /* External links */

Irlandos at 12:00, December 2, 2005