Santa Sophia Dimitra Chrysanthou Glwssa 21
It is a former Orthodox patriarch al basilica, later a mosque, now a museum in Istanbul Turkey. The current building was originally constructed as a church between 532 and 537 A.D by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian.
The Ayia Sophia had been a church for 916 years, a mosque for 481 years and since 1934, it is playing the character of a museum. It has a history that can, at best, be described as being unique.
It is assumed that it was a basilica-type structure with a rectangular floor plan, circular apse and timbered roof.
History The church was dedicated to Agia Sophia or the Divine Wisdom. The church, then known as Megale Ecclesia or The Great Church, was burnt and reduced to rubble in 404 A.D. Theodosius built an even bigger church. This building was again destroyed in the Nika Revolt of 532 A.D against Emperor Justinian. Under his orders, and supervised by architects Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus, the Hagia Sophia began to be rebuilt in that year it self.
E mperor Justinian enlisted the architects Isodoros and Anthemios, who produced the plans in only a few weeks. So quickly, in fact, that they must have been working on them for a long time before the riots, and Justinian must have intended to replace the old church for years.The new church was built in less than six years.As I refer the church was converted into a mosque in 1453 when the Turkies took the city. Then in 1935, the new Turkish government converted it into a museum
Architecture The Ayia Sophia is now an imposing structure with a diameter of meters and goes up to a height of 54 meters. Its looks have constantly been changed through the ages. The Hagia Sophia began as a wooden roofed structure. Under Emperor Justinian`s rule, the Hagia Sophia was rebuilt to all its glory and splendor, as architects Anthemius and Isidorus wove their magic on the massive structure. There are innumerable windows at the base of the dome which light streams in and floods the interiors.The church is glittered with fragile golden mosaic tiles illustrating Christian figurines and scenes. The church`s architectural style showed a confluence of the Roman and the Byzantine building modes.
The magnificent Dome A close up view of Ayia Sophia's magnificent dome, which rises 184 feet (56m) in height and spans a width of 102 feet. The diameter of Ayia Sophia's dome is just slightly smaller than that of the Pantheon in Rome. Below the dome is a crown formed by 40 windows and ribs, through which light filters into the glittering with the gold interior of the dome
The mosaics inside the church On the eastern wall,there is a mosaic panel depicting Jesus Christ, Empress Zoe and Emperor Constantine IX. Monomachus.Jesus Christ seated on a throne, is holding the Bible in his left hand while his right hand is lifted in blessing. On his right, the emperor is offering a money-bag, and on his left, the empress is holding a scroll in her hands
The mosaic to the right of the window show the Virgin Mary holding the Christ- child, Emperor John II Comnenus and his wife.
Located at the east end of the church, at a high point in the apse, it depicts Virgin Mary sitting on a backless throne decorated with jewels, and holding child Christ on her lap.
Known as Sancta Sophia in Latin and Ayasofya in Turkish, the Hagia Sophia is one of the greatest buildings in the world. It had a long past, being ravaged by fires, riots and earthquakes apart from undergoing frequent transformations in character.Today,stands tall as the most abiding symbol of Istanbul's skyline.
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