What’s the history behind this ? And who designed this gorgeous domed structure ?
It’s now been converted into a church, i think. Anyone have a nice brief summary of the history of this ?
http://intranet.arc.miami.edu/rjohn/images/Byzantine/Mosque%20Hagia%20Sophia.jpg
Ottoman Empire. I am not sure.
:salam:
Was a church built in 6th century, which was turned into a mosque after the ottoman conquest. And now since 1932 it is a museum.
Here is a more detailed summary I found on the net.
SAINT SOPHIA MUSEUM
Saint Sophia, the church of Divine Wisdom was first built during the rule of Constantine the Great who moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Contantinople. This was a church in the basilical plan and it was opened to public in 324 AD as the church of Divine Wisdom. The first church was burnt in 404 AD, during a riot which started with the exile of John Crysostomos. Emperor Teodosius gave orders for the construction of the second church which was finished in 409.
But in 532 AD, a great riot which started in the Hippodrome of Contantinople soon ravaged all the magnificent monuments of the city. The church of Saint Sophia was one of the buildings destroyed during this big fire.
After Nika Riot, Byzantine Emperor, Justinian the Great ordered for the construction of a new church with unrivalled dimensions. Two great architects and scholars of the empire were chosen for the task: Isodorus of Miletus and Antemius of Tralles who prepared the plan of a revelosionary structure for which nearly ten thousand workers worked about six year under the supervision of hundred master masons and these two genious architects. This amazing building was opened to public in 29 December 537 AD. During the opening ceremony, Emperor Justinian, just considering his church was superior than Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem, uttered his historical words:
“Thanks to Lord, I passed you, oh Solomon.”
Saint Sophia served as church for Ortodox Faith up to 1453 except the years between 1204 and 1261when the city was under the Latin Invasion and the church became Roman Catholic Church admisitered by the Venetian Clergy. After the conquest of Constantnople, Ottoman Sultan ordered for the convention of the church into a mosque. Ayasofya Mosque served as a mosque for the Muslim population during Ottoman centuries till 1932. After the major restoration work in 1930’, Saint Sophia started serving as Museum.
I think if you do a search of ‘Ayasofya’ in google you could find more info (just like I did).
It is very beautiful, wouldnt it have been great if they had still kept it as a mosque.