The Hagia Sophia, now known as the Ayasofya Museum, had quite a few identities. It started off as an early Christian Church and later became an Eastern Orthodox church. In 1453, it was transformed into a mosque by the Ottomans and was subsequently converted into a museum in 1935.
Its name "Hagia Sophia" (which means 'Divine Wisdom'), is one of the 3 adjectives dedicated to the God in the Christian faith. (The other two adjectives being 'Hagia Irene', which means Divine Peace, and 'Hagia Dynamis', which means Divine Power.)
It was constructed in five years, from 532 to 537, at the orders of Emperor Justinian I and designed by Isidore of Miletus. The emperor spared no expense for his church and actually placed the state treasury at the disposal of the architects.
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 marbles and columns were taken from remains of earlier eras and building material were transported from almost all parts of the Byzantine empire.
The temple itself was so richly and artistically decorated that Justinian 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. Its dome is 15 storeys high and it is one of the 5 highest in the world. Considering it was built nearly 1,500 years ago, it is a great achievement indeed.
The temple itself was so richly and artistically decorated that Justinian 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. Its dome is 15 storeys high and it is one of the 5 highest in the world. Considering it was built nearly 1,500 years ago, it is a great achievement indeed.
Because it has been a Christian church as well as a mosque in the past, there is a mixture of Christian and Islamic items in the same space.
This huge marble jar is one of two brought from Pergamum, an ancient Roman acropolis. It was used to hold oil for all the lamps in the building.
In the background is the mihrab, the ceremonial niche which points in the direction of Mecca. The stained glass is from Ottoman time.
Looking up to the gallery level.
The detailed work on the columns and pillars.
Islamic artwork.
The area under the gallery.
A look at some of the columns that support the structure.
The levhas (medallions) in the background are 7.5m in diameter! They were inscribed by the famous calligrapher, Mustafa Izzet Efendi, in the 19th Century. They contain the names of Allah (God), Mohammed, and the first caliphs and imams.
This particular levha (medallion) contains the names of Mohammed.
9th Century mosaic of Virgin Mary and baby Jesus at the upper part of the apse
11th Century mosaic of Christ flanked by the Emperor Constantine IX Monomachus (offering a bag of money) and Empress Zoe (offering an inscribed scroll).
Research has shown that the head and the inscription above Constantine's head have been altered three times as the Empress was married three times and the scene was changed after each marriage.
Above the emperor's head, the text reads: "Constantine, in Christ the Lord Autocrat, faithful emperor (basileus) of the Romans, Monomachus." Above the empress' head, the text reads: "Zoe, the most pious Augusta."
Above the emperor's head, the text reads: "Constantine, in Christ the Lord Autocrat, faithful emperor (basileus) of the Romans, Monomachus." Above the empress' head, the text reads: "Zoe, the most pious Augusta."
12th Century mosaic of the Virgin Mary and the infant Christ with Emperor John II Comnenos, his wife Empress Irene (Eirene) and their son Alexius.
The inscription above the emperor reads: "John, in Christ the Lord faithful Emperor, Porphyrogenitus and Autocrat of the Romans, Comnenus." The term porphyrogenitus means "born in the purple," i.e. born to be emperor.
Also known as Kaloiannis (John the Beautiful), he was apparently quite ugly (the term beautiful apparently referring to his pious character). He married the daughter (later to be the Empress Eirene) of King Ladislaus I of Hungary. The inscription above her head reads: "Eirene, the most pious Augusta." She is now honored as a saint in the Orthodox church.
Also known as Kaloiannis (John the Beautiful), he was apparently quite ugly (the term beautiful apparently referring to his pious character). He married the daughter (later to be the Empress Eirene) of King Ladislaus I of Hungary. The inscription above her head reads: "Eirene, the most pious Augusta." She is now honored as a saint in the Orthodox church.
The Deisis mosaic is one of the most beautiful mosaic of Hagia Sophia. It dates back to 14th Century and depicts Virgin Mary and John the Baptist asking Jesus Christ, in grief, for the sinful to be sent to heaven.
10th Century mosaic. Virgin Mary and the infant Christ in the center, with Constantine the Great offering a model of the city on the right, and Justinian offering a model of Hagia Sophia on the left. There were also a set of huge bronze doors at the exit that are partially embedded in the floor are from the 2nd century BC. It was said to be brought to the site from a pagan temple in Tarsus.
Unfortunately, the photographer decided to avoid taking photos of the nave simply "because the scaffolding for the restoration work is in the way" :(
Here is a reference photo if you want to see how it looks like: http://www.math.ucsb.edu/~garcias/travel/images/Turkey/AyaSofya/1280-AyaSofyaLogeMihrabScaffold.jpg
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