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Coordinates:41.008548N28.979938E

HagiaSophia
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

HagiaSophia(fromtheGreek:ByzantineGreek[a
iasofia]),"HolyWisdom"Latin:SanctaSophiaorSancta
SapientiaTurkish:Ayasofya)wasaGreekOrthodoxChristian
patriarchalbasilica(church),lateranimperialmosque,andnow
amuseum(AyasofyaMzesi)inIstanbul,Turkey.Fromthedate
ofitsconstructionin537AD,anduntil1453,itservedasan
OrthodoxcathedralandseatofthePatriarchof
Constantinople,[1]exceptbetween1204and1261,whenitwas
convertedbytheFourthCrusaderstoaRomanCatholic
cathedralundertheLatinEmpireofConstantinople.The
buildingwasamosquefrom29May1453until1931.Itwas
thensecularizedandopenedasamuseumon1February1935.[2]

HagiaSophia
Ayasofya(Turkish)

SanctaSophia(Latin)

Famousinparticularforitsmassivedome,itisconsideredthe
epitomeofByzantinearchitecture[3]andissaidtohave
"changedthehistoryofarchitecture".[4]Itremainedtheworld's
largestcathedralfornearlyathousandyears,untilSeville
Cathedralwascompletedin1520.

AviewofHagiaSophia,Istanbul

Thecurrentbuildingwasoriginallyconstructedasachurch
between532and537ontheordersoftheByzantineEmperor
JustinianIandwasthethirdChurchoftheHolyWisdomto
occupythesite,theprevioustwohavingbothbeendestroyedby
rioters.ItwasdesignedbytheGreekgeometersIsidoreof
MiletusandAnthemiusofTralles.[5]
ThechurchwasdedicatedtotheWisdomofGod,theLogos,the
secondpersonoftheHolyTrinity,[6]itspatronalfeasttaking
placeon25December,thecommemorationofthebirthofthe
incarnationoftheLogosinChrist.[6]Althoughsometimes
referredtoasSanctaSophia(asthoughitwerenamedafterSaint
Sophia),sophiabeingthephoneticspellinginLatinoftheGreek
wordforwisdom,itsfullnameinGreekis
,NaostsHagiastouTheouSophias,"Shrineof
theHolyWisdomofGod".[7][8]
Thechurchcontainedalargecollectionofholyrelicsand
featured,amongotherthings,a15metre(49ft)silver
iconostasis.ThefocalpointoftheEasternOrthodoxChurchfor
nearlyonethousandyears,thebuildingwitnessedthe
excommunicationofPatriarchMichaelICerulariusonthepart
ofHumbertofSilvaCandida,thepapalenvoyofPopeLeoIXin
1054,anactwhichiscommonlyconsideredthestartofthe
GreatSchism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia

LocationinIstanbul
Coordinates

41.008548N28.979938E

Location

Istanbul(historically
Constantinople),Turkey

Designer

IsidoreofMiletus
AnthemiusofTralles

Type

ChristianChurch
Cathedral(5371054)
GreekOrthodox
Cathedral(10541204)
RomanCatholicCathedral
(12041261)
GreekOrthodox
Cathedral(12611453)
ImperialMosque(1453
1931)
Museum(19352016)
Mosque(2016Present)
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In1453,ConstantinoplewasconqueredbytheOttomanTurks
Material
Ashlar)in,brick
underSultanMehmedII,whoorderedthismainchurchof
Length
82m(269ft)
OrthodoxChristianityconvertedintoamosque.Bythatpoint,
thechurchhadfallenintoastateofdisrepair.Nevertheless,the
Width
73m(240ft)
Christiancathedralmadeastrongimpressiononthenew
Height
55m(180ft)
Ottomanrulersandtheydecidedtoconvertitintoa
Beginningdate 532
mosque.[9][10]Thebells,altar,iconostasis,andsacrificialvessels
Completiondate 537
andotherrelicswereremovedandthemosaicsdepictingJesus,
hisMotherMary,Christiansaintsandangelswerealsoremoved
orplasteredover.Islamicfeaturessuchasthemihrab,minbar,andfourminaretswereadded.Itremaineda
mosqueuntil1931,whenitwasclosedtothepublicforfouryears.Itwasreopenedin1935asamuseumbythe
RepublicofTurkey.HagiaSophiawas,asof2014,thesecondmostvisitedmuseuminTurkey,attractingalmost
3.3millionvisitorsannually.[11]AccordingtodatareleasedbytheTurkishCultureandTourismMinistry,Hagia
SophiawasTurkeysmostvisitedtouristattractionin2015.[12]
FromitsinitialconversionuntiltheconstructionofthenearbySultanAhmedMosque(BlueMosqueofIstanbul)in
1616,itwastheprincipalmosqueofIstanbul.TheByzantinearchitectureoftheHagiaSophiaservedasinspiration
formanyotherOttomanmosques,suchastheBlueMosque,theehzadeMosque,theSleymaniyeMosque,the
RstemPashaMosqueandtheKlAliPaaMosque.

Contents
1 History
1.1 Firstchurch
1.2 Secondchurch
1.3 Thirdchurch(currentstructure)
1.4 Mosque(14531935)
1.4.1 Renovationof1847
1.5 Museum(1935present)
2 Architecture
2.1 Narthexandportals
2.2 UpperGallery
2.3 Dome
2.4 Minarets
3 Notableelementsanddecorations
3.1 LogeoftheEmpress
3.2 Lustrationurns
3.3 MarbleDoor
3.4 Wishingcolumn
3.5 Mosaics
3.5.1 19thcenturyrestoration
3.5.2 20thcenturyrestoration
3.5.3 ImperialGatemosaic
3.5.4 Southwesternentrancemosaic
3.5.5 Apsemosaics
3.5.6 EmperorAlexandermosaic
3.5.7 EmpressZoemosaic
3.5.8 Comnenusmosaic
3.5.9 Desismosaic
3.5.10 Northerntympanummosaics
4 Otherburials
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4
5
6
7
8
9

Otherburials
Gallery
Seealso
References
Bibliography
Furtherreading
9.1 Articles
9.2 Mosaics
10 Externallinks

History
Firstchurch
Thefirstchurchonthesitewasknownasthe(MeglEkkls,"GreatChurch"),orinLatin
"MagnaEcclesia",[13][14]becauseofitslargerdimensionsincomparisontothecontemporarychurchesinthe
City.[6]Inauguratedon15February360(duringthereignofConstantiusII)bytheArianbishopEudoxiusof
Antioch,[15]itwasbuiltnexttotheareawheretheimperialpalacewasbeingdeveloped.ThenearbyHagiaEirene
("HolyPeace")churchwascompletedearlierandservedascathedraluntiltheGreatChurchwascompleted.Both
churchesactedtogetherastheprincipalchurchesoftheByzantineEmpire.
Writingin440,SocratesofConstantinopleclaimedthatthechurchwasbuiltbyConstantiusII,whowasworking
onitin346.[15]Atraditionwhichisnotolderthanthe7th8thcentury,reportsthattheedificewasbuiltby
ConstantinetheGreat.[15]Zonarasreconcilesthetwoopinions,writingthatConstantiushadrepairedtheedifice
consecratedbyEusebiusofNicomedia,afterithadcollapsed.[15]SinceEusebiuswasbishopofConstantinople
from339to341,andConstantinediedin337,itseemspossiblethatthefirstchurchwaserectedbythelatter.[15]
TheedificewasbuiltasatraditionalLatincolonnadedbasilicawithgalleriesandawoodenroof.Itwaspreceded
byanatrium.Itwasclaimedtobeoneoftheworld'smostoutstandingmonumentsatthetime.
ThePatriarchofConstantinopleJohnChrysostomcameintoaconflictwithEmpressAeliaEudoxia,wifeofthe
emperorArcadius,andwassentintoexileon20June404.Duringthesubsequentriots,thisfirstchurchwas
largelyburneddown.[15]Nothingremainsofthefirstchurchtoday.

Secondchurch
AsecondchurchwasorderedbyTheodosiusII,whoinauguratediton10October415.Thebasilicawithawooden
roofwasbuiltbyarchitectRufinus.AfirestartedduringthetumultoftheNikaRevoltandburnedthesecond
HagiaSophiatothegroundon1314January532.
Severalmarbleblocksfromthesecondchurchsurvivetothepresentamongthemarereliefsdepicting12lambs
representingthe12apostles.Originallypartofamonumentalfrontentrance,theynowresideinanexcavationpit
adjacenttothemuseum'sentranceaftertheywerediscoveredin1935beneaththewesterncourtyardbyA.M.
Schneider.Furtherdiggingwasforsakenforfearofimpingingontheintegrityofthebuilding.
RemainsofthesecondHagiaSophia

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Thirdchurch(currentstructure)
On23February532,onlyafewweeksafterthedestructionofthesecond
basilica,EmperorJustinianIdecidedtobuildathirdandentirelydifferent
basilica,largerandmoremajesticthanitspredecessors.
JustinianchosephysicistIsidoreofMiletusandmathematicianAnthemius
ofTrallesasarchitectsAnthemius,however,diedwithinthefirstyearof
theendeavor.TheconstructionisdescribedintheByzantinehistorian
Procopius'OnBuildings(Periktismatn,Latin:Deaedificiis).Columns
Constructionofchurchdepictedin
andothermarbleswerebroughtfromallovertheempire,throughoutthe
codexManassesChronicle(14th
Mediterranean.Theideaofthesecolumnsbeingspoilsfromcitiessuchas
century)
RomeandEphesusisalaterinvention.[16]Eventhoughtheyweremade
specificallyforHagiaSophia,thecolumnsshowvariationsinsize.[17]More
thantenthousandpeoplewereemployed.Thisnewchurchwascontemporaneouslyrecognizedasamajorworkof
architecture.ThetheoriesofHeronofAlexandriamayhavebeenutilizedtoaddressthechallengespresentedby
buildingsuchanexpansivedomeoversolargeaspace.Theemperor,togetherwiththePatriarchMenas,
inauguratedthenewbasilicaon27December5375yearsand10monthsafterconstructionstartwithmuch
pomp.[18][19][20]Themosaicsinsidethechurchwere,however,onlycompletedunderthereignofEmperorJustinII
(565578).

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HagiaSophiawastheseatoftheOrthodoxpatriarchofConstantinopleandaprincipalsettingforByzantine
imperialceremonies,suchascoronations.LikeotherchurchesthroughoutChristendom,thebasilicaoffered
sanctuaryfrompersecutiontooutlaws.
EarthquakesinAugust553andon14December557causedcracksinthemaindomeandeasternhalfdome.The
maindomecollapsedcompletelyduringasubsequentearthquakeon7May558,[21]destroyingtheambon,altar,
andciborium.Thecrashwasduemainlytothetoohighbearingloadandtotheenormousshearingloadofthe
dome,whichwastooflat.[18]Thesecausedthedeformationofthepierswhichsustainedthedome.[18]Theemperor
orderedanimmediaterestoration.HeentrustedittoIsidorustheYounger,nephewofIsidoreofMiletus,whoused
lightermaterialsandelevatedthedomeby"30feet"[18](about6.25metersor20.5feet)givingthebuildingits
currentinteriorheightof55.6meters(182ft).[22]Moreover,Isidoruschangedthedometype,erectingaribbed
domewithpendentives,whosediameterlaybetween32.7and33.5m.[18]UnderJustinian'sorders,eight
CorinthiancolumnsweredisassembledfromBaalbek,Lebanon,andshippedtoConstantinoplearound560.[23]
Thisreconstruction,givingthechurchitspresent6thcenturyform,wascompletedin562.TheByzantinepoet
PaultheSilentiarycomposedalongepicpoem(stillextant),knownasEkphrasis,fortherededicationofthe
basilicapresidedoverbyPatriarchEutychiuson23December562.
In726,theemperorLeotheIsaurianissuedaseriesofedictsagainsttheveneration
ofimages,orderingthearmytodestroyalliconsusheringintheperiodof
Byzantineiconoclasm.Atthattime,allreligiouspicturesandstatueswereremoved
fromtheHagiaSophia.AfterabriefreprieveunderEmpressIrene(797802),the
iconoclastsmadeacomeback.EmperorTheophilus(829842)wasstrongly
influencedbyIslamicart,[24]whichforbidstherepresentationoflivingbeings.[25]
Hehadatwowingedbronzedoorswithhismonogramsinstalledatthesouthern
entranceofthechurch.
Thebasilicasuffereddamage,firstinagreatfirein859,andagaininanearthquake
on8January869,thatmadeahalfdomecollapse.EmperorBasilIorderedthe
churchrepaired.
Afterthegreatearthquakeof25October989,whichcollapsedtheWesterndome
arch,EmperorBasilIIaskedfortheArmenianarchitectTrdat,creatorofthe
Thevaultingofthenave.
cathedralsofAniandArgina,todirecttherepairs.[26]Heerectedagainand
(annotations)
reinforcedthefallendomearch,andrebuiltthewestsideofthedomewith15
domeribs.[27]Theextentofthedamagerequiredsixyearsofrepairand
reconstructionthechurchwasreopenedon13May994.Attheendofthereconstruction,thechurch'sdecorations
wererenovated,includingtheadditionsofpaintingsoffourimmensecherubs,anewdepictionofChristonthe
dome,burialclothofChristshownonFridays,andontheapseanewdepictionoftheVirginMaryholdingJesus
betweentheapostlesPeterandPaul.[28]Onthegreatsidearcheswerepaintedtheprophetsandtheteachersofthe
church.[28]
InhisbookDecaerimoniisaulaeByzantinae("BookofCeremonies"),EmperorConstantineVII(913919)wrote
adetailedaccountoftheceremoniesheldintheHagiaSophiabytheemperorandthepatriarch.
UponthecaptureofConstantinopleduringtheFourthCrusade,thechurchwasransackedanddesecratedbythe
LatinChristians,asdescribedbytheByzantinehistorianNiketasChoniates.DuringtheLatinoccupationof
Constantinople(12041261)thechurchbecameaRomanCatholiccathedral.BaldwinIofConstantinoplewas
crownedemperoron16May1204inHagiaSophia,ataceremonywhichcloselyfollowedByzantinepractices.
EnricoDandolo,theDogeofVenicewhocommandedthesackandinvasionofthecitybytheLatinCrusadersin
1204,isburiedinsidethechurch.Thetombinscriptioncarryinghisname,whichhasbecomeapartofthefloor
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decoration,wasspatuponbymanyoftheangryByzantineswhorecapturedConstantinoplein1261.[29]However,
restorationledbythebrothersGaspareandGiuseppeFossatiduringtheperiod18471849castdoubtuponthe
authenticityofthedoge'sgraveitismorelikelyasymbolicmemorialratherthanburialsite.
Aftertherecapturein1261bytheByzantines,thechurchwasinadilapidatedstate.In1317,emperorAndronicus
IIorderedfournewbuttresses(,Greek:"Piramdas")tobebuiltintheeasternandnorthernpartsofthe
church,financingthemwiththeinheritanceofhisdeceasedwife,Irene.[30]Newcracksdevelopedinthedome
aftertheearthquakeofOctober1344,andseveralpartsofthebuildingcollapsedon19May1346consequently,
thechurchwascloseduntil1354,whenrepairswereundertakenbyarchitectsAstrasandPeralta.

Mosque(14531935)
ConstantinoplewastakenbytheOttomanson29May1453.InaccordancewiththecustomatthetimeSultan
MehmetIIallowedhistroopsthreedaysofunbridledpillageoncethecityfell,afterwhichhewouldclaimits
contentsforhimself.[31][32]HagiaSophiawasnotexemptedfromthepillage,becomingitsfocalpointasthe
invadersbelievedittocontainthegreatesttreasuresofthecity.[33]Shortlyafterthecity'sdefensescollapsed,
pillagersmadetheirwaytotheHagiaSophiaandbattereddownitsdoors.[34]Throughoutthesiegeworshipers
participatedintheHolyLiturgyandPrayeroftheHoursattheHagiaSophia,andthechurchformedarefugefor
manyofthosewhowereunabletocontributetothecity'sdefense,suchaswomen,childrenandelderly.[35][36]
Trappedinthechurch,congregantsandrefugeesbecamespoilstobedividedamongsttheOttomaninvaders.The
buildingwasdesecratedandlooted,andoccupantsenslaved,violatedorslaughtered[33]whileelderlyandinfirm
werekilled,womenandgirlswererapedandtheremainderchainedandsoldintoslavery.[34]Priestscontinuedto
performChristianritesuntilstoppedbytheinvaders.[34]WhentheSultanandhiscohortenteredthechurch,he
insisteditshouldbeatoncetransformedintoamosque.OneoftheUlamathenclimbedthepulpitandrecitedthe
Shahada.[30][37]

Fountain(adrvan)forritual
ablutions

AsdescribedbyseveralWesternvisitors(suchastheCrdobannobleman
PeroTafur[38]andtheFlorentineCristoforoBuondelmonti),[39]thechurch
wasinadilapidatedstate,withseveralofitsdoorsfallenfromtheirhinges
MehmedIIorderedarenovationaswellastheconversion.Mehmet
attendedthefirstFridayprayerinthemosqueon1June1453.[40]Aya
SofyabecamethefirstimperialmosqueofIstanbul.[41]Tothe
correspondingWaqfwereendowedmostoftheexistinghousesinthecity
andtheareaofthefutureTopkapPalace.[30]From1478,2,360shops,
1,300houses,4caravanserais,30bozashops,and23shopsofsheepheads
andtrottersgavetheirincometothefoundation.[42]Throughtheimperial
chartersof1520(AH926)and1547(AH954)shopsandpartsoftheGrand
Bazaarandothermarketswereaddedtothefoundation.[30]

Before1481asmallminaretwaserectedonthesouthwestcornerofthebuilding,abovethestairtower.[30]Later,
thesubsequentsultan,BayezidII(14811512),builtanotherminaretatthenortheastcorner.[30]Oneofthese
collapsedaftertheearthquakeof1509,[30]andaroundthemiddleofthe16thcenturytheywerebothreplacedby
twodiagonallyoppositeminaretsbuiltattheeastandwestcornersoftheedifice.[30]
Inthe16thcenturythesultanSuleimantheMagnificent(15201566)broughtbacktwocolossalcandlesticksfrom
hisconquestofHungary.Theywereplacedoneithersideofthemihrab.DuringthereignofSelimII(15661574),
thebuildingstartedshowingsignsoffatigueandwasextensivelystrengthenedwiththeadditionofstructural
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supportstoitsexteriorbythegreatOttomanarchitectMimarSinan,whois
alsoconsideredoneoftheworld'sfirstearthquakeengineers.[43]Inaddition
tostrengtheningthehistoricByzantinestructure,Sinanbuiltthetwo
additionallargeminaretsatthewesternendofthebuilding,theoriginal
sultan'slodge,andtheTrbe(mausoleum)ofSelimIItothesoutheastof
thebuildingin15767/AH984.Inordertodothat,partsofthe
Patriarchateatthesouthcornerofthebuildingwerepulleddownthe
previousyear.[30]Moreover,thegoldencrescentwasmountedonthetopof
thedome,[30]whilearespectzone35arin(about24m)widewasimposed
aroundthebuilding,pullingdownallthehouseswhichinthemeantimehad
nestedaroundit.[30]Laterhistrbehostedalso43tombsofOttoman
princes.[30]In1594/AH1004Mimar(courtarchitect)DavudAabuiltthe
trbeofMuradIII(15741595),wheretheSultanandhisValide,Safiye
Sultanwerelaterburied.[30]Theoctagonalmausoleumoftheirson
MehmedIII(15951603)andhisValidewasbuiltnexttoitin1608/1017
HbyroyalarchitectDalgiMehmetAa.[44]HissonMustafaI(1617
161816221623)convertedthebaptisteryintohistrbe.[44]

Themihrablocatedintheapsewhere
thealtarusedtostand,pointing
towardsMecca

MuradIIIhadalsotwolargealabasterHellenisticurnstransportedfromPergamonandplacedontwosidesofthe
nave.[30]
In1717,underSultanAhmedIII(17031730),thecrumblingplasteroftheinteriorwasrenovated,contributing
indirectlytothepreservationofmanymosaics,whichotherwisewouldhavebeendestroyedbymosque
workers.[44]Infact,itwasusualforthemtosellmosaicsstonesbelievedtobetalismanstothevisitors.[44]
SultanMahmudIorderedtherestorationofthebuildingin1739andaddedamedrese(aKoranicschool,nowthe
libraryofthemuseum),anImaret(soupkitchenfordistributiontothepoor)andalibrary,andin1740aadirvan
(fountainforritualablutions),thustransformingitintoaklliye,i.e.asocialcomplex.Atthesametimeanew
sultan'slodgeandanewmihrabwerebuiltinside.
Renovationof1847
ThemostfamousrestorationoftheHagiaSophiawasorderedbySultanAbdlmecidandcompletedbyeight
hundredworkersbetween1847and1849,underthesupervisionoftheSwissItalianarchitectbrothersGaspareand
GiuseppeFossati.Thebrothersconsolidatedthedomeandvaults,straightenedthecolumns,andrevisedthe
decorationoftheexteriorandtheinteriorofthebuilding.Themosaicsintheuppergallerywereuncoveredand
cleaned,althoughmanywererecovered"forprotectionagainstfurtherdamage".Theoldchandelierswere
replacedbynewpendantones.Newgiganticcircularframeddisksormedallionswerehungoncolumns.These
wereinscribedwiththenamesofAllah,Muhammad,thefirstfourcaliphsAbuBakr,Umar,UthmanandAli,and
thetwograndchildrenofMuhammad:HassanandHussain,bythecalligrapherKazaskerMustafazzedEffendi
(18011877).In1850thearchitectFossatibuiltanewsultan'slodgeorlogeinaNeoByzantinestyleconnectedto
theroyalpavilionbehindthemosque.Theyalsorenovatedtheminbarandmihrab.Outsidethemainbuilding,the
minaretswererepairedandalteredsothattheywereofequalheight.[45][46]Atimekeeper'sbuildingandanew
madrasahwerebuilt.Whentherestorationwasfinished,themosquewasreopenedwithceremonialpompon13
July1849.

Museum(1935present)

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In1935,thefirstTurkishPresidentandfounderoftheRepublicofTurkey,Mustafa
KemalAtatrk,transformedthebuildingintoamuseum.Thecarpetswere
removedandthemarblefloordecorationssuchastheOmphalionappearedforthe
firsttimeincenturies,whilethewhiteplastercoveringmanyofthemosaicswas
removed.Nevertheless,theconditionofthestructuredeteriorated,andtheWorld
MonumentsFundplacedHagiaSophiaon1996WorldMonumentsWatch,and
againin1998.Thebuilding'scopperroofhadcracked,causingwatertoleakdown
overthefragilefrescoesandmosaics.Moistureenteredfrombelowaswell.Rising
groundwaterhadraisedthelevelofhumiditywithinthemonument,creatingan
unstableenvironmentforstoneandpaint.Withthehelpoffinancialservices
companyAmericanExpress,WMFsecuredaseriesofgrantsfrom1997to2002
fortherestorationofthedome.Thefirststageofworkinvolvedthestructural
stabilizationandrepairofthecrackedroof,whichwasundertakenwiththe
participationoftheTurkishMinistryofCulture.Thesecondphase,thepreservation
ofthedome'sinterior,affordedtheopportunitytoemployandtrainyoungTurkish
Theinteriorundergoing
conservatorsinthecareofmosaics.By2006,theWMFprojectwascomplete,
restoration
thoughmanyotherareasofHagiaSophiacontinuetorequiresignificantstability
improvement,restorationandconservation.[47]HaghiaSophiaiscurrently(2014)
thesecondmostvisitedmuseuminTurkey,attractingalmost3.3millionvisitorsannually.[11]
Althoughuseofthecomplexasaplaceofworship(mosqueorchurch)wasstrictlyprohibited,[48]in2006the
Turkishgovernmentallowedtheallocationofasmallroominthemuseumcomplextobeusedasaprayerroom
forChristianandMuslimmuseumstaff,[49]andsince2013fromtheminaretsofthemuseumthemuezzinsingsthe
calltoprayertwiceperday,intheafternoon.[50]
In2007,GreekAmericanpoliticianChrisSpiroulaunchedaninternationalorganization"FreeAgiaSophia
Council"championingthecauseofrestoringthebuildingtoitsoriginalfunctionasaChristianchurch.[51][52][53]
Sincetheearly2010s,severalcampaignsandgovernmenthighofficials,notablyTurkey'sdeputyprimeminister
BlentArninNovember2013,havebeendemandingthatHagiaSophiabeconvertedintoamosque
again.[54][55][56]In2015,inretaliationfortheacknowledgmentbyPopeFrancisoftheArmenianGenocide,the
MuftiofAnkara,MefailHzl,statedthathebelievestheconversionofHagiaSophiaintoamosquewillbe
accelerated.[57][58]
OnJuly1,2016,amuezzin'scalltoprayerreverberatedinsidetheHagiaSofiaforthefirsttimein85years.[59]

Architecture
HagiaSophiaisoneofthegreatestsurvivingexamplesofByzantine
architecture.[3]Itsinteriorisdecoratedwithmosaicsandmarble
pillarsandcoveringsofgreatartisticvalue.Thetempleitselfwasso
richlyandartisticallydecoratedthatJustinianproclaimed,"Solomon,
Ihaveoutdonethee!"().Justinianhimselfhad
overseenthecompletionofthegreatestcathedraleverbuiltuptothat
time,anditwastoremainthelargestcathedralfor1,000yearsup
untilthecompletionofthecathedralinSevilleinSpain.[60]

Sectionofa"restored"design

Justinian'sbasilicawasatoncetheculminatingarchitectural
achievementoflateantiquityandthefirstmasterpieceofByzantinearchitecture.Itsinfluence,botharchitecturally
andliturgically,waswidespreadandenduringintheEasternOrthodox,RomanCatholic,andMuslimworldsalike.
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Thevastinteriorhasacomplexstructure.Thenaveiscoveredbya
centraldomewhichatitsmaximumis55.6m(182ft5in)fromfloor
levelandrestsonanarcadeof40archedwindows.Repairstoits
structurehaveleftthedomesomewhatelliptical,withthediameter
varyingbetween31.24and30.86m(102ft6inand101ft3in).
Atthewesternentrancesideandeasternliturgicalside,thereare
archedopeningsextendedbyhalfdomesofidenticaldiametertothe
centraldome,carriedonsmallersemidomedexedrasahierarchyof
domeheadedelementsbuiltuptocreateavastoblonginterior
crownedbythecentraldome,withaclearspanof76.2m(250ft).[3]

a)Planofthegallery(upperhalf)
b)Planofthegroundfloor(lowerhalf)

Interiorsurfacesaresheathedwithpolychromemarbles,greenand
whitewithpurpleporphyry,andgoldmosaics.Theexterior,cladinstucco,wastintedyellowandredduring
restorationsinthe19thcenturyatthedirectionoftheFossatiarchitects.

Narthexandportals
TheImperialGatewasthemainentrancebetweentheexoandesonarthex.Itwasreservedonlyfortheemperor.
TheByzantinemosaicabovetheportaldepictsChristandanunnamedEmperor.Alongrampfromthenorthern
partoftheouternarthexleadsuptotheuppergallery.

UpperGallery
Theuppergalleryislaidoutinahorseshoeshapethatenclosesthenave
untiltheapse.Severalmosaicsarepreservedintheuppergallery,anarea
traditionallyreservedfortheempressandhercourt.Thebestpreserved
mosaicsarelocatedinthesouthernpartofthegallery.
TheuppergallerycontainsrunicgraffitipresumedtobefromtheVarangian
Guard.

Dome
ThedomeofHagiaSophiahasspurredparticularinterestformanyart
historians,architectsandengineersbecauseoftheinnovativewaythe
originalarchitectsenvisionedit.Thecupolaiscarriedonfourspherical
triangularpendentives,anelementwhichwasfirstfullyrealizedinthis
building.Thependentivesimplementthetransitionfromthecircularbase
ofthedometotherectangularbasebelow,[61][62]restrainingthelateral
forcesofthedomeandallowitsweighttoflowdownwards.Theywere
reinforcedwithbuttressesduringByzantineandlaterduringOttoman
times,undertheguidanceofthearchitectSinan.

Westsideoftheuppergallery

Theweightofthedomeremainedaproblemformostofthebuilding's
existence.Theoriginalcupolacollapsedentirelyafterthequakeof558in
Cupoladome,semidome,andapse
563anewdomewasbuiltbyIsidoretheyounger,anephewofIsidoreof
Miletus.Unliketheoriginal,thisincluded40ribsandwasslightlytaller,in
ordertolowerthelateralforcesonthechurchwalls.Alargersectionoftheseconddomecollapsedaswell,intwo

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episodes,sothattodayonlytwosectionsofthepresentdome,inthenorth
andsouthside,stilldatefromthe562reconstruction.Ofthewholedome's
40ribs,thesurvivingnorthsectioncontains8ribs,whilethesouthsection
includes6ribs.[63]
Althoughthisdesignstabilizesthedomeandthesurroundingwallsand
arches,theactualconstructionofthewallsofHagiaSophiaweakenedthe
overallstructure.Thebricklayersusedmoremortarthanbrick,weakening
thewalls.Thestructurewouldhavebeenmorestableifthebuildersatleast
letthemortarcurebeforetheybeganthenextlayerhowever,theydidnot
dothis.Whenthedomewaserected,itsweightcausedthewallstolean
outwardbecauseofthewetmortarunderneath.WhenIsidoretheYounger
rebuiltthefallencupola,hehadtofirstbuilduptheinteriorofthewallsto
Seecommonsfileforannotations
makethemverticalagain.Additionally,thearchitectraisedtheheightofthe
rebuiltdomebyapproximatelysixmetressothatthelateralforceswould
notbeasstronganditsweightwouldflowmoreeasilydownintothewalls.Moreover,heshapedthenewcupola
likeascallopedshellortheinsideofanumbrella,withribsthatextendfromthetopdowntothebase.Theseribs
allowtheweightofthedometoflowbetweenthewindows,downthependentives,andultimatelytothe
foundation.
HagiaSophiaisfamousforthelightthatreflectseverywhereintheinteriorofthenave,givingthedomethe
appearanceofhoveringabove.Thiseffectwasachievedbyinsertingfortywindowsaroundthebaseoftheoriginal
structure.Moreover,theinsertionofthewindowsinthedomestructurelowersitsweight.

Minarets
Oneoftheminarets(atsouthwest)wasbuiltfromredbrickwhiletheotherthreewerebuiltfromwhitelimestone
andsandstone,ofwhichtheslendernortheastcolumnwaserectedbySultanBayezidIIwhilethetwolarger
minaretstothewestwereerectedbySultanSelimIIanddesignedbythefamousOttomanarchitectMimar
Sinan.[64]

Notableelementsanddecorations
Originally,underJustinian'sreign,theinteriordecorationsconsistedofabstractdesignsonmarbleslabsonthe
wallsandfloors,aswellasmosaicsonthecurvingvaults.Ofthesemosaics,onecanstillseethetwoarchangels
GabrielandMichaelinthespandrelsofthebema.Therewerealreadyafewfigurativedecorations,asattestedby
theeulogyofPaultheSilentiary.Thespandrelsofthegalleryarerevettedinopussectile,showingpatternsand
figuresofflowersandbirdsinpreciselycutpiecesofwhitemarblesetagainstabackgroundofblackmarble.In
laterstagesfigurativemosaicswereadded,whichweredestroyedduringtheiconoclasticcontroversy(726843).
Presentmosaicsarefromtheposticonoclasticperiod.Thenumberoftreasures,relicsandmiracleworking,
paintediconsoftheHagiaSophiagrewprogressivelyricherintoanamazingcollection.
Apartfromthemosaics,alargenumberoffigurativedecorationswereaddedduringthesecondhalfofthe9th
century:animageofChristinthecentraldomeOrthodoxsaints,prophetsandChurchFathersinthetympana
belowhistoricalfiguresconnectedwiththischurch,suchasPatriarchIgnatiussomescenesfromthegospelinthe
galleries.BasilIIletartistspaintoneachofthefourpendentivesagiantsixwingedCherub.[28]TheOttomans
coveredtheirfacewithagoldenhalo,[28]butin2009oneofthemwasrestoredtotheoriginalstate.[65]

LogeoftheEmpress
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TheLogeoftheEmpressislocatedinthecentreoftheupperenclosure,orgallery,oftheHagiaSophia.From
theretheempressandthecourtladieswouldwatchtheproceedingsdownbelow.Around,greenstonemarksthe
spotwherethethroneoftheempressstood.

Lustrationurns
Twohugemarblelustration(ritualpurification)urnswerebroughtfromPergamonduringthereignofSultan
MuradIII.StemmingfromtheHellenisticperiod,theyarecarvedfromsingleblocksofmarble.[30]

MarbleDoor
TheMarbleDoorinsidetheHagiaSophiaislocatedinthesouthernupperenclosure,orgallery.Itwasusedbythe
participantsinsynods,theyenteredandleftthemeetingchamberthroughthisdoor.

Wishingcolumn
Atthenorthwestofthebuildingthereisacolumnwithaholeinthemiddlecoveredbybronzeplates.Thiscolumn
goesbydifferentnamestheperspiringcolumn,thewishingcolumn,thesweatingcolumnorthecryingcolumn.
Thecolumnissaidtobedampwhentouchedandhavesupernaturalpowers.[66]ThelegendstatesthatsinceSt.
GregorytheMiracleWorkerappearedatthecolumninyear1200,thecolumnismoist.Itisbelievedthattouching
themoisturecuresmanyillnesses.[67][68]
NotableelementsoftheHagiaSophia

TheLogeoftheEmpress.
Thecolumnsaremadeof
greenThessalianstone.

Lustrationurnfrom
Pergamon

MarbleDoor

Thewishingcolumn
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Mosaics
Thechurchwasrichlydecoratedwithmosaicsthroughoutthecenturies.They
eitherdepictedtheVirginMother,Jesus,saints,oremperorsandempresses.Other
partsweredecoratedinapurelydecorativestylewithgeometricpatterns.
ThemosaicshoweverfortheirmostpartdatetoaftertheendoftheByzantine
Iconoclasmof800AD.
DuringtheSackofConstantinoplein1204,theLatinCrusadersvandalized
valuableitemsineveryimportantByzantinestructureofthecity,includingthe
goldenmosaicsoftheHagiaSophia.ManyoftheseitemswereshippedtoVenice,
whoseDoge,EnricoDandolo,hadorganizedtheinvasionandsackof
ConstantinopleafteranagreementwithPrinceAlexiosAngelos,thesonofa
deposedByzantineemperor.
19thcenturyrestoration

Ceilingdecorationshowing
originalChristiancrossstill
visiblethroughthelater
aniconicdecoration

Followingthebuilding'sconversionintoamosquein1453,manyofitsmosaics
werecoveredwithplaster,duetoIslam'sbanonrepresentationalimagery.This
processwasnotcompletedatonce,andreportsexistfromthe17thcenturyin
whichtravellersnotethattheycouldstillseeChristianimagesintheformerchurch.In184749,thebuildingwas
restoredbytwoSwissItalianFossatibrothers,GaspareandGiuseppe,andSultanAbdlmecidallowedthemto
alsodocumentanymosaicstheymightdiscoverduringthisprocess.Thisworkdidnotincluderepairingthe
mosaicsandafterrecordingthedetailsaboutanimage,theFossatispainteditoveragain.TheFossatisrestoredthe
mosaicsofthetwohexapteryga(singularGreek:,pr.hexapterygon,sixwingedangel)itisuncertain
whethertheyareseraphimorcherubim)locatedonthetwoeastpendentives,coveringtheirfacesagainbeforethe
endoftherestoration.[69]TheothertwoplacedonthewestpendentivesarecopiesinpaintcreatedbytheFossatis,
sincetheycouldfindnosurvivingremainsofthem.[69]Asinthiscase,thearchitectsreproducedinpaintdamaged
decorativemosaicpatterns,sometimesredesigningthemintheprocess.TheFossatirecordsaretheprimary
sourcesaboutanumberofmosaicimagesnowbelievedtohavebeencompletelyorpartiallydestroyedinthe1894
Istanbulearthquake.TheseincludeamosaicoveranowunidentifiedDoorofthePoor,alargeimageofajewel
encrustedcross,andalargenumberofimagesofangels,saints,patriarchs,andchurchfathers.Mostofthemissing
imageswerelocatedinthebuilding'stwotympana.
OnemosaictheydocumentedisChristPantocratorinacircle,whichwouldindicateittobeaceilingmosaic,
possiblyevenofthemaindomewhichwaslatercoveredandpaintedoverwithIslamiccalligraphythatexpounds
Godasthelightoftheuniverse.ThedrawingsoftheHagiaSophiamosaicsaretodaykeptintheCantonalArchive
ofTicino.[70]
20thcenturyrestoration
Alargenumberofmosaicswereuncoveredinthe1930sbyateamfromtheByzantineInstituteofAmericaledby
ThomasWhittemore.Theteamchosetoletanumberofsimplecrossimagesremaincoveredbyplaster,but
uncoveredallmajormosaicsfound.
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Becauseofitslonghistoryasbothachurchandamosque,aparticularchallengearisesintherestorationprocess.
Christianiconographicmosaicscanbeuncovered,butoftenattheexpenseofimportantandhistoricIslamicart.
RestorershaveattemptedtomaintainabalancebetweenbothChristianandIslamiccultures.Inparticular,much
controversyrestsuponwhethertheIslamiccalligraphyonthedomeofthecathedralshouldberemoved,inorderto
permittheunderlyingPantocratormosaicofChristasMasteroftheWorld,tobeexhibited(assumingthemosaic
stillexists).[71]
ImperialGatemosaic
TheImperialGatemosaicislocatedinthetympanumabovethatgate,
whichwasusedonlybytheemperorswhenenteringthechurch.Basedon
styleanalysis,ithasbeendatedtothelate9thorearly10thcentury.The
emperorwithanimbusorhalocouldpossiblyrepresentemperorLeoVI
theWiseorhissonConstantineVIIPorphyrogenitusbowingdownbefore
ChristPantocrator,seatedonajeweledthrone,givingHisblessingand
holdinginHislefthandanopenbook.[72]Thetextonthebookreadsas
follows:"Peacebewithyou.Iamthelightoftheworld".(John20:19
20:268:12)OneachsideofChrist'sshouldersisacircularmedallion:on
HislefttheArchangelGabriel,holdingastaff,onHisrightHisMother
Mary.[73]

Imperialgatemosaic

Southwesternentrancemosaic
Thesouthwesternentrancemosaic,situatedinthetympanumofthe
southwesternentrance,datesfromthereignofBasilII.[74]Itwas
rediscoveredduringtherestorationsof1849byFossati.TheVirginsitsona
thronewithoutaback,herfeetrestingonapedestal,embellishedwith
preciousstones.TheChildChristsitsonherlap,givingHisblessingand
holdingascrollinHislefthand.Onherleftsidestandsemperor
Constantineinceremonialattire,presentingamodelofthecitytoMary.
Theinscriptionnexttohimsays:"GreatemperorConstantineofthe
Saints".OnherrightsidestandsemperorJustinianI,offeringamodelof
theHagiaSophia.ThemedallionsonbothsidesoftheVirgin'sheadcarry
themonogramsMPandY,anabbreviationof"Mtr"and"Theou",
meaning"MotherofGod".[75]

Southwesternentrancemosaic

Apsemosaics
TheVirginandChildmosaicwasthefirstoftheposticonoclasticmosaics.Itwasinauguratedon29March867by
PatriarchPhotiusandtheemperorsMichaelIIIandBasilI.Thismosaicissituatedinahighlocationonthehalf
domeoftheapse.Maryissittingonathronewithoutaback,holdingtheChildJesusonherlap.Herfeetrestona
pedestal.Boththepedestalandthethroneareadornedwithpreciousstones.TheportraitsofthearchangelsGabriel
andMichael(largelydestroyed)inthebemaofthearchalsodatefromthe9thcentury.Themosaicsaresetagainst
theoriginalgoldenbackgroundofthe6thcentury.Thesemosaicswerebelievedtobeareconstructionofthe
mosaicsofthe6thcenturythatwerepreviouslydestroyedduringtheiconoclasticerabytheByzantinesofthat
time,asrepresentedintheinauguralsermonbythepatriarchPhotios.However,norecordoffiguraldecorationof
HagiaSophiaexistsbeforethistime.[76]
EmperorAlexandermosaic
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TheEmperorAlexandermosaicisnoteasytofindforthefirsttimevisitor,
locatedinthesecondfloorinadarkcorneroftheceiling.Itdepicts
EmperorAlexanderinfullregalia,holdingascrollinhisrighthandanda
globuscrucigerinhisleft.AdrawingbyFossatishowedthatthemosaic
surviveduntil1849,andthatThomasWhittemore,founderofthe
ByzantineInstituteofAmericawhowasgrantedpermissiontopreservethe
mosaics,assumedthatithadbeendestroyedintheearthquakeof1894.
Eightyearsafterhisdeath,themosaicwasdiscoveredin1958largely
throughtheresearchesofRobertVanNice.Unlikemostoftheother
mosaicsinHagiaSophia,whichhadbeencoveredoverbyordinaryplaster,
theAlexandermosaicwassimplypaintedoverandreflectedthe
surroundingmosaicpatternsandthuswaswellhidden.Itwasdulycleaned
bytheByzantineInstitute'ssuccessortoWhittemore,PaulA.
Underwood.[77][78]
EmpressZoemosaic
ApsemosaicoftheVirginandChild
TheEmpressZoemosaicontheeasternwallofthesoutherngallerydate
fromthe11thcentury.ChristPantocrator,cladinthedarkbluerobe(asis
thecustominByzantineart),isseatedinthemiddleagainstagolden
background,givingHisblessingwiththerighthandandholdingtheBible
inHislefthand.OneithersideofHisheadarethemonogramsICandXC,
meaningIsousKhristos.HeisflankedbyConstantineIXMonomachus
andEmpressZoe,bothinceremonialcostumes.Heisofferingapurse,as
symbolofthedonationhemadetothechurch,whilesheisholdingascroll,
symbolofthedonationsshemade.Theinscriptionovertheheadofthe
emperorsays:"Constantine,piousemperorinChristtheGod,kingofthe
Romans,Monomachus".Theinscriptionovertheheadoftheempressreads
asfollows:"Zo,theverypiousAugusta".Thepreviousheadshavebeen
scrapedoffandreplacedbythethreepresentones.Perhapstheearlier
TheEmpressZoemosaic
mosaicshowedherfirsthusbandRomanusIIIArgyrusorhersecond
husbandMichaelIV.Anothertheoryisthatthismosaicweremadeforan
earlieremperorandempress,withtheirheadschangedintothepresentones.[79]

Comnenusmosaic
TheComnenusmosaic,alsolocatedontheeasternwallofthesouthern
gallery,datesfrom1122.TheVirginMaryisstandinginthemiddle,
depicted,asusualinByzantineart,inadarkbluegown.Sheholdsthe
ChildChristonherlap.HegivesHisblessingwithHisrighthandwhile
holdingascrollinHislefthand.OnherrightsidestandsemperorJohnII
Comnenus,representedinagarbembellishedwithpreciousstones.He
holdsapurse,symbolofanimperialdonationtothechurch.EmpressIrene
TheComnenusmosaic
standsontheleftsideoftheVirgin,wearingceremonialgarmentsand
offeringadocument.TheireldestsonAlexiusComnenusisrepresentedon
anadjacentpilaster.Heisshownasabeardlessyouth,probably
representinghisappearanceathiscoronationagedseventeen.Inthispanelonecanalreadyseeadifferencewith
theEmpressZoemosaicthatisonecenturyolder.Thereisamorerealisticexpressionintheportraitsinsteadofan
idealizedrepresentation.Theempressisshownwithplaitedblondhair,rosycheeksandgreyeyes,revealingher
Hungariandescent.Theemperorisdepictedinadignifiedmanner.[80]
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Desismosaic
TheDesismosaic(,"Entreaty")probablydatesfrom1261.Itwas
commissionedtomarktheendof57yearsofRomanCatholicuseandthe
returntotheOrthodoxfaith.Itisthethirdpanelsituatedintheimperial
enclosureoftheuppergalleries.ItiswidelyconsideredthefinestinHagia
Sophia,becauseofthesoftnessofthefeatures,thehumaneexpressionsand
thetonesofthemosaic.ThestyleisclosetothatoftheItalianpaintersof
thelate13thorearly14thcentury,suchasDuccio.InthispaneltheVirgin
MaryandJohntheBaptist(IoannesProdromos),bothshowninthree
TheDesismosaic
quartersprofile,areimploringtheintercessionofChristPantocratorfor
humanityonJudgmentDay.Thebottompartofthismosaicisbadly
deteriorated.[81]ThismosaicisconsideredasthebeginningoftheRenaissanceinByzantinepictorialart.[82]
Northerntympanummosaics
Thenortherntympanummosaicsfeaturevarioussaints.Theyhavebeenabletosurviveduetotheveryhighand
unreachablelocation.TheydepictSaintsJohnChrysostomandIgnatiustheYoungerstanding,clothedinwhite
robeswithcrosses,andholdingrichlyjeweledHolyBibles.Thenamesofeachsaintisgivenaroundthestatuesin
Greek,inordertoenableanidentificationforthevisitor.Theothermosaicsintheothertympanahavenotsurvived
probablyduetothefrequentearthquakesasopposedtoanydeliberatedestructionbytheOttomanconquerors.[83]

Otherburials
MustafaI,inthecourtyard

Gallery

Mosaicswithgeometric
patterndecoratetheupper
imperialgallery

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DetailofDesismosaic

Mosaicinthenorthern
tympanondepictingSaintJohn
Chrysostom

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DrawingbytheFossatibrotherdepictingsomemosaics

Oneofthemighty
stonecolumnswith
metalclasps

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia

AnotherdrawingbytheFossatibrothers
depictingmosaicofsixpatriarchsinthe
southerntympanon

InterioroftheHagia
SophiabyJohnSinger
Sargent,1891

DetailofreliefontheMarbleDoor.

Interior
viewofthe
Hagia
Sophia,
showing
Islamic
elementson
thetopof
themain
dome.

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HaghiaSofiafromAdriaanReland(1676
1718):Verhandelingvandegodsdienstder
Mahometaanen,1719

HagiaSophiaduringits
timeasamosque.
IllustrationbyGaspare
FossatiandLouisHaghe
from1852.

InteriorpanoramaoftheHagiaSophia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia

Circa1900photograph,
fromitstimeasamosque.

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ThefaceoftheHexapterygon(sixwingedangel)onthenorth
eastpendentive(upperleft),discoveredbutcoveredagainby
GaspareFossatiduringitsrestoration,isvisibleagain.

ImperialGate

19thcenturymarkerofthetombofEnricoDandolo,the
DogeofVenicewhocommandedtheSackof
Constantinoplein1204,insidetheHagiaSophia

Seealso
Oldestchurchesintheworld
Listofmegalithicsites
ConversionofnonMuslimplacesofworshipintomosques
PendentiveArchitecturalelement
ListofByzantineinventions
HistoryofRomanandByzantinedomes
Relatedbuildings:
ChurchoftheHolyApostlesthesecondmostimportantchurchofConstantinople
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HagiaIreneneighbouringchurch
LittleHagiaSophiaa6thcenturyByzantinechurch,nowmosque,thatmighthavebeenbuiltbythesame
architectsasHagiaSophia
ChoraChurchByzantinechurchinIstanbulnotableforitswellpreservedPaleologanmosaics,nowa
museumtoo
PammakaristosChurch:itsparekklesionalsoamuseumisdecoratedwithbeautifulmosaics
HasekiHrremSultanHamambathcommissionedbyRoxelanafortheHagiaSophiacommunity
CaferaaMedressehformerKoranicschoolnexttoHagiaSophia
SoukemeSokahistoricalstreetbetweentheHagiaSophiaandTopkapPalace
SaintSophiaCathedralinKiev
SaintSophiaCathedralinNovgorod
SaintSophiaCathedralinPolotsk
HagiaSophiaChurch(Sofia)
BasilicaoftheNationalShrineoftheImmaculateConception
FranciscanMonastery(Washington,DC)
SaintClementCatholicChurch,ChicagothedesignerwassaidtohavebeeninfluencedbytheHagia
Sophia
UkrainianCatholicArcheparchyofPhiladelphiathearticleshowsthecathedral,resemblingtheHagia
Sophia

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Boyran,EbruFleet,Kate(2010).AsocialHistoryofOttomanIstanbul.Cambridge:CambridgeUniversity
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MllerWiener,Wolfgang(1977).BildlexikonzurTopographieIstanbuls:Byzantion,Konstantinupolis,
IstanbulbiszumBeginnd.17Jh(inGerman).Tbingen:Wasmuth.ISBN9783803010223.
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Books.ISBN9781861892447.
Ronchey,SilviaBraccini,Tommaso(2010).IlromanzodiCostantinopoli.GuidaletterariaallaRoma
d'Oriente(inItalian).Torino:Einaudi.ISBN9788806189211.
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CambridgeUniversityPress.p.145.ISBN0521398320.
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Turner,J.(1996).GroveDictionaryofArt.Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress.ISBN0195170687.

Furtherreading
Alchermes,JosephD.(2005)."ArtandArchitectureintheAgeofJustinian".InMaas,Michael.The
CambridgeCompaniontotheAgeofJustinian.Cambridge:CambridgeU.P.pp.343375.ISBN9780521
520713.
Balfour,JohnPatrickDouglas(1972).HagiaSophia.W.W.Norton&Company.ISBN9780882250144.
Cimok,Fatih(2004).HagiaSophia.MiletPublishingLtd.ISBN9789757199618.
Doumato,Lamia(1980).TheByzantinechurchofHagiaSophia:Selectedreferences.VanceBibliographies.
ASINB0006E2O2M.
Goriansky,LevVladimir(1933).HaghiaSophia:analysisofthearchitecture,artandspiritbehindthe
shrineinConstantinoplededicatedtoHagiaSophia.AmericanSchoolofPhilosophy.ASINB0008C47EA.
Harris,Jonathan,Constantinople:CapitalofByzantium.Hambledon/Continuum(2007).ISBN978184725
1794
HowlandSwift,Emerson(1937).ThebronzedoorsofthegateofthehorologiumatHagiaSophia.
UniversityofChicago.ASINB000889GIG.
Kahler,Heinz(1967).HaghiaSophia.Praeger.ASINB0008C47EA.
Kinross,Lord(1972).HagiaSophia,WondersofMan.Newsweek.ASINB000K5QN9W.
Kleinbauer,W.EugeneAnthonyWhite(2007).HagiaSophia.London:ScalaPublishers.ISBN9781
857593082.
Kleinbauer,W.Eugene(2000).SaintSophiaatConstantinople:SingulariterinMundo(Monograph
(FredericLindleyMorganChairofArchitecturalDesign),No.5.).WilliamL.Bauhan.ISBN978087233
1235.
Krautheimer,Richard(1984).EarlyChristianandByzantineArchitecture.NewHaven,CT:YaleUniversity
Press.ISBN9780300052947.
Mainstone,R.J.(1997).HagiaSophia:Architecture,Structure,andLiturgyofJustinian'sGreatChurch.
London:Thames&Hudson.ISBN9780500279458.
Mainstone,RowlandJ.(1988).HagiaSophia.Architecture,structureandliturgyofJustinian'sgreatchurch.
London:Thames&Hudson.ISBN0500340986.
Mango,CyrilAhmedErtu(1997).HagiaSophia.Avisionforempires.Istanbul.
Mark,R.akmaktitle,AS.(1992).HagiaSophiafromtheAgeofJustiniantothePresent.Princeton
Architectural.ISBN9781878271112.
Nelson,RobertS.(2004).HagiaSophia,18501950:HolyWisdomModernMonument.Chicago:University
OfChicagoPress.ISBN9780226571713.
zkul,T.A.(2007).StructuralcharacteristicsofHagiaSophia:IAfiniteelementformulationforstatic
analysis.Elsevier.
Scharf,Joachim:DerKaiserinProskynese.BemerkungenzurDeutungdesKaisermosaiksimNarthexder
HagiaSophiavonKonstantinopel.In:FestschriftPercyErnstSchrammzuseinemsiebzigstenGeburtstag
vonSchlernundFreundenzugeeignet,Wiesbaden1964,S.2735.
Swainson,Harold(2005).TheChurchofSanctaSophiaConstantinople:AStudyofByzantineBuilding.
Boston,MA:AdamantMediaCorporation.ISBN9781402183454.
Yucel,Erdem(2005).HagiaSophia.ScalaPublishers.ISBN9781857592504.
Weitzmann,Kurt,ed.,Ageofspirituality:lateantiqueandearlyChristianart,thirdtoseventhcentury(htt
p://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15324coll10/id/156533),no.592,1979,Metropolitan
MuseumofArt,NewYork,ISBN9780870991790

Articles
Bordewich,FergusM.,"AMonumentalStruggletoPreserveHagiaSophia"(http://www.smithsonianmag.co
m/travel/FadingGlory.html),Smithsonianmagazine,December2008

Mosaics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia

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HagiaSophia,hagiasophia.com:Mosaics(http://www.hagiasophia.com/listingview.php?listingID=2).
MacDonald,WilliamLloyd(1951).TheuncoveringofByzantinemosaicsinHagiaSophia.Archaeological
InstituteofAmerica.ASINB0007GZTKS.
Mango,Cyril(1972).ThemosaicsofSt.SophiaatIstanbul:ThechurchfathersinthenorthTympanum.
DumbartonOaksCenterforByzantineStudies.ASINB0007CAVA0.
Mango,Cyril(1968).TheApsemosaicsofSt.SophiaatIstanbul:Reportonworkcarriedoutin1964.
JohnsonReprints.ASINB0007G5RBY.
Mango,CyrilHeinzKahler(1967).HagiaSophia:WithaChapterontheMosaics.Praeger.ASIN
B0000CO5IL.
Teteriatnikov,NataliaB.(1998).MosaicsofHagiaSophia,Istanbul:TheFossatiRestorationandtheWork
oftheByzantineInstitute.DumbartonOaksResearchLibraryandCollection.ISBN9780884022640.
Riccardi,Lorenzo(2012).AlcuneriflessionisulmosaicodelvestibolosudovestdellaSantaSofiadi
Costantinopoli,inVieperBisanzio.VIIICongressoNazionaledellAssociazioneItalianadiStudiBizantini
(Venezia2528novembre2009),acuradiAntonioRigo,AndreaBabuineMicheleTrizio.Bari.pp.357371.
ISBN9788874702299.Retrieved30September2014.
Ycel,Erdem(1988).ThemosaicsofHagiaSophia.EfeTurizm.ASINB0007CBGYA.

Externallinks
HagiaSophiaMuseum(http://www.ayasofyamuzesi.gov.tr/en/)
Contemporarydescription(http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/source/
procopdeaed1.asp)byProcopius,Buildings(DeAedificiis),
publishedin561.
AyaSofyaPhotoGallerybyDickOsseman(http://www.pbase.com/d
osseman/istanbul_aya_sofia)

Externalimages
360panoramicview(http://maps.y
andex.com//CVfSRK~H)(virtualtour)

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