Hagia Sophia
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Hagia Sophia (Turkish: Ayasofya; Greek: Hagia Sophia, meaning "Holy Wisdom") is a historic structure located in Istanbul in Turkey, on the European side of the Bosphorus. It was built in the early centuries of the Byzantine Empire and served for a long period as the largest church of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453, it was converted into a mosque.
The building is renowned for its large dome, which is considered to have changed the history of architecture. The dome is supported by architectural elements known as pendentives, which allow a round dome to rest on a square-based structure. The interior contains gold mosaics and marble pillars, some of which were brought from other historic sites.
Byzantine period
The structure that stands today was built during the reign of Emperor Justinian I, after earlier buildings on the site were destroyed in riots that broke out in the city. It is recognized as the most important center of Orthodox worship, where the Byzantine imperial court held coronation ceremonies and religious celebrations. For a long time it was the building with the largest dome in the world.
Ottoman period
In 1453, after Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror took Constantinople, the building was converted into a mosque. Minarets were added to the exterior, as well as a mihrab (indicating the direction of prayer) and a minbar (pulpit). Some of the image-bearing mosaics were covered. Hagia Sophia became an architectural model that influenced many Ottoman mosques built later, including the large mosques of Istanbul.
Museum and later changes
During the early period of the Turkish Republic, in the 1930s, the building was converted into a museum. During that time, restoration and cleaning work revealed some of the Byzantine mosaics. In 2020, following a court decision and a presidential order, the building was converted back to a mosque, though it remains open to visitors. This decision was discussed by international organizations and governments, and some expressed concerns about its status as global cultural heritage.