Hagia Sophia (537 CE) Commissioned by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul redefined sacred architecture with its revolutionary dome seemingly suspended from heaven. Designed by mathematicians Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus, it combined a massive central dome (31 meters in diameter) with pendentives—an engineering breakthrough that allowed circular domes to rest on square bases. Bathed in golden light from 40 windows, its interior shimmered with mosaics of Christ, emperors, and saints. For nearly a millennium, it was the world’s largest cathedral and the heart of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. After the Ottoman conquest in 1453, it became a mosque, minarets added, mosaics covered. In 1935, it was secularized as a museum; in 2020, reconverted to a mosque. Throughout, Hagia Sophia has stood as a bridge between faiths, empires, and aesthetics. Its grandeur inspired both Ottoman mosques and Renaissance cathedrals, proving architecture can be a vessel of spiritual synthesis and historical continuity.
Add Comment + Vote ( 1 )...
There are currently no comments!