Hagia Sofia was built between 532 and 537, as a Christian church. It has influenced architects ever since. The circular dome covering a square base was developed at the same time as the Basilica plan of the Early Christian churches, in Italy. The Byzantine dome was later adopted into Islamic architecture. However, the Roman dome was constructed differently. Romans placed their dome over a solid circle of walling, best seen in the example of the Pantheon in Rome, instead of using the pendentives (an architectural feature).   However, one shared feature of the time between the two styles was the use of opaque glass mosaics in the interior decoration, covering the walls.   The Hagia Sofia plan is basically an inscribed Greek cross. The hall has four piers at the corners of the square rising in circular arches to support a central dome by means of four pendentives. The upper galleries were used by the women, and were reached by steps inside the building. Much of Hagia Sofia's appeal comes from its size. The inside is dominated by the central dome over 30.5 metres in diameter.   Today after about 1500 years of continue used, Hagia Sofia still dominates the skyline of the Bosphorus. It is truly a milestone, among the world’s greatest architectural achievements, a testament of the sophistication of the 6C Byzantine Empire.  

1. Hagia Sophia
Also known as Aya Sofya and St Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey.
All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective owners. Available
free for non-commercial and personal use.
First created Jul 2007. Version 4.0 - 23 Jun 2015. Jerry Tse. London.

2. Hagia Sophia overlooking the Bosphorus, situated in Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul.
Built in 537 AD and situated in Istanbul, Turkey.

3. The History of Byzantium
The Roman Empire proved too vast to
govern. In 286 AD, it was divided into East
and West. The empire was re-united briefly
under the rule of Constantine (306-337 AD),
who in 330 AD transferred the capital from
Rome to Byzantium, which was a little Greek
port and renamed as Constantinople, or its
modern name Istanbul.
After the death of Constantine, the empire
was split up again. Eventually, the western
part of the empire was overran by barbarians
in 476 AD. The eastern part of the empire
survived until 1453, about a thousand years
later, when it was defeated by the Turks. The
surviving eastern empire is known The
Byzantine Empire.

4. Modern day Istanbul showing the massive city wall.

5. The History of the Building
Haghia Sophia (‘Holy Wisdom’ in Greek) was inaugurated in 537 AD, nearly 1500 years ago, by Emperor
Justinian. An enormous sum was used to build the church. It marks the beginning of Byzantine
architecture. For many years it was the most celebrated church in all of Christendom. After the fall of
Constantinople, it was converted into a mosque with the additions of minarets in 1458. Ever since it has
been an inspiration and a model for many of the Islamic mosques.
Today, it is used as a museum. Like the Pantheon in Rome, it is one of the oldest building in continuous
used today for nearly 1500 years.

6. The Architectural
Achievement and Plan
An old architectural problem is to fit a
circular dome over a square plan. A
perfect solution to the problem is the
use of a pendentive, a curved
triangular vault. These were
incorporated into the construction of
Hagia Sophia.

9. Cross section of the building showing the interior and exterior of Hagia Sophia.

10. The InteriorThe most impressive feature is the size of
the building, the enormous interior space
that it encloses. The dome is 31m across
and reaching to a height of 56m. The space
under the dome is further extended by a
series of vaulted spaces, pushing the walls
further out, until the dome appears to be
hanging in the air.
On the base of the dome there is a row of
40 windows. Large windows are opened on
all the surrounding walls. These windows
illuminate the interior from all sides and from
above, creating an impression of light and a
weightlessness space within the church.
Much of the interior treasures including the
alter was plundered by the crusader in
1204 and loots were carried back to
Venice as trophies.
Weakened by the crusader, the only
Christian empire of the orient was finally fell
to the Turks in 1453. Islamic decorations
were added to the interior.

11. Entrance Hall to the building.

13. Pattern on the ceiling. A marble bottle.

19. Brightly lit gallery on the first gallery

21. View of the building from the first level gallery.

23. View of the building from the first level gallery.

25. Pillars and decoration on the second level gallery.

26. Beautifully carved pillar and painted capital

30. Architecturally the interior is largely intact. The interior is embellished with gold mosaics, tapestries,
polished marble, porphyry and ivory. Much of the mosaics from the time of Byzantine survived.
The Byzantine mosaics

31. Madonna and child on the apse

32. Christ Pantocrator with Mary on the left and St John the Baptist on the right. probably 1261 to mark the
return of the church to Orthodox faith from Roman Catholic
Christ Pantocrator

33. Christ Pantocrator (c1261). Deisis Mosaic. Note the pink coloured cheeks.

34. Mary on Christ Pantocrator Mosaic. c1261. Deisis Mosaic.

35. St John the Baptist on Christ Pantocrator Mosaic. c1261. Deisis Mosaic.

36. Leo VI and Christ, with Mary and Archangel Gabriel in roundels. Imperial Gate Tymanum. 9C-10C.

37. Constantine IX offering money and Empress Zoe making a donation. 11C. Upper south gallery

38. John II offering money and Empress Irene making a donation. 12C. Upper south gallery

39. Empress Irene making a donation. 12C. Upper south gallery

40. Justinian I and Emperor Constantine making offerings to the Virgin & child. 944 AD. Tympanum, Southwest Entrance.

41. The side entrance to the building.
Note the mosaic above the
entrance.

42. An architectural milestone

43. The Architectural Influence –
San Macro, Venice.
It was built between 1063 and 1082, with
many of architectural elements similar to that
of Hagia Sophia. In particularly the golden
mosaics that cover all the interior walls and
the multi-domes that form part of the ceiling.

44. The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii),
Istanbul. It derides its name from the blue tile
work within the building. It was built between
1609-16 in the days of a declining Ottoman
Empire.
The Architectural Influence
– Blue Mosque, Istanbul.

46. The Byzantine culture is closest to the Greek culture of today. The language for Byzantine Empire is Greek and not
Latin. They share the same religion, Orthodox Christianity and many of the symbols of Byzantium are still being
used in Greece today.
All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective
owners. Available free for non-commercial and personal
use.
Music – Eklapsa Htes by Mimis Plessas played on a
Bouzouki (A long neck Greek mandolin).
The End

47. Related Powerpoints …