The document provides information about two important houses of worship: Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, Turkey and Chartres Cathedral in Paris, France. It includes images and descriptions of the exterior and interior views of each building. The student is asked to create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting three similarities and differences between a mosque and another house of worship. They are also asked to write an essay using the information gathered from comparing Hagia Sophia and Chartres Cathedral.

1. HOW
Houses of Worship assignment
Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofia) Mosque Istanbul, Turkey
and
Chartres Cathedral, Notre Dame Paris, France
Student’s tasks
1.In a Venn diagram, three similarities and three differences between a mosque and one other
house of worship
2.Using the information you gather, write an essay that uses the information you gathered

2. Compare and contrast - exterior view
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul and Chartres Cathedral of Notre Dame, Paris

3. Compare and contrast - exterior view
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul and Chartres Cathedral of Notre Dame, Paris
Full view: Four minarets; domed roof; Full view: Two
pinkish stone; heavy on the ground steeples; seems
lighter
Door to interior
Door to interior
Supporting arches
Supporting arches

4. Compare and contrast the exterior view
Different Different
Similar
Hagia Sofia Chartres Cathedral
•Four towers - •Both are houses
of worship •Two towers at the front
minarets - evenly •Both use arches in the of the cathedral - different
spaced on four construction in appearance
corners; towers are •Both have towers •Angled roof over main
similar in •Both call the faithful
area
appearance to prayer from the
towers (the mosque has •Grey stone
•Domed roof
the muezzin and the •Statues of saints at the
•Brownish red stone
•No statues (I know cathedral has bells – I main door; gargoyles on
don’t see these things the roof (It isn’t visible in
this - it isn’t visible but I know them and the picture)
in the picture) and could support with •Built for Christians
•Built for Muslims facts

5. Compare and contrast - interior view
Hagia Sophia and Chartres Cathedral of Notre Dame

6. Compare and contrast - interior view
Hagia Sophia and Chartres Cathedral of Notre Dame
Soaring (high) domed ceilings; colorful; greatly decorated; many
statues and pictures; symbol of religion; altar; big space
Soaring (high) domed ceilings; colorful; greatly decorated
Calligraphy; no
statues or pictures
of people; no altar;
big space
Pews for seating; stained glass!; windows from top to bottom
Rugs on floor, no seats; windows Center of dome seen
from through lit interior arches
top to bottom
Center of dome seen through gray interior arches

7. Compare and contrast the interior view
Different Similar Different
Hagia Sofia Chartres Cathedral
•Islamic calligraphy is
part of the design as is •Both have rounded •Scenes from the bible
highly intricate, arches as part of the decorate the church
interior design (in the colored glass
geometric shapes •Both use stained glass
•Highly decorated •Both are built on a windows)
color is part of the massive scale: soaring, •Colored decoration is
decoration high ceilings and wide mostly in the intricate
•There are no pictures central areas for people glass windows
or statues of people • People pray toward •Pictures and statues
•There is no single something: toward are part of the interior
mihrab (shows direction • A main altar is at the
altar at which people
of Mecca; front of
pray cathedral where priest
front of the cathedral
stands (I know this even it’s
not obvious in the
picture)

8. That’s it - now begin