Istanbul - Hagia Sophia Museum
About
Hagia Sophia was a Eastern Orthodox abbey at Byzantine aeon which completed in 537. It aswell accepted as the Ayasofya Architecture and Abbey of Holy Wisdom. It was adapted to a abbey at Ottoman aeon afterwards Fatih Sultan Mehmed II baffled Constantinople in 29 May 1453. Afterwards 1935, it was adapted into a museum. Hagia Sophia is neighbour to Topkapı Palace and Blue Abbey (Sultanahmet Camii) in istanbul.
Hagia Sophia is accepted as one of the greatest barrio of the apple and about advised the Eighth Wonder of the World.
Some architecture details: The works was started on December 23, 532 AD and completed on December 27, 537. The admeasurement of the close amplitude of basilica is 100×70m and it is covered by the arresting arch (diameter 30.31m. afterwards some restoration, it was absent its absolute annular arch schema), accurate by the four ample piers, 55m high.
There are just 3 beyond abbey afterwards Hagia Sophia all about the world. They are St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, St.Peter’s Basilica in Vatican and Duomo in Milan.
History
Hagia Sophia is advised a different cairn in apple architecture, and it’s breeding and functionality has been a acceptable archetype in architectonics of endless Ottoman mosques. Hagia Sophia with its aberrant history constitutes a amalgam amid east and west. This cairn is one of the wonders of the apple that has remained complete until the present day. One can acquisition abounding attractions in Hagia Sophia - absorbing forms of Byzantine architecture, mosaics of the Christian aeon as able-bodied as structures added during the Ottoman era.
Hagia Sophia has been a Christian abode of adoration for 916 years, afresh adapted into a abbey and served Muslims for 481 years. Hagia Sophia Museum was opened in 1935 and anytime back it has been alluring bags of visitors every year.
According to Byzantine historians (Theophanes, Nikephoros, Grammarian Leon) the aboriginal architectonics of Hagia Sophia abbey was accustomed during the administration of Constantius I (324 - 337 AD). It was a basilica with a board roof, and it was austere down during a revolt. Nowadays there is no affirmation of this structure.
During the administration of emperor Theodosius Hagia Sophia was congenital for the additional time and opened to the accessible in 415 AD. The basilica was afresh austere down during the Nika Defection in 532 AD. Some charcoal of this architectonics were apparent during excavations in 1936. There were stairs advertence the access of the building, columns, capitals and added bits of the building.
Emperor Justinian (527 - 565 AD) capital to body a abbey bigger than two antecedent ones, which would represent the ability and breeding of empire. The new architectonics of Hagia Sophia was fabricated by two acclaimed architects of that era - Isidoros from Miletos and Anthemios of Tralles. Abounding columns, capitals, marble and colourful rock were brought to Istanbul from assorted age-old cities in Anatolia and acclimated in architectonics works of Hagia Sophia.
The works were commenced on December 23, 532 AD and completed on December 27, 537. The new architectonics consisted of a ample axial axis and two ancillary aisles, afar by columns, apse, close and alien narthex. The admeasurement of the close amplitude of basilica is 100 X 70m and it is covered by the arresting arch (diameter 30.31 m), accurate by the four ample piers, 55 m high.
Besides the different architectonics of the building, the mosaics are aswell important artefacts of the period. The oldest mosaics - gold gilded with geometrical and floral designs - may be begin in the close antechamber as able-bodied as in ancillary naves. Figural mosaics (with images of Jesus Christ, Virgine Maria etc.) from 9th - 12th centuries are amid on Emperor Door, apse, avenue doors and admiral gallery.
After the acquisition of Istanbul in 1453, the alleged Turkish period1 started, and several aliment were fabricated in Hagia Sophia. The artworks surrounding the mihrab includes the best samples of Turkish ceramics and calligraphy. The abiding is taken from the Koran inscribed on angled plates of 7.50 m bore by Kazasker Mustafa Izzet Efendi, a acclaimed Ottoman calligrapher. The names of Allah, Muhammed, Omer, Osman, Ali, Hasan, Ebu Bekir nd Huseyin are inscribed there. On the sidewalls of mihrab there are plates accounting and accepted by Ottoman sultans.
Tombs of Sultan Selim II, Sultan Mehmet III, Sultan Murat III as able-bodied as some of their relatives, bubbler of Sultan Mahmut I, primary school, soup kitchen, library, Sultan Abdulmecit’s affair abode and the abbey timekeeper’s (astronomer’s) abode may be begin in the area of Hagia Sophia Museum. All of the aloft mentioned objects, abnormally the tombs with their autogenous design, ceramics and architectonics are accomplished examples of Ottoman tradition.
The Museum is open between 9.30-16.30 every day.
Hagia Sophia Museum Sultanahmet 34400 istanbul, Turkey
Phone: +90 (212) 5221750 / +90 (212) 5220989 Fax: +90(212)5125474