Hagia Sophia: History and Architecture of a Byzantine Masterpiece
Hagia Sophia: A Monument of Byzantine and Ottoman History
Constructed between 532 and 537, during the reign of Emperor Justinian, Hagia Sophia stands as a testament to the “First Golden Age” of the Byzantine Empire. Its architects, Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus, conceived an unprecedented design, uniting familiar elements like the basilica and rotunda into a novel structure. Unlike traditional basilicas, Hagia Sophia’s design omits columns separating the naves. It also lacks the concentric ambulatories typical of roundabouts.
Architectural Marvel
The expansive space, exceeding 1000 m2, is organized around a central dome with a diameter of 31 meters. This dome is supported by two half-domes along the longitudinal axis and rests upon two niches on each side, arranged diagonally to the nave. Four large arches are supported by the main pillars, which form a square measuring 44 meters per side. The northern and southern arches are embedded within the walls, barely visible from the interior. The dome, perched atop the arches and four pendentives, features 40 ribs and 40 curved fillings. It is reinforced externally by 40 shorter ribs and small windows.
To counteract the thrust, two half-domes, mirroring the main dome’s diameter, are positioned at the front and rear, resting on two niches. This innovative design deviates from the Roman tradition of placing domes on circular bases.
The original dome, constructed from brick and strong mortar, collapsed in 558 due to earthquakes in 553 and 557. It was rebuilt in 563, reaching a height of 56 meters, five meters taller than the original. The dome’s immense size is partially concealed from the exterior by a drum that covers one-third of its height.
Interior Decoration
Beyond its architectural grandeur, Hagia Sophia was renowned for its lavish decoration, emphasizing color to create a sense of movement and visually enlarge the space. Polychrome marble, porphyry, and obsidian adorned the columns, pillars, and wall baseboards. The floor was crafted from gray marble. High walls, vaults, and domes were covered with mosaics, predominantly featuring simple polychrome crosses or stars on a gold background. Semiprecious stones were interspersed among the tiles to enhance the effect.
Historical mosaics also graced the interior. It is believed that certain areas, such as the eastern arch, were covered with silver plates. The interplay of light further accentuated the decorative elements. Lead glass windows, likely colored, and numerous gold lamps and torches illuminated the space. Much of this original decoration has been lost and replaced by large medallions inscribed with verses from the Quran.
Transformation and Legacy
A large atrium to the west, leading to an exonarthex and a narthex, augmented the site of Hagia Sophia, resulting in a total area of 10,000 m2. The central vaulted plant model created here endured in Eastern religious architecture for over a millennium. Its interior architecture, more prominent than its exterior, and its decorative richness influenced Byzantine art.
In 1453, following the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks, Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque. The four minarets that still surround it today, along with the interior decorative medallions, were added during this period.