About Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia is a great architectural beauty and an important monument for both Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. It was built as a church in the 6^th century CE under the direction of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. In subsequent centuries, it became a mosque, a museum and a mosque again. The building reflects the religious changes with the minarets and inscriptions of Islam as well as the mosaics of Christianity.

Building Materials

The Hagia Sophia was built in a grand Christian Basilica style and is the most significant surviving example of Byzantine architecture. The floor marble was produced in Anatolia (now eastern Turkey) and Syria while other bricks came from as far away as North Africa. It has 104 columns, many made of marble, imported from the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus and from Egypt.

Mosaic Decorations

The decorations within the Hagia Sophia at the time of construction were probably very simple. Over time this changed to include a variety of Christian mosaics and frescoes. One of the most famous mosaics is the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus on her lap with a background of gold mosaics.

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