Ayasofya Complex

The Ayasofya or better known as the Hagia Sophia is the most important landmark of Istanbul. The complex changed its usage often within history. The Hagia Sophia originally was a patriarchal basilica and was built 537 AD on the order of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian. The leadership of the city changed and then during the Ottoman Empire the Ayasofya was transformed to a mosque. Unfortunately the complex nowadays lost its spiritual and religious character at all and has been changed into a museum in 1935.

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The old church Hagia Sophia church was designed by Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles and holy relics find their ways from the whole world to the impressive catherdral as at this period it was the center of the . Eastern Orthodox Church. It is said that during the construction of the Hagia Sophia church the material was even used from the Hellenistic columns from Ephesus. But this was not all the porphyry was from Egypt, the green marble from Thessaly. The black and yellow stones came from the Bosporus and Syria. The emperor. The Orthodox church is known for its strong iconoclasm, which was forbidden in 726 by the new Leo the Isaurian, he ordered to detroy all icons.

In 1453, the Ottomans take over the regime and Sultan Mehmed II converted the building to a mosque. Most of the Christian relics were lost and destroyed. Of course the new leaders of Istanbul have to change the Hagia Sophia that it looks Islamic conform and so islamic features like the mihrab, the minbar, and the four minarets were integrated.

Impressed by the unique style of the former church , the Hagia Sophia for more than a century served as a model for many Ottoman architects. A similar style can be found in the Blue mosque or the Rüstem Pasha Mosque. With the time more and more tombs of famouse Sultans were brought to the Hagia Sophia. In 1739Sultan Mahmud I restorated the complex and integrated a Koran school, a library, a people's kitchen and a ablution fountain. Other restorations followed. For pointing out the fact that the former church become a mosquee large circular-framed disks with islamic inscripts were hung on columns.

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Today the museum presents with the Hagia Sophia one of the greatest remainings of the Byzantine architecture. Especially invaluable are the ancient mosaics and coverings. However the present mosaics are from the post-iconoclastic period. If you want the experience all the details the Hagia Sophia complex had to offer you should be aware that you have to spent a whole day in the museum. Also breathtaking is the Imperial Gate which was used as main entrance. It was reserved only for the emperor. The Loge of the Empress is located in the centre of the gallery and from here woman were allowed to join the praying. An Other you must-see monument of the Hagia Sophia is the Marble Door which located inside the Hagia in the southern gallery.