Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia , in Greek Αγια Σοφια , Turkish Ayasofya , French “Holy-Sophie” (“Holy Wisdom”) is old a church of Constantinople (6th century), then a Mosquée of Istanbul (15th century). Today, it is not any more one place of worship but a museum (1934). Its esplanade is with the measurement of the glory of Byzance. The dedication of the church, often called the Large Church, was dedicated to Christ, " Wisdom of Dieu" , according to the theologists.

History

First basilicas

The first Basilique devoted to “Divine Wisdom” ( Haghia Sophia ) was ordered in 325 by the emperor Constantin Ier after his conversion with the Christianisme. It was set up on the ruins of an old temple of Apollon on a hill overhanging the Marmara Sea. It is the emperor Constance II which devoted this first building, on October 30th 360. After rebuildhaving rebuilt it, the Justinien emperor would have declared, during the inauguration on December 27th, 537, " Solomon you are overcome! ". It was the largest church of the city and the large palace, mentioned under the name of Megalo Ecclesia ( the large Church ). It is supposed that it was about a stone building with the wood roof. At the beginning of Ve century, the emperor Arcadius ratified the deposition and the exile of the Archevêque of Constantinople Saint Jean Chrysostome, following arm wrestling with the patriache Theophilus of Alexandria that Jean had been charged to judge. The building was then burnt at the time of a riot in 404.

It was rebuilt in 415 by the emperor Théodose II. The taken again building a traditional plan basilical under the direction of the Roufinos architect. It was open on October 8th 415. One century later, the basilica will undergo once again the same disastrous fate on January 13rd 532 during the Sédition Nika, which set ablaze the town of Constantinople during six days. Vestiges remain in front of the western wall of the current building since 1935. From these ruins, one distinguishes a staircase of five steps reaching a gantry, and three doors towards the Narthex. The building made 60 meters broad.

The Justinien emperor, after the riots of Nika in 532, undertakes refonder the building. He poses the first stone besides of them.

The basilica of Justinien

At the request of his wife Théodora, the emperor Justinien Ier will order that one builds on his ashes a monument which was to be most beautiful never considering, exceeding the Temple of Solomon. He chooses, to build this church which he wanted splendid, of the mathematicians and Greek architects of the university of Constantinople, Anthemius de Tralles and Isidore de Milet, with which he left a total freedom. Anthemius will die during the first year.

The architects drew a building of style more or less inspired by the the Pantheon of Rome and primitive Christian art of Occident. This style now qualified of " byzantin" , which also was subject to, in other buildings, Iranian influences (sassanides), inspired in its turn Arab, Venetian and Othoman architects. The building site, which will mobilize 10 000 workmen and 100 master masons of 532 until 537, will last 5 years exactly 10 months and 10 days, one surprisingly short duration at that time for a work of such a width. If the structure is out of brick, thus making it possible to reduce the cupola, it is nevertheless powerful. The ornamentation implements the noblest matters which one does not hesitate to take over the temples of Greece, Phénicie or Egypt.

The emperor, who assisted with the dedication of the basilica the December 27th 537, would have exclaimed “Oh! Solomon, I exceeded you! ” ( Νενίκηκά σε Σολομών ), and it made place, near this one, a statue of Solomon admiring Hagia Sophia.

Latin occupation

Hagia Sophia was the seat of the Patriarcat Orthodoxe of Constantinople and the place of privileged reception of the imperial ceremonies. After the catch of the city by the cross in 1204, it became a Cathédrale Roman Catholique until their departure in 1261.

The Othoman time

When the Othoman seized Constantinople the May 29th 1453, the sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror , filled with wonder by the magnificence at the church, immediately made cease the mosaic destruction of the S, to which had started to deliver its soldiers, and decided to transform Hagia Sophia into Mosquée. In order to spare the preserving branch of the Islam which regards the representation of the man as blasphématoire, the mosaics were covered with plaster. However the Othoman Sultans made sure that they were periodically removed the plaster and restored before being again hidden with the eyes of the faithful ones. In the course of time, the Othomans set up four Minaret S (two by Mehmed II and two by Selim II) and added the names of Allah, Mahomet and the first Caliph S on circular panels. Remaining during 500 years the principal mosque of Istanbul, Hagia Sophia was used as model with many other Othoman mosques.

The Republic of Turkey

With its come to power, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk decides to continue the restoration of Hagia Sophia started by American Byzantine Institute since 1932 and transforms it into Musée in 1934. In 1993 a mission of UNESCO in Turkey notes that the plaster is exhausted, that pollution dirtied the marble facings, that windows are broken, that decorative paintings are damaged by moisture and that the lead roof is decayed. The efforts of restoration of the building are reinforced and continue to date.

The long heritage as a Christian basilica, that mosque and that very attended museum, poses a delicate challenge in terms of restoration. The iconographic heritage of Christian mosaics is gradually revealed but of Moslem artistic creations must be destroyed to put them at the day. The restorers try to offer to the best visitor of the two artistic and religious expressions.

The largest cupola in the world?

It is at least what one affirms near the tourists who visit the Basilica. In fact largest couples ever built, and always existing being is the the Pantheon of Rome with its 43,4m of diameter. Even the Dome of Florence, of Brunelleschi, did not equalize the diameter of the Pantheon and this to 1 meter close (42m) During its construction, Hagia Sophia was the largest Christian building in the world. The “large Church” fascinated all Middle Ages. The height under large the Coupole is of 56 meters. It is built out of light bricks and its initial diameter is of 32 meters. Technical prowess, dimensions of this cupola remained insurpassées during nearly 1000 years (until the Duomo of Florence in 1436)! It on several occasions crumbled following seisms in 558 and 563, and partially in 989 and 1346 and it is to compensate for its push that Sinan, the Turkish architect of Soliman the Magnificent the will reinforce the most vulnerable points of construction by means of buttresses. The Othoman if will be fascinated besides by this cupola which they will try to imitate its design in their mosques, until taking up the challenge that this cupola represents by equipping the blue Mosquée built opposite Hagia Sophia of a cupola 23,5 meters in diameter.

The interior fitting of the basilica combines the plan centered with cupola and the three naves of the Plan basilical. The cupola, supposed to represent cosmos, is the essential architectural element of construction. It is bathed by the light of the 40 windows bored in the upper part of the building, reinforcing the impression of lightness, even of undulation and thus its evocation of the kingdom of heaven. The platforms also let penetrate the light thanks to the 67 pillars which support the cupola. Formerly held to the women, they shelter splendid mosaics on gilded bottom. The grounds are completely paved of marble. The cupola rests on four equal arches resting on four pillars of 100 m basic each one. To compensate for the push of the dome, two half-cupolas come in counterthrust to the east and the west. Four Pendentif S - a new device in constructions of this width - allow its connection the square plan.

Today still, Sainte Sophie is one of the monuments emblématiques of medieval architecture. Its forms since were used as model with the architecture of the mosques and directly inspired the Basilique Saint-Marc with Venice.

Mosaics

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