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[[image:agiasofia.jpg|thumb|400px|Hagia Sophia as it appears today]]
[[image:Hagia_Sophia.jpg|thumb|400px|A plan of the original architecture of Hagia_Sophia, the great church]]
[[image:Hagia_Sophia_(interior).jpg|thumb|225px|Part of the interior of Hagia Sophi as it was when built.]]
The '''Church of the Holy Wisdom''', commonly known as '''Hagia Sophia''' in English, is a former [[Greek Orthodox Church|Greek Orthodox]] [[church]] converted to a [[mosque]], now a [[museum]], in [[Constantinople]]. It is universally acknowledged as one of the great buildings of the world.
The name comes from the [[Greek language|Greek]] name Αγία Σοφία. It is also known as '''Sancta Sophia''' in [[Latin]] and '''Ayasofya''' in [[Turkish language|Turkish]]. (The Turkish and Greek pronounciations sound like ''a-YEE-ah so-FEE-ah''.)
== Construction ==
Nothing remains of the first church that was built on the same site during the [[4th century]]. Following the destruction of the first church, a second was built by [[Constantius II|Constantius]], the son of
[[Constantine I of the Roman Empire|Constantine the Great]], but was burned down during the [[Nika riots]] of [[532]]. The building was rebuilt under the personal supervision of emperor [[Justinian I]] and rededicated on December 27, [[537]].
For architects Justinian chose [[Isidore of Miletus]] and [[Anthemius of Tralles]], professors of [[geometry]] at the [[University of Constantinople]]; Anthemius, however, died within the first year. The construction is described in [[Procopius]]' ''On Buildings'' (De Aedificiis). The Byzantine poet [[Paulus the Silentiary]] composed an extant poetic ''ekphrasis'', probably for the rededication of [[563]], which followed the collapse of the main dome.
Hagia Sophia is one of the greatest surviving examples of [[Byzantine architecture]]. Of great artistic value was its decorated interior with [[mosaics]] and [[marble]] pillars and coverings. The temple itself was so richly and artistically decorated that Justinian is said to have proclaimed "[[Solomon]], I have surpassed thee!" (''Νενίκηκά σε Σολομών''). Justinian himself had overseen the completion of the greatest cathedral ever built up to that time, and it was to remain the largest cathedral for 1,000 years up until the completion of the cathedral in Seville. It is today the fourth largest cathedral in the world (by size, not height)
[[Image:Hagia-Sofia-Int-01s.jpg|right|thumb|225px|Interior of the Hagia Sofia, June 1994]]
Justinian's basilica was at once the culminating architectural achievement of late [[antiquity]] and the first masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. Its influence, both architecturally and liturgically, was widespread and enduring in the [[Eastern Orthodox]], [[Roman Catholic]], and [[Muslim]] worlds alike.
== Description ==
Hagia Sophia is covered by a central [[dome]] with a diameter of 31 meters (102 feet) and 56 metres high, slightly smaller than the [[Pantheon, Rome|Pantheon]]'s. The dome seems rendered weightless by the unbroken arcade of arched windows under it, which help flood the colorful interior with light. The dome is carried on [[pendentive]]s—four concave triangular sections of masonry which solve the problem of setting the circular base of a dome on a rectangular base. At Hagia Sophia the weight of the dome passes through the pendentives to four massive piers at the corners. Between them the dome seems to float upon four great arches.
At the western (entrance) and eastern (liturgical) ends, the arched openings are extended by half domes carried on smaller semidomed [[exedra]]s. Thus a hierarchy of dome-headed elements builds up to create a vast oblong interior crowned by the main dome, a sequence unexampled in antiquity.
The structure has been severely damaged several times by [[earthquakes]]. The dome collapsed after an earthquake in [[558]]; its replacement fell in [[563]]. There were additional partial collapses in [[989]] and [[1346]].
[[Image:Istanbul_-_Hagia_Sophia_-_01.JPG|thumb|225px|Second floor marbles]]
All interior surfaces are sheathed with polychrome marbles, green and white with purple [[Porphyry (geology)|porphyry]] and gold mosaics, encrusted upon the brick. On the exterior, simple stuccoed walls reveal the clarity of massed vaults and domes.
== Later history ==
[[Image:AyaSophia.JPG|thumb|right|225px|[[Justinian I]] (l) offering the Church of Holy Wisdom and [[Constantine I (emperor)|St. Constantine]] (r) offering the City of [[Constantinople]] to the [[Mary, the mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]] (m)]]
[[image:Ac.christmosaic.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Mosaic Icon of [[Christ Pantocrator]]]]
[[Image:Johnchrysostom.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Mosaic of Saint [[John Chrysostom]]]]
Hagia Sophia was the seat of the [[Patriarch of Constantinople|Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople]] and a principal setting for imperial ceremonies. During the Latin Occupation ([[1204]]-[[1261]]) the church became a Roman Catholic cathedral, and its many treasures and relics were dispersed. It was converted to a [[mosque]] after the [[Fall of Constantinople]] to the [[Ottoman Turks]] under Sultan [[Mehmed II]]in [[1453]]. Since more conservative factions of [[Islam]] consider the depiction of the human form to be blasphemous, its mosaics were covered with plaster. One must note, however, that due to the foresightedness and tolerance of the Ottoman Sultans, the plaster was periodically removed, the mosaics maintained, and replastered. For almost 500 years the principal mosque of Istanbul, Ayasofya served as model for many of the Ottoman mosques such as the [[Shehzade Mosque]], the [[Suleiman Mosque]], and the [[Rüstem Pasha Mosque]].
Restoration work in the 20th century begin in 1932 by the American Byzantine Institute, when most of the figures were uncovered. In [[1934]], under [[Turkey|Turkish]] president [[Kemal Atatürk]], Hagia Sofia was secularized and turned into the Ayasofya Museum. Nevertheless, there was still much work to be done. A [[1993]] [[UNESCO]] mission to Turkey noted falling plaster, dirty marble facings, broken windows, decorative paintings damaged by moisture, and ill-maintained lead roofing. Further efforts to restore the building began at that time and continue to present day.
Due to its long history as both a church and a mosque, a particular challenge arises in the restoration process. The Christian [[iconography|iconographic]] mosaics are being gradually uncovered, however to do so, important, historic Islamic art must be destroyed. Restorers have attempted to give the modern visitor the best of both.
==See also==
*[[Timeline of Islamic history]]
*[[Islamic architecture]]
*[[Islamic art]]
*[[List of Mosques]]
==External links==
*[http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/bible/procopius.stm Contemporary description] by [[Procopius]], ''Buildings'' (De Aedificiis), published in 561 AD.
*[http://www.pbase.com/dosseman/istanbul_aya_sofia Some 100 photos] taken by Dick Osseman
*[http://www.focusmm.com/civilization/hagia/welcome.htm Introduction, with floor plan and elevations.]
*[http://www.archaeology.org/online/news/sophia.html Very brief illustrated report on restorations]
*[http://wiki.orientalische-kunstgeschichte.de/index.php/Konstantinopel%2C_Hagia_Sophia Bibliographies] to Hagia Sophia
*Painting by Turkish painter [[Ismail Acar]]: [http://www.ismailacar.com.tr/HsphiaHtml/006.htm Before Hagia Sophia, The Era of East Roman Empire], [http://www.ismailacar.com.tr/HsphiaHtml/009.htm One of the most famous Christ mosaic of Hagia Sophia], [http://www.ismailacar.com.tr/HsphiaHtml/007.htm Hagia Sophia's horses, now in Venice Square]
==Reference==
*Mainstone, Rowland J. (1997). ''Hagia Sophia: Architecture, Structure, and Liturgy of Justinian's Great Church'' (reprint edition). W W Norton & Co Inc. ISBN 0500279454.
* [http://www.islamicarchitecture.org/architecture/hagia.sophia.mosque.html Hagia Sophia Church] Also known as, Mosque of Holy Wisdom.
* [http://www.turkishclass.com/turkey_pictures_gallery_10 Pictures of Hagia Sophia]
* [http://kunsthistorie.com/galleri/index.php?album=Tyrkia%2FHagia+Sophia+Istanbul&page=1&sortby=name&order=asc Pictures of Hagia Sophia2]
[[Category:Istanbul]]
[[Category:Byzantine Empire]]
[[Category:Cathedrals]]
[[Category:Historic civil engineering landmarks]]
[[Category:Justinian Dynasty]]
[[Category:Museums in Turkey]]
[[ar:آيا صوفيا]]
[[cs:Hagia Sofia]]
[[da:Hagia Sophia]]
[[de:Hagia Sophia]]
[[el:Αγία Σοφία (Κωνσταντινούπολη)]]
[[es:Iglesia de Santa Sofía]]
[[fr:Hagia Sophia]]
[[id:Hagia Sophia]]
[[it:Hagia Sophia]]
[[he:איה סופיה]]
[[hu:Hagia Sophia]]
[[nl:Hagia Sophia]]
[[ja:アヤソフィア]]
[[no:Hagia Sophia]]
[[pl:Hagia Sofia]]
[[pt:Basílica de Santa Sofia]]
[[ro:Hagia Sophia]]
[[sr:Аја Софија]]
[[fi:Hagia Sofia]]
[[sv:Hagia Sofia]]
[[tr:Ayasofya Müzesi]]
[[zh:圣索非亚大教堂]]
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