Turkey is traditionally one of the most visited countries by tourists. The Republic of Turkey - as this country is correctly called - is located mainly in southeastern Europe, and partly in the Middle East. The East, as you know, is “a delicate matter”, it has always attracted, or rather, beckoned travelers from different countries of the world.
General information
The largest city of the Turkish Republic is Istanbul, an ancient city, the former capital of the Byzantine, Roman, Ottoman and Latin empires.
Istanbul City: Ayasofya is a place worth visiting
Tourists who come here often wonder what sights to see. Hagia Sophia (Hagia Sophia) is an ancient temple, the most interesting to visit. This monument of ancient architecture is located in the historical center of the city, in an area called Sultanahmet. Previously, it was the center of Constantinople, not far from the imperial palace.
The Hagia Sophia Mosque is one of the main attractions of the city of Istanbul (Turkey). As you know, earlier the Byzantine Empire, famous for its high level of culture, was located on the territory of the country. Hagia Sophia is translated from Greek as "holy wisdom". Before it was an Orthodox patriarchal cathedral, then the building performedfunctions of a mosque (a Muslim religious building), and now it is a museum, the status of which the temple received in the first half of the 20th century, more precisely, in 1935.
The building of Hagia Sophia was considered the largest Christian temple for more than a thousand years, until the construction of St. Peter's Cathedral (Rome, Italy). The height of the cathedral is 55.6 meters, and the diameter of the dome reaches 31 meters.
History of the construction of the cathedral
The Hagia Sophia was built in 324-337 on the main market square of Augusteon under Emperor Constantine the First (according to some other sources, under Emperor Constantius the Second). At first, the temple was Arian (“Arianism” is one of the currents in Christianity, which affirms the created nature of God the Son), then it was transferred to Christianity by Emperor Theodosius the First. But the building did not last long. During the popular uprising in 404, the cathedral was destroyed by fire. A new temple built in its place also burned down (415).
By order of Theodosius, a new basilica was erected in the same place. A basilica is a type of rectangular building with an odd number of naves (different in height). But this cathedral was also destroyed by fire. This happened in 532, but the ruins of this building were found only during excavations in the 20th century on the territory of the cathedral.
After this, the third fire, at the behest of Emperor Justinian, the cathedral was erected, which is now called Hagia Sophia.
The best architects with extensive experience in temple-type buildings were invited for the construction. They were AnfimyTrallsky and Isidor Mielesky. According to legend, the idea of the architects was embodied daily by more than ten thousand workers!
The best materials, marble and columns from ancient buildings (columns from the Temple of the Sun, green marble columns from Ephesus) were brought to the capital city of Constantinople. Indeed, the building became the richest and largest temple of that time. This building later became the current Hagia Sophia.
History of the cathedral during the Byzantine Empire
During the historical period of the Byzantine kingdom, Hagia Sophia suffered several times from earthquakes, therefore, it was completed and rebuilt. In particular, she received a higher dome. To strengthen the stability of the walls, buttresses (columns protruding from them to strengthen the supporting structures) were completed, and this, of course, changed the appearance of the cathedral.
According to legend, the historical division of Christian churches into Catholic and Orthodox is connected with Hagia Sophia, since it was in this building that in July 1054 Cardinal Humbert presented Michael Curullarius with a letter of exclusion.
Until 1204, one of the shrines of the temple was the famous Shroud of Turin, in which, according to legend, the body of Jesus Christ was wrapped after torment and death.
History after the Ottoman conquest
After the historical conquest by the Ottomans in 1453, Hagia Sophia had to change religion. It was converted to Islam by building four minarets in the corners and turning it into a mosque. As you know, in the Muslim religion it is important when prayingcontact the ancient temple, Mecca. The Ottomans had to change everything inside the cathedral, the frescoes were smeared with plaster (thanks to which they survived through many centuries), and the worshipers were located at an angle relative to the rectangular building.
Further, until the middle of the nineteenth century, the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul did not undergo any restructuring work. In the 19th century, it was decided to restore the building due to the threat of collapse. Shortly after the restoration, in 1935, the mosque was turned into a museum, leaving only a small room for Muslim worship.
Architectural features of the mosque
Architecturally, the cathedral is a rectangle that forms four naves (the central one is larger and the side ones are smaller). It is a basilica topped with a dome with a cross, which is a quadrangle. The building was a masterpiece of the dome system of its time, and the strength of the walls is said to be maintained by an extract of ash leaves added to the mortar. A complex system of triple arches and columns supports the dome from all sides and thus strengthens it.
Sights of the mosque
So, the Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul is one of the main attractions. Consider the main relics of this most interesting museum.
• The copper-plated "weeping pillar" is believed to grant the wishes of those who put their hand in the hole and feel the moisture.
• The Cold Window is another miracle of nature, with a cold breeze blowing out of it even on the hottest and stuffiest day.
• Ancient frescoes depicting Jesus Christ and the Mother of God,preserved under thick layers of plaster, are a majestic sight.
• Graffiti can be seen on the railings in the upper gallery of the temple. Many of them were made many hundreds of years ago and are protected by the state (for this they are covered with transparent plastic). These inscriptions - Scandinavian runes - were supposedly scrawled on the parapet of the cathedral by warriors in the Middle Ages.
• The mosaics of the cathedral are an interesting example of the monumental art of Byzantium.
• The portrait of Emperor Alexander was made during his lifetime, the attraction was opened in 1958 during the restoration of the mosaic cover.
The cathedral also has Muslim shrines, which annually attract thousands of pilgrims. Among them are:
• Minbar (the place where the Imam preaches from).
• The Sultan's Lodge (built during restoration by the Fossati brothers).
• Mihrab.
As if coming out of an Eastern fairy tale, the Turkish Holy Wisdom combines seemingly opposite concepts: Orthodoxy and Eastern Islam, two religions that are so different, but in some ways very similar to each other. From the outside, the temple seems to be a simple heap of architectural forms of different eras and purposes, but inside you will be amazed by the majesty of the dome and its height, as well as much more.
This is the only building that has survived from the sixth century AD to the present almost unchanged, now it has deservedly become a museum, tired of paying religious debt to differentdenominations.
Conclusion
If you are lucky enough to visit Istanbul for at least a couple of days, be sure to visit the Hagia Sophia. Turkey will sparkle with new colors for you thanks to this temple.
