6th Century Innovation Continues to Inspire and Evolve

Hagia Sophia. Istanbul, Turkey. Hagia Sophia is a 1,400 year old masterpiece and a perfect example of Byzantine architecture. Designed by Greek architects and mathematicians Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles, under the direction of Eastern Roman/Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, Hagia Sophia is renowned for its: innovative architecture, rich history, and religious significance. At the time it was built it was the largest interior space in the world. The design was innovative in putting a dome atop a square base and one of the first to be fully supported by pendentives. Its origins were as a Christian Church, from 537, until the Ottomans conquered Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1453. Hagia Sophia then served as a mosque until the secular Turkish government converted it into a museum in 1935. As a museum Hagia Sophia was the most popular tourist attraction in Turkey. In 1985 it was added to the World Heritage list by UNESCO as part of the Historic Areas of Istanbul. Therefore, Turkey’s controversial 2020 decision to return Hagia Sophia to a mosque has raised concerns over its preservation. UNESCO Director General, Audrey Azoulay, is quoted saying, “Hagia Sophia is an architectural masterpiece and a unique testimony to interactions between Europe and Asia over the centuries. Its status as a museum reflects the universal nature of its heritage, and makes it a powerful symbol for dialogue.” Much of the concern stems from Islam prohibiting the depiction of representational imagery and the preservation of the original mosaics. The historic and religious importance of Hagia Sophia is undisputed and its preservation is critical.