The Hagia Sophia is one of the most interesting and mysterious buildings left from the ancient world. It’s enormous size and ability to withstand 1500 years of earthquakes is under investigation. The building reached completion in the year 537. The ceiling stands 180 feet high by 100 feet across. The core structure of the building is the enormous main dome supported by four arches. On each end, their are two semi-domes backed by four giant pillars. It’s main architectural features include the nave, exedra, narthex, apse, and parapets. A nave is an enormous main room; in the Hagia Sophia, this is the area beneath the largest dome, with smaller domes above. The exedra is a semicircular room with benches; its purpose could be worship or conversation. There are exedras built off of the east and west domes in this structure. The narthex is located at the entrance; this is reserved for an emperor, and has a long ramp that leads to the upper gallery. A Byzantine mosaic of Christ and an unknown emperor is above the narthex. The apse is a large recess at the east end; it is reserved for an altar. Above the apse is a magnificent mosaic of the Virgin Mary. Finally, the Hagia Sophia contains marble parapets that make up the ledges; they are up to 60 centimeters thick. The interior contains polychrome marbles, green, white, and purple porphyry, and nearly four acres worth of gold mosaics.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia#Apse_mosaics
https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Hagia_Sophia#Alzado
The layout of the Hagia Sophia.
The mihrab in the apse.
The tall ceiling of the nave.
indeabennett says
I love architecture (obviously), so i was really excited to see this post. It’s amazing how proficient the builders were that this structure could last so long and in relatively good shape. I was shocked that it has survived being in a somewhat frequent earth quake zone for 1500 years. I love that you included a structural plan of Hagia Sophia.
amandalennox says
When we had to watch the video for the Hagia Sophia I can definitely say I was interested the whole time. Its so crazy how long its beautiful structure has been standing for. All the earthquakes, the ancients were very smart to construct it in the way that they did. Although the dome has collapsed a couple times, the history is all still there. Its amazing.