Crown Jewel of Constantinople

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Hagia Sophia

• Crown Jewel of Constantinople
• Church of Holy Wisdom

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Church of Hagia Sophia
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History of the Hagia Sophia

• After the Nika Rebellion Justinian undertook to
  rebuild Constantinople.
• Built in only 5 years (532-537)
• Its beauty became renowned - as the sun crossed
  the sky, spokes of light spun slowly across the
  Cathedrals walls, columns, arches, 7 glittering
  mosaics
• Everywhere there was polished marble in 6 colors
  - green, black, red, purple, blue, white
• After the sun set a huge candelabrum, hanging on
  long chains, blazed to life.

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Architecture

• Like all Byzantine churches - very plain on the
  outside.
• -Plain brick and mortar - symbol of earthly life
  and daily world.
• -Rich interior - symbol of ideal of spiritual
  universe.
• Dome - 180 feet above the floor, diameter 107
  feet at its circumference it has 40 stain
  glassed windows.
• Dual nature - East meets West.
• Size and strength - thick pillars and huge
  enclosed space
• reminders of Rome.
• - Design decoration - intricate and ornate
  Eastern Influences

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Interior of the Church of Hagia Sophia
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Architects and Influence

• 2 distinguished architects - Anthemius of Tralles
  Isidorus of Miletus solved a major design
  problem building the pendentive
• The style spread far and wide(Armenia, Southern
  Italy, Russia, Serbia and Sicily)
• When Constantinople fell to the Islamic Turks,
  Hagia Sophia became a mosque.
• Today it is a museum - and still one of the
  greatest buildings ever built.

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"Solomon I have surpassed thee"
Justinian offering Hagia Sophia Constantine
offering Solomons Temple to Virgin Mary