Hagia Sophia
Taylor C.
History
Sacredness
The Hagia Sophia had shared religious worship over time. The Christians and Muslims went back and forth removing the other religions' belongings out of the ancient basilica until the finally came to an agreement and shared the basilica. When you go inside the Hagia Sophia, you would see the holy symbols of the Islams on the wall and the sacred mosaics of the Christians on the ceiling and archway of the central dome. Both of these symbols represent the two religions coming together and sharing a sacred place.
Location
The Hagia Sophia is located on the northern coastline of Turkey near the Black Sea. Built in Constantinople which is now modern-day Istanbul. Today the Hagia Sophia is the no. 1 tourist attraction in Turkey with over 3,574,043 people who have visited the museum!
Description
The Hagia Sophia was built by the Justinian Emperor in 512 a.d. The museum is built with four concrete minarets that surround the central dome of the Hagia Sophia. Located inside the museum are the famous mosaics built entirely of small stone tiles. There are also fascinating hand-carved stone pillars. The Hagia Sophia has many stunning remnants of both the Christian and Islamic faiths. There are the mosaics of Jesus, Mary and Joseph representing Christianity, and there are symbols hanging from the ceiling representing the Islamic religion.
The Hagia Sophia's authenticity seems like nobody has ever laid a finger on it but, the museum has been burned, torn down, rebuilt, burned again and has been through countless conversions of its faith. But today, the Hagia Sophia stands tall as a museum to represent both Christian and Islamic faiths. The old mosque was burned twice in the Nike Riots of 415AD. After many conversions and torture, the Hagia Sophia is now a museum today.
Works Cited
The Encyclopedia Britannica, Editors of, ed. “Hagia Sophia.” Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2016. <http://www.britannica.com/topic/Hagia-Sophia>.
- - -, ed. “Hagia Sophia.” Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2016. <http://www.britannica.com/topic/Hagia-Sophia>.
“Hagia Sophia.” fantasyarts.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016. <http://www.fantasyarts.net/tag/astonishing-tourist-destinations/>.
“Hagia Sophia.” reddit.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016. <https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/3r3dvu/hagia_sophia_istanbulconstantinople/>.
“Hagia Sophia.” Wikipedia.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Feb. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia>.
“Hagia Sophia South Entrance Mosaic.” Wikimedia Commons. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2016. <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hagia_Sophia_Southwestern_entrance_mosaics.jpg>.
“Hagia Sophie In Istanbul.” my-entdecker.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016. <http://www.my-entdecker.de/2015/11/26/hagia-sophia/>.
“History.” Hagia Sophia Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2016. <http://ayasofyamuzesi.gov.tr/en/history>.
“The History of Hagia Sophia - The Church of Holy Wisdom.” Hagia Sophia. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2016. <http://www.pallasweb.com/deesis/hagiasophia.html>.
“Icon Inside the Hagia Sophia.” dreamstime.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016. <http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-icon-inside-hagia-sophia-istanbul-turkey-image42974124>.
Meydani, Sultahnament, ed. “Hagia Sophia Dome.” hagiasophia.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Feb. 2016. <http://www.hagiasophia.com/listingview.php?listingID=21>.
- - -, ed. “Hagia Sophia Dome.” hagiasophia.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Feb. 2016. <http://www.hagiasophia.com/listingview.php?listingID=21>.
“Minbar At Hagia Sophia.” dreamstime.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Feb. 2016. <http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-minbar-hagia-sophia-image12933220>.
Popova, Tatiana. “Hagia Sophia: Facts, History & Architecture.” Live Science. Owen Jarus, n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2016. <http://www.livescience.com/27574-hagia-sophia.html>.
- - -. “Hagia Sophia: Facts, History & Architecture.” Live Science. Owen Jarus, n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2016. <http://www.livescience.com/27574-hagia-sophia.html>.
“Say NO to Converting Hagia Sophia.” HALC. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2016. <http://action.hellenicleaders.com/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=10215>.
“Trabzon Hagia Sophia Map.” byzbets.worldpress.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2016. <https://byzbets.wordpress.com/2013/04/12/raise-the-alarm-plans-for-hagia-sophia-trebizon/hagia-sophia-trabzon-map/>.
Walton, AJ. “Hagia Sophia, Istanbul.” ajwalton.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016. <http://ajwalton.com/hagia-sophia/>.
- - -. “Hagia Sophia, Istanbul.” ajwalton.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016. <http://ajwalton.com/hagia-sophia/>.