As one of the engineering wonders of the world, Hagia Sophia has been standing since the ancient times. Thus, the building itself is something worth to come a long distance. Its architecture is stunning not only in terms of volume but also from an engineering perpective. Regarding the continuity with the famous Pantheon in Rome, Hagia Sophia is seen as a true monument of the late Roman Empire later to be called "Byzantine" by the historians.

This is why, even a small detail deserves a detailed look. For example, the bronze exit gate on the ground floor is older than Hagia Sophia itself from the ancient city of Tarsus (in southern Turkiye where Saint Paul was reportedly born). Another example could a 12 centuries old graffiti right on the marble counter in the galleries that is a trace from the Viking mercenaries in Constantinopolis. 

Marble Columns, Mosaics and Caligraphy in Hagia Sophia 

Inside the Hagia Sophia, there are traces of ages layered from ancient to modern times. A great portion of the columns were collected from major cities of anqituity from Levantine or Agean parts of the region. Hence, the giant columns inside Hagia Sophia are so colorful in a big diversity. The artisanship on marble is simply astonishing and you can only observe them a long while. 

The mosaics, on the other hand, usually have been the highlights. There are visual representations in mosaic panels that are consisting of hundreds of thousands of pieces. They are religious or political depictions parallel with the characteristics of their times. Especially, the Deisis Mosaic is a masterpiece with the details of the faces and clothings. Another one to not miss is on the imperial gate where you will see the founder emperors from 4th and 6th century side by side. 

The caligraphic medallions are the artistic touch of the Muslim heritage in the Hagia Sophia. They had been artfully written and assembled inside the building. Today one cannot take them out since there is no such a big gate all around the structure. And sometimes, the deep history of Hagia Sophia intermingles compeltely, where Hellenic marble urns from 4th century BC was granted to Hagia Sophia by an Ottoman sultan, Murad III in late 16th century. The mihrab, sultans' lodge and library are also very tasteful edditions to the Hagia Sophia from Ottoman centuries. 

Is Hagia Sophia a Mosque or a Church?

Hagia Sophia has a quite long and complex history. If we need to see it as a basic timeline:

• Hagia Sophia had been first constructed as a church in the late-Roman times.
• Today's buildings construction started in the Spring of 532 and inauguration happened in Christas 537
• When the eastern and western churches were separated in 11th century, it became the center of the Orthodox Christians
• In 1204, the 4th Crusader campaign invaded Constantintopolis and turned Hagia Sophia into a Latin Carholic Church
• Byzantine Empire reclaimed the empire and Orthodox Restoration in 1261
• In 1453, the church was converted it into Mosque
• In 1930, the Turkish Republican regime turned Hagia Sophia into a secular museum
• In 2020, the Presidency of Turkiye reformed Hagia Sophia as a Mosque.
• In 2024, famous upper galleries are opening as a ticketed sight

Hagia Sophia's construction was a surprisingly rapid process between 532 and 537 AD. It was commissioned by one of the most influential emperors, Justinianus I, who envisioned as a cathedral that would symbolize the glory of the Eastern Capital of the Roman Empire. The reign of Justinianus was marking also where the pagan classic centuries had beeen over as the “Byzantine” times were starting. This ambitious project aimed not only to create a house of worship but also to assert the might and prestige of Constantinopolis as a Christian capital.

Upon its completion, Hagia Sophia had long been the biggest of temple in the world, and its enormous dome was considered an engineering marvel. Its height and diameter created an expansive interior space that seemed to stretch to an extent very hard even to imagine for its time. For nearly a thousand years, Hagia Sophia served as the principal the seat of the Patriarch of Orthodox Church in Constantinople.

The cathedral's historical significance was further amplified during the Fourth Crusade in 1204 when the city was occupied and plundered. Afterwards, Hagia Sophia served temporarily (almost 57 years) as a Roman Catholic cathedral as well. This period of Latin occupation left a lasting impact on the structure and its artworks. However, it was not until the fall of Constantinople in 1453 that Hagia Sophia underwent its most profound transformation. The Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, upon conquering the city, converted the cathedral into a mosque, marking a new chapter in its storied history.

As much as there was the transformation in the building for the Muslim era, Hagia Sophia also had set a model for the Ottoman royal to be built until modern times. The last major restoration happened in late 1840s during the reign of Abdulmecid I. The process was run by Fossati Brothers from Switzerland.