Hagia Sophia

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Hagia Sophia
The Church of Divine Wisdom
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Hagia Sophia (ah-YEE-ah So-FEE-ah)
Architect Isidoros and Anthemios
Location Istanbul, Turkey
Date 532 to 537 AD Building Type
Church Style Byzantine
Hagia Sophia
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History
Emperor Justinian ordered the construction of
Hagia Sophia after he won a bloody battle over
rioting masses. He wanted it to be unique and
show the power of the church and state. The
construction phase took 5 years, 10 months, and 4
days. The emperor set aside all other items in
his life to focus on his church.
Hagia Sophia
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In 553 AD part of the church had fallen to an
earthquake, it was rebuilt by the son of one of
the original architects. He also added
buttresses to support the dome.Another
earthquake damaged the church in 869 AD which
closed it until it could be repaired and reopened
in 994 AD
History
Hagia Sophia
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The Turks turned the church into a mosque in 1453
when they conquered Constantinople. Many of the
mosaics were painted over and other architectural
changes took place. Like the addition of the two
minarets in front of the church.In 1935 Hagia
Sophia was converted into a museum.
History
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Architects
Anthemios and Isidoros were the architects
ordered to build Hagia Sophia. Isidoros was an
architect, Engineer, and Scholar. Anthemios was
an experimental scientist and theoretician, who
master the technical aspects of architecture.
Their work on Hagia Sophia was considered to be
more of a math problem than architectural
masterpiece. Many concepts in their designs were
based off of the examples that the Romans
presented.
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Design
The original portion of the church is 250 x
230, which is almost a perfect square. Inside
that exterior rectangle is a 100 square. The
dome and the two half domes are the most
attractive features. Which are supported by
pendentives. massive piers support arches that
cross the square to form the high ceiling.
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At 107 in diameter and 180 high, the dome is
Hagia Sophias signature piece. A feeling of
suspended mass is achieved through the 40 round
windows that profile the base of the dome. Also
the massive structural supports are hidden , and
the dome seems to float.
Design
Hagia Sophia
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Light suspends the Dome
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Church of holy wisdom
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Hagia Sophia
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Clayton Taylor
Two Thousandfour
Fall
College of the SequoiasDivision of Industry and
Technology
Instructor Rolando L. Gonzalez, M. Arch.
Architect A.I.A.
Arch 70
Architecture History 1