Hagia+Sophia

The Hagia Sophia is a Christian cathedral built between A.D. 532 and 537 in Constantinople. The building project was sponsored by emperor Justian I. Part of the church was destroyed in an earthquake, and it was repaired between 558 and 563. In 1453, when the Ottoman turks took over, the Hagia Sophia was turned into a mosque. Today, it is now used as an museum. A common misconception about the church's name is that it means 'Saint Sophia', but the phrase Hagia Sophia actually means "Holy Wisdom" in Greek. Major features of the church include a large dome, marble-lined walls, elegant mosaics of religious figures, like Jesus of Nazareth (Christ) and the Virgin mary. These pictures are called icons.



http://www.byzantines.net/byzcathculture/images/hagiasophia_fl.jpg

Created by Elizabeth Thompson 10/13/08 Edited by Rachel Mitchell 10/18/08 Edited by Max Crawford 10/22/08 Edited by Becca Ellison 10/22/08 Edited by Stacy Fairey 10.21.08 Click here to go back to Unit 3 terms