The massive Mosque attracts over 13 million visitors annually and is known for its peculiar Catholic and Islamic history!
It has the most unique architecture, with Byzantine and Ottoman influences, and has been converted multiple times in history.
Visitors planning to explore the famous Mosque in Istanbul must know all its exciting facts for a more detailed visit.
In this article, we’ll discover ten fascinating facts about Hagia Sophia so you can show off your knowledge to your family and friends!
Hagia Mosque was destroyed twice in riots.
Hagia Sophia was first constructed in Constantinople in 360 AD under the reign of Emperor Constantinus II.
When the riots caused by St John Chrystoform occurred in 404 AD, the church was burned down completely.
It was later restored under Theodosius II’s rule and opened to the public again in 415 AD.
The Nika riots against Emperor Justinian II left the Church in bad condition again in 523 CE.
This destroyed Church was finally restored in 1453 AD when the Church fell into the hands of the Ottoman Dynasty and was converted to a Mosque!
Hagia Sophia is not its original name.
You might think the structure was called Hagia Sophia when it was originally built, but this is not its real name!
When it began as a Church, it was called the Great Church or Megale Ekklesia because of its massive size.
It was known to be the biggest Church in Turkey at the time, which led to its immense popularity.
However, when the Church underwent reconstruction in 430 CE, it was called Hagia Sophia.
This name continued to be used even after the Church became a Mosque and Museum, and it is still the name of the Mosque that stands today!
The first Dome was changed in 558 CE because of an earthquake.
The Hagia Sophia Dome is one of the most attractive architectural elements of the structure even today!
Anthemios and Isidore constructed the original dome, 160 feet tall with an expansive diameter of 131 feet.
The Mosque stands on a fault line, making it the prey of all earthquakes in Turkey.
Because of this regular destructive shaking, the dome toppled over in 558 CE!
The new dome you see today is 182 feet tall, which is much larger than the original dome.
However, this new dome is safe from collapsing since a pendentive system of smaller arches and domes strongly supports it!
The materials from one of the seven world’s wonders were used to construct the Mosque.
Since the Hagia Sophia Church was constructed in ancient Constantinople as one of the significant structures, it was made using impressive materials!
You will see the Hellenistic period columns from the ancient Roman Temple of Artemis and massive stones from the Egyptian quarries.
The Empress Lodge inside the Mosque also uses green marble from Thessaly, and even the Yellowstone from Syria and Black Stone from Bosphorus are used in the construction.
The glorious structure you explore today looks so beautiful, mainly because all these construction materials come from different parts of the world!
The Mosque has a column with Healing Powers!
The Hagia Mosque’s Wishing Column, also known as the Weeping Column, stands in the northern part of the Church.
This column is known for its brilliant healing and wish-fulfilling powers and is a favorite spot to see inside the Hagia Sophia Mosque!
It is known for its wet exterior, which pilgrims believed to be the tears of Mother Mary when the structure was created.
It is believed that Emperor Justinian I cured all his headaches by leaning against the column.
Pilgrims follow the modern ritual of rotating their thumb three times over a small hole in the Column.
If their finger comes back wet, it is said that your wish will be fulfilled!
The Ottomans did not cover up the Catholic Mosaics entirely.
Most Catholic motifs and religious items, such as crosses and altars, were removed from Hagia Sophia when it was converted under Ottoman rule.
The stunning Catholic mosaics were only covered with a plaster layer, as Sultan Mehmet II commanded.
Over time, Islamic texts and other designs were added to them, along with the Minbar and Mihrab.
Since these mosaics were not completely covered, you can still see most of them intact today, giving the space an exciting look!
The Dome is not Round.
Even though you see the dome as a perfect circle from below, the structure is not entirely round!
Its measurements show that it is 31 meters in diameter from the east to the west side and almost 33 meters in diameter from the north to south.
This indicates that the Dome has a slightly oval shape!
The inside of the Dome shows beautiful calligraphic writing taken from Surah an-Nur’s 35th verse.
The Structure is an Example of Religious Harmony in Istanbul.
If you visit Istanbul’s famous Mosque, you will find the most confusing blend of Christian and Islamic elements.
Even though the new Mosque has mostly Islamic architectural structures, like the Minbar, Mihrab, and Calligraphic writing, you can still see some of the beautiful Catholic mosaics!
Since these religious elements work together and exist in the same structure, it tells the world the value of religious tolerance and harmony in Istanbul.
The keeping of the Catholic mosaics also suggests a deep appreciation for Istanbul’s historical and cultural heritage!
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Hagia Sophia was in a state of decay when Sultan Mehmet took over in 1453.
The structure was ignored for years after the death of Emperor Justinian and only gained popularity later as the Ottomans began its repairing as a Mosque.
Sultan Mehmet II found the structure in 1453, 53 days after the siege of Constantinople.
The structure was completely dilapidated and destroyed after the 13th-century riots and sacking, which left most of the mosaics scraped away and all its religious treasures lost.
Sultan Mehemet II immediately commanded the repair of the structure, which led to the formation of the stunning Mosque you see today!
You can still see the Hagia Sophia Museum artifacts even today!
Most visitors think the Museum of Hagia Sophia is completely closed since it still functions as a praying Mosque in Turkey.
However, this is not true at all! You can still see the museum’s artifacts and other 3D and audio-visual displays of its history!
The Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum stands beside the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum on Sultanahmet.
You can also see displays on the architecture and some materials used to construct the Mosque!
FAQs on Hagia Sophia Facts
What are 5 facts about the Hagia Sophia?
Some facts about the Hagia Sophia are:
- Great Church was its first name.
- The Hagia Mosque does not have a perfectly circular Dome.
- You can still see Catholic mosaics from the Byzantine Period inside the Hagia Sophia.
- The Hagia Mosque has a healing column inside it.
- The structure symbolizes religious harmony in Istanbul since it has Christian and Islamic elements.
What three things have the Hagia Sophia been?
The Mosque was first a Church, which was then converted into a Mosque and a Museum. At present, the structure is a Mosque.
When was the new Dome reconstructed?
The new Dome, which you see today, was constructed after a major earthquake in 558 CE destroyed the original Dome.
When was the Hagia Sophia structure destroyed?
The original structure was destroyed in the riots of 404 AD and 523 CE.
Is the Dome of the Mosque round?
The Dome of the Mosque is slightly oval, as the diameter from east to west is 31 meters wide and that from north to south measures 33 meters wide.
What was the original name of the Hagia Sophia Mosque?
The Mosque’s original name was the Great Church or Megale Ekklesia because of its huge size compared to all other Turkish churches.
How long did it take to construct the Mosque?
It was built quickly for its massive size, completed in 5 years, ten months, and four days!
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Featured Photo by Miltiadis Fragkidis on Unsplash
