Hagia Sophia

The history of Hagia Sophia begins even before the completed version we see today. Constantine the Great, the first emperor of Byzantium, commissioned the construction of the First Hagia Sophia. His son, Constantius II, inaugurated the First Hagia Sophia on February 15, 360. However, the church was destroyed by fire on June 20, 404. After the destruction of the First Hagia Sophia, Emperor Theodosius II ordered the construction of the Second Hagia Sophia on the site of the present-day Hagia Sophia. The church was inaugurated on October 10, 415. However, like the first church, the Second Hagia Sophia was also destroyed on February 23, 532. Thus, we have some information about the earliest history of Hagia Sophia.

After the destruction of the Second Hagia Sophia on February 23, 532, Justinian I ordered the construction of the present-day Hagia Sophia. He aimed to build a church far more magnificent than those built by his predecessors. Instead of producing new materials for use during construction, materials from existing structures in the empire's territories were sculpted and sourced. Thus, the construction of Hagia Sophia was completed quickly. Materials from numerous structures, such as the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of Artemis, were used in its construction. The colored stones used in the cladding and columns include green porphyry from Greece, yellow stone from Syria, red porphyry from Egypt, black stone from Istanbul, and white marble from Marmara Island. The church, which employed ten thousand people during its construction, was considered a masterpiece upon completion.

Construction of the church began on December 23, 532, and was completed on December 27, 537, making it the fastest-built cathedral in the world. The first mosaics were created between 565 and 578. Shortly after its completion, Hagia Sophia suffered damage in the Gölcük earthquake of 553 and the Istanbul earthquake of 557. These earthquakes caused cracks in the main dome and the eastern half-dome. In the earthquake of May 7, 558, the main dome completely collapsed. The Emperor ordered the immediate repair and renovation of the church. This time, considering the potential effects of an earthquake, lighter materials were used in the construction of the dome, and it was built 6.25 meters higher than its original height. The renovation work was completed in 562. Hagia Sophia continued to suffer damage in the following years. Hagia Sophia sustained minor damage in the fire of 859. One of its semi-domes collapsed in the earthquake of 869, and the main dome was damaged in the earthquake of 989. After the 989 earthquake, Emperor Basil II commissioned the Armenian architect Trdat to repair the dome. After six years of work, Hagia Sophia was reopened to the public in 994. The history of Hagia Sophia is full of earthquakes and fires.

• Hagia Sophia
• Grand Bazaar Istanbul
• Galata Tower