IAR RR 4: The Hagia Sophia as a Monument to Justinian

     Little is known about the original Hagia Sophia, as it was damaged during the reign of Emperor Justinian.  What is known, however, is that it has always been one of the most impressive structures in Western architecture.  Emperor Justinian decided that its reconstruction would serve as a monument to his victory over the rebellion of 532 CE.  And, because this would be a lasting symbol of his triumph, he made sure it would be a structure unlike any other.  Even to this day, this holds true--the Hagia Sophia is one of the most unique and awe-inspiring buildings in the world.

     To make sure that the Hagia Sophia was an unrivaled marvel of architecture, he employed two philosophers--Anthemios and Isidoros, famous for their work in theoretical geometry--to concieve of plans for the new church.  The result was a centralized and axial building unlike anything that had been seen before.  It was topped with a golden dome, which also had to be rebuilt after an earthquake in 557 CE.  The interior was decorated with multiple mosaics made of marble from throughout the Byzantine Empire.  It also made use of recycled materials from non-Christian temples; this was a common building practice of the day, but it was also a symbolic domination of the old "pagan" religions.

     The Hagia Sophia is both a physical and symbolic representation of Justinian's triumphant rule.  As a building, it is unmatched anywhere in the world, ancient or modern.  It is also a strongly symbolic representation of Christianity over the old ways, and of the beginnings of the union of church and state (in this case, the Byzantine Empire). 

Things to Remember:
--  Dedicated by Constantine in 360 CE, but damaged during uprisings in 532 CE.
--  Designed not by master builders, but by two philosophers who were experts in theoretical physics and geometry.
--  Seen as a physical representation of the universe:  the cube (earth) topped by the dome (heaven).

Image Sources:
--http://www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/istanbul-hagia-sophia
--http://outlookturkey.com/archives/tag/hagia-sophia
--http://www.teslasociety.com/hagiasophia.htm