Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

siniple

Hagia Sophia, the oldest cathedral from the Byzantine era in Turkey's Istanbul. When thinking of Istanbul, the first building that comes to mind is a mosque, reflecting the well-developed Islamic culture. In the old city, Hagia Sophia is seen alongside the Blue Mosque. My previous visit was without accurate background information, so I did not fully appreciate its greatness. But hearing the explanations made me view it in a new light. Built in the 5th century, Hagia Sophia was originally constructed as a cathedral for the Eastern Orthodox Church and is now used as an Islamic mosque. The more impressive aspect of Hagia Sophia was that it was designed to support a massive dome without pillars 1500 years ago and that it has been a space where Islamic and Christian cultures coexist through its long history. Interestingly, it was built in just five years. Inside, there are inscriptions of Islam along with frescoes of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. Personally, it was the most impressive temple after Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Interestingly, because it is used as a mosque now, the frescoes are covered with white cloths. On each pillar, there are seraphim with six wings drawn, but except for one face restored by an American excavation team, the rest are covered. It was even more fascinating because it could be covered again since it is used as a mosque.