BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE

Lecture 9BCN 3012

E. Douglas Lucas, Ph.D.

• One of the first and also the most widespread influences of Byzantine architecture is demonstrated by the Hagia Sophia (Άγια Σοφία in Greek), the Church of Holy Wisdom, known variously as Sancta Sophia in Latin or Ayasofya in Turkish, is an ancient cathedral of the Church of Constantinople located in modern-day Istanbul, Turkey

• The Hagia Sophia was rebuilt in its present form between 532 and 537 under the personal supervision of emperor Justinian the Great.

• Justinian chose physicist Isidore of Miletus and mathematician Anthemius of Tralles as architects

• From the date of its dedication in 360 A.D. until 1453, it served as the cathedral of Constantinople, except between 1204 and 1261. During this period, it was converted to a Roman Catholic cathedral under the Latin Patriarch of Constantinople of the Western Crusader who established the Latin Empire. The building was a mosque from 29 May 1453 until 1934, when it was secularized and since it has served as a museum.

• Hagia Sophia was the seat of the Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople and a principal setting for Byzantine imperial ceremonies, such as coronations.

The largest columns are of granite, about 20 meters high and at least 1.5 meters in diameter; the largest weigh well over 70 tons each. Under Justinian's orders, eight Corinthian columns were disassembled from Baalbek, Lebanon and shipped to Constantinople for the construction of Hagia Sophia.

• Interior surfaces are sheathed with polychrome marbles, green and white with purple porphyry, and gold mosaics.

Hagia Sophia Dome Paintings

Imperial Gate

The Loge of the Emperess

Marble Doors

Imperial Gallery Mosaics

Imperial Gate Mosaics

Virgin Mary and Child flanked by Emperor Justinian I and Emperor Constantine

• The Hagia Sophia established an architectural building style that persisted throughout the European area in the construction of all great churches and worship places.

• Built in only five years, with thousands of workers and artisans, this building would be difficult to build today with this degree of decorative interior and highly detailed structural innovation.