Why Is Hagia Sophia Important? | History + Paintings + Dome

About 40% of Turkey’s people are Muslims, so there are many mosques in this country. Aya Sofia mosque or Hagia Sophia mosque is the symbol of the city of Istanbul; it is rare to find anyone who travels to Istanbul but does not visit this beautiful mosque. Hagia Sophia is one of Turkey’s largest and most beautiful historical mosques.

In this article from Travelling Topic Magazine, I will provide you with helpful information about Hagia Sophia so that you know why Hagia Sophia is important.

Before traveling to Istanbul, you can learn the history and address of this mosque, the entrance fee, the opening hours, and everything you need to visit.

Hagia Sophia opening hours

In the past, the working hours of the Hagia Sophia Mosque museum were every day in autumn and winter from 9 am to 5 pm and in spring and summer from 9 am to 7 pm. But now that it has been converted into a mosque, it is open 24 hours daily.

Is Hagia Sophia free?

The price of the Hagia Sophia museum ticket was 100 lira before it became a mosque. After it was converted back into a mosque, visiting became free, but today, tourists have to pay about 27 dollars to enter, but it is still free for those who pray.

Where is Hagia Sophia located?

Hagia Sophia Mosque is located in Turkey and the European part of Istanbul, in Hagia Sophia Square.

Sultan Ahmed Mosque is one of the most famous neighbors of Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi palace in Istanbul has a short distance from this Mosque.

You can use the following methods to access the Hagia Sophia Mosque:

• The closest tram station to Hagia Sophia is Sultan Ahmed station, which you can go to by using the T1 line (Bagcilar-Kabatas).
• From Taksim, take the cable train to Kabatas; then take the tram to Sultan Ahmed station.
• If you stay in Sultan Ahmed, you can easily reach Hagia Sophia by walking.

Distance from Taksim Square to Hagia Sophia Mosque

It is about 5 kilometers from Taksim Square to the Hagia Sophia Mosque, which takes about half an hour to reach by tram, taxi, or private car. Trams pick up passengers every five minutes at the stations of these two places, so if you miss a tram, don’t worry; another tram will pick up passengers very soon.

History of Hagia Sophia Mosque | Who made Hagia Sophia?

Current Hagia Sophia Mosque was a great church in the past, and it was built in the years 532 to 537 under the name of the great church of the city by order of Constantine I.

This building was completed by 10,000 workers over five years under the supervision of 100 architects. This church was the largest in the world for a thousand years before the cathedral was built in Seville.

After the capture of Istanbul by the Ottomans, the name of this church was changed to the Hagia Sophia Mosque by order of Sultan Muhammad II, which caused notable changes in the architecture of this mosque. Throughout history, this building has faced many attacks and destructions and has been rebuilt and restored several times.

After the announcement of the beginning of the Republic of Turkey during Atatürk’s rule, this mosque was turned into a museum. Still, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, known for having a nostalgic view of the Ottoman era, has turned this museum into a mosque again.

What does Hagia Sophia mean? 

The name of the Hagia Sophia Mosque, considered one of the most important historical places in Istanbul, is derived from the original Greek title, “Hagia Sophia,” which means the Church of Holy Wisdom.

Architecture of Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul

In the construction of this building, marble bricks were used, and four massive columns were made with Egyptian stones. The giant columns of the mosque are about 19 to 21 meters high, and their approximate weight is about 70 tons. The mosque’s dome has about 40 windows that reflect sunlight into the mosque.

Many parts of the Hagia Sophia, such as a dome, columns, altar, minaret, and Quranic decorations, have been added to the building after the church’s conversion into a mosque. For example, during the reign of Murad III, a minaret, pulpit, and altar were added to the facade and features of the Hagia Sophia.

During the reign of Murad IV, verses from the Holy Quran were written on the walls and roof of Hagia Sophia in the handwriting of Mustafa Chalabi and decorated plaques with the names of Allah, Muhammad, Abu Bakr, Osman, Omar, Ali, Hassan, and Hussein were installed all around the roof of Hagia Sophia mosque.

Different parts of Hagia Sophia Mosque  

When visiting the mosque’s interior, you can see some works related to the history of Christianity and Islam. In the following, I will examine its different parts.

Dome of Hagia Sophia Mosque

The height of the Hagia Sophia dome is 55 meters, and it occupies a circular space of 60 meters. In the construction of this dome, bricks, marble, and unique stones are used, which are both light and durable. This dome is thousands of years old and has been damaged by fire and earthquakes many times.

In all eras, from the Eastern Roman Empire to the Ottoman Empire, this mosque and dome have been given importance and renovated many times. In one of the renovations that took place after the destruction of this part by the earthquake, the architect increased the height of the Dome by about 7 meters, and placed 40 windows all around it.

Sultan’s room 

There is a small room on the left side of the mihrab, which was built in the Ottoman period for kings to hold Friday prayers. Marble and gilded wood are used in the construction of this room. The current location of this room is different from what existed in the past because Sultan’s room was moved to this point during various renovations.

A place to say the call to prayer of Hagia Sophia mosque

A place to say the call to prayer of Hagia Sophia was built after the conquest of Istanbul by the Ottomans, and since this building is vast, one place to say the call to prayer was not enough for it; later, four more places were built.

Pillar of desire

In the northwest of the building, there is a column that is humid all year round; it is said that this column has healing power.

Viking writing

In the Hagia Sophia Mosque’s southern part is a large marble stone with Viking writings from the 9th century AD. It is interesting to know that the Vikings were in the royal guard of Eastern Rome for about 200 years.

Beautiful door

This door can be considered the oldest work of Hagia Sophia because it dates back to the 2nd century AD, and Emperor Theophilos brought it with her to Istanbul during her trip to Tarsus.

Minarets of Hagia Sophia Mosque

This historical monument has four minarets with a height of 60 meters, which have different decorations and were built throughout history during the renovations done on the mosque. Their construction dates back to the 15th, 16th, and 19th centuries.

Paintings of Hagia Sophia Museum

Inside the Hagia Sophia Museum are many wall paintings with religious themes, which show the art of the Byzantine era and the ancient history of this building. Most of these religious paintings are about Jesus Christ, apostles, and Christian beliefs and have a unique beauty and charm.

Some of these paintings were lost when the church was converted into a mosque, but some remained and reappeared when the mosque was converted into a museum.

I will examine some of the mosque’s mosaic paintings:

Altar mosaic painting 

In this painting, you can see an image of Jesus’ childhood in the arms of the Holy Mary.

Deesis mosaic painting

One of the oldest and most important works of art left from the Byzantine era is the Desis painting, which depicts Jesus Christ between Zechariah and Mary. Much of this work has been lost due to exposure to light and It dates back to the 13th century and has much to do with Renaissance art.

Michael and Gabriel mosaic painting 

On the right and left sides of the altar, the image of the two angels, Michael and Gabriel, can be seen, which dates back to the 9th century AD, and only a part remains. In the image of the angel Gabriel facing Michael, he has a royal scepter in his right hand and an orb in his left hand.

Wonders of Hagia Sophia Mosque

This historical building was included in the list of seven new world wonders in 2007. Another exciting thing about this museum is that it is a healer. This is what they say; the well in the middle of the mosque’s hall can cure various diseases. For this purpose, the sick person must stand in line thrice on Saturdays, visit the well, and drink a glass of water. This custom was common before the mosque was converted into a museum.

Also, there is a column called the wish Column, made of marble inside the mosque, which is wet and humid throughout the year, even in the heat. At the bottom are a bronze plate and a hole the sick person should insert his finger into and then place on the diseased area to heal his illness and pain. According to the ancients, this column is moist and wet because of the tears shed by the Holy Mary.

What hotels are there to stay near Hagia Sophia Mosque and Museum?

• Sultan Hill Hotel: 2.1 km
• Saba Istanbul Hotel: 2.2 km
• DoubleTree by Hilton Istanbul Hotel: 3.2 km
• Saint Sophia Boutique Hotel Istanbul: 3.5 km
• Best Western Imperial Palace Hotel: 5.1 km
• Orient Express Hotel: 5.1 km

What restaurants are close to Hagia Sophia Mosque and Museum?

• Istanbul Turkish Restaurant: 0.7 km
• Shiva Cafe Restaurant: 0.7 km
• West Town Cafe Restaurant: 0.5 km
• Lake Terrace Restaurant: 3.4 km
• Yakamoz Terrace Cafe Restaurant: 3.2 km
• Akhyrkapi Fish Home Seafood Restaurant: 1 km

What other places can you visite near Aya Sofia?

• Topkapi Palace: 0.0 km
• Hurrem Sultan Hagia Sophia:0.2 km
• Basilica Cistern: 0.3 km
• Istanbul Archaeological Museum: 0.4 km
• Sultan Ahmed Mosque: 0.5 km
• Galata Tower: 2.9 km

At the end of the line

In this article, I have provided you with a lot of information about Hagia Sophia so that you have complete information when you visit it. In this article, I told you the answer to Why is Hagia Sophia important, but if you have any questions about this museum, send them to me in the comments section.