Hagia Sophia, which stands regally atop the first hill of Constantinople, was the religious center of the Byzantine Empire and has come to define the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Orthodox Christian architectural style. Built under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in 532-537, its innovative design has served as a model for future religious buildings, both Christian and Muslim.

In this ApproachGuide, we explore the iconic church of Hagia Sophia, focusing on:

• the history of the church;
• its structural and design innovations;
• the inspiration for its innovative centralized floorplan (versus the prevalent basilican layout);
• its world-class mosaics (for a full review of the stylistic history of mosaics, please see our ApproachGuide to Ancient Mediterranean Mosaics).

We also explore the church’s legacy, particularly as it manifests itself as a both a Christian challenge and inspiration for the greatest of Ottoman architects, Koca Mimar Sinan (1491-1588). As an added BONUS, we offer the reader an examination of Sinan’s style and his contribution to the Islamic architectural tradition.

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The Historic Area of Istanbul (which includes Hagia Sophia) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

All Approach Guides are offered as PDF files that can be downloaded and printed immediately after purchase.

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul