Hagia Sophia, which is also known as the Church of the Holy Wisdom, was built in the sixth century ce (532-537) under the direction of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. This architectural work is located in Constantinople, or what is now known as Istanbul, Turkey. Hagia Sophia is considered an unparalleled historical and architectural medieval monument because of its structural engineering, illogical designs, and material foundation. Hagia Sophia was the third Church to be built in Constantinople. After the destruction of the Second church, Emperor Justinian I decided to build an entirely different basilica, larger and more majestic than its predecessors. In order to due this Justinian I did not use regular master builders. Justinian I turned to Anthemius of Tralles, a mathematician, and Isidore of Mellitus, a physicist. These two men built the Hagia Sophia in less than six years, which is a very short time for such an enormous building. This short construction period may have been a reason for the collapse of the central dome in 557, when an earthquake hit Constantinople. Isidore the younger, the nephew to the first Isidore was entrusted with restoring Hagia Sophia. Since then, Hagia Sophia has …show more content…
survived further earthquakes, and with some repairs, is standing in present day nearly 1,400 years later. Only two earthquakes have done serious injury to Hagia Sophia calling for restoration, but this only illustrates how strong Hagia Sophia is and the architectural genius behind it. The two basic parts of the structure of Hagia Sophia may be described as inner and outer shells (Fig.
1). The inner shell consists of a main central dome and pendentives, two flanking semi-domes and their satellite semi-domes, also known as exedrae, together with eight vertical supports or piers, outline the oval vessel of the nave. The surrounding outer shell is about less than half the height of the top of the dome and contains aisles and galleries as well as a buttressing system, which transfers thrust from the superstructure to the ground, leaving the magnificent central area open unhindered. These two rudimentary parts are separated by columns and are differentiated by the presence or absence of interior supports and an extremely substantial change in
scale. With all these advanced and striking designs, there are bound to be many problems that arise, but Anthemios fixed many of these problems. Earlier brick and concrete vaults had been unnecessarily massive, but in the skilled hands of Anthemios and his predecessors, the volumes were substantially lessened. At Hagia Sophia, the structure of the great dome, about one hundred and seven feet in diameter, is only two feet thick. With the exemption of the main piers of stone, the whole of the building is made of brick and mortar in a volumetric relationship of about 1 to 1.6. Four buttresses are placed transversely against the dome, so Anthemios’ design was not altogether logical, owing to the radial nature of the thrusts. These were leaned against the outside walls in order to stabilize the building. The four flying buttresses were not the only answers to solving Hagia Sophia’s design problems. Other parts of Hagia Sophia’s design are also good examples of three-dimensional forms and of the inherent affinities between architectural shapes, some of which are clearly apparent in the pendentives and the capitals of the nave columns. Hagia Sophia exhibits what is probably the earliest example of pendentives on such a large scale. These spherical triangles ascend within a square formed by four equal arches that convey the impression that the dome is being held up by a fixed geometrical figure. Because the scale is also large, this leaves open areas in the naves to let light in using brick and mortar. The light is an architectural element that gives the dome an almost weightlessness (Fig. 2). This method is repeated in a subordinate manner in the semi-domes and the vaults over the exedrae, and in the thin curtain walls below the great arches on either side of the nave. It is very possible that the peculiar orientation of Hagia Sophia also results from a plan to use the sun in its design. Now, although these four visible arches seem to appear the same, they are essentially two different types of arches. The eastern and western arches are thin at their crowns, open up beneath, and braced by semi-domes of equal diameter. The arches of similar span, which are visible along the sides of the nave, are not principal supports of the dome but are instead utilized to the faces of the working arches; the others are flush with tympana and therefore not able to be seen from the nave. The northern and southern arches are shorter in length, denser through the crown, broader on soffit, and unsupported except by buttresses built at right angles against their springing’s (Fig. 3). This dual system of support that are equal in all directions, are countered on two of its sides by semi-domes and on the other two by buttresses, which do not go in line with the forces they are designed to counteract. This untested and illogical design that has made Hagia Sophia unrivaled for several centuries, makes it one of the most interesting architectural to study from. Since Hagia Sophia is similar to a gothic cathedral structure, decorations are integral and it is hard to see the working masonry. All structural elements as well as non-bearing walls are masked throughout the interior by marble veneer, and their features are concealed on the exterior by stucco; vaulting and archers are decorated inside by continuous mosaics and are also covered on the exterior by lead sheets of the roofing. The only areas in the whole structure where the material can be inspected are the stairwells enclosed with the four buttresses. The first thing that one would notice regarding the materials of the buttresses is that they are not composed of one material but contain brickwork of three different kinds. The first (Fig. 4 right) consists of square bricks, the second (Fig. 5), also Byzantine and possibly tenth century, is distinguished by variety in sizes of bricks, and the third is Turkish; it consists for the most part of two courses of bricks alternating with one of faced rubble (Fig. 4 left). Seeing the variety in material shows how much Hagia Sophia has changed since it was first constructed. If one looked closely at Hagia Sophia, it is far from perfect. There are many flaws and illogical architectural designs that have been found. These deformations in term probably have to do with the hasty construction and later repairs. The somewhat incomplete resolution of thrusts from the superstructure and the damage done through the centuries by earthquakes and weather should also be taken into account, not to mention irregularities resulting from certain methods of building used in that time period. But despite all of these Hagia Sophia has remained intact for 1400 years surviving many earthquakes. Hagia Sophia is a architectural phenomenon and its flaws only bring more beauty to it. Once the building was completed, Justinian cried out, “O, Solomon! I have outdone thee!” One can understand his feelings
With the Pantheon being built over 1700 years ago, it’s amazing that architects are still using features and techniques from this work of architecture in modern creations. The use of this type of classical architecture will continue to be used in works for public space due to its remarkable exterior appearance and it’s long lasting structural durability. When both Jesse hall and the Pantheon are compared it is possible to see their similarities from the types of domes that top each, their external facades, and their interior plan. While they share many similarities, the differences that Bell and Binder used in their creation make this work of architecture unique to many other public spaces.
The Palace of Versailles is located about 10 miles outside of Paris. It is in the town of Versailles which at the time when the palace was constructed; the town was very small and later grew to a larger size of about 60,000 people. Originally the palace grounds were purchased by Louis XIII for hunting, at the time when the land was bought it was un-developed. The land was perfect a habitat for animals. Later when Louis XIV assumed the throne he began changing the land. In the time of Louis XIV's rule he changed the grounds drastically. While he was in control he made many enhancements to the grounds; he added a palace the consisted of a north and south wing, gardens and pressurized fountains. Another one of his enhancements included a mile long canal that was used for naval demonstrations. After the French government moved into the Palace of Versailles the king believed his work load became too much. To eliminate stress the King built himself a retreat about a mile away from the main palace called Grand Trianon. Once his
2, Istanbul Turkey, Hagia Sophia. Getty Images. 2015. the architecture of the time, that being said he is able to explain the H. Sophia with fresh eyes and a colorful
The Hagia Sophia is a stunning, spherical-shaped building made of marble and gold (Doc. 4). Justinian built the Hagia Sophia, which means “Holy Wisdom” in Greek, after a church of the same name was destroyed in riots in Constantinople (outside information). Procopius, Justinian’s court historian, described the church as “suspended from heaven by the fabled golden chain” (Doc. 4). Undoubtedly, visitors to the Hagia Sophia are left breathless by its beauty (outside information). Other churches that Justinian built include the Church of St. Salvator in Chora and the Church of the Apostles (Doc. 5). Justinian’s churches were beautiful; however, they were created to be more than just a display. The churches caused people to feel a connection with God, which helped unify the empire under a single faith. The bonding of the Romans under one faith helped strengthen the entire empire. Moreover, the abundance of churches in Constantinople helped make the city the center of religious power (Doc. 5). Evidence of Justinian’s legacy can be found when one realizes that the Byzantine Empire’s revived culture influenced Orthodox Christianity, a major branch of modern
The first church in the series is the Magna Ecclesia which was first built by Constantius II and later inaugurated into the church by Arian bishop Eudoxius of Antinoch. The Hagia Sophia was next to the Imperial Palace. After the death of the ruler, the Patriarch in Constantinople had an argument with the empress, Aelia Eudoxia, who was exiled because of it. During the riots the first church was burned to the ground. The second church was ordered to be built by Theodosius II. The Hagia Sophia was then accepted by the church in October of 415. The Basilica, which had a wooden roof, was created by the architect Rufinus. Several slabs of marble from the original church have survived to present day. These historic slabs of marble reside in a pit next to the museum’s entrance after being discovered in 1935 beneath the courtyard. Later excavation of the Hagia Sophia was banned for reasons of unstable foundations. This second church burned down during the Niak Revolt in January 532. Just a few weeks after the second church was destroyed Justinian I ordered the construction of the third church that would be larger and covered with art. The architects were Isdore of Miletus, a physicist, and Anthemius of Tralles, a mathematician. Anthemius died during the first year of construction. Justinian I ordered art from across the empire including such magnificent additions as columns from the temple of Artemis
When Emperor Constantine found the city of Constantinople, it was soon to become the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. But the Christin city needed a great church to represent it’s great value, so the Hagia Sophia was built (Krystek, Lee). The Hagia Sophia was built by the Byzantine Empire in 537 C.E., which was an Empire influenced greatly by the greek and roman styles (Krystek, Lee). It has a square base with a large dome on the top. Round arcs surrounded the large dome, adding mystical beauty to the Hagia Sophia (Krystek, Lee). Also, multiple colors of bricks were used to create patterns on the outside of the Hagia Sophia. On the inside, the walls are made of marble with glass panes which bring beautiful sunlight into the large museum (Krystek, Lee). The Hagia Sophia is very significant because it was rebuilt many times. The first church was built and then burnt down in 404 C.E. (Krystek, Lee). It was then rebuilt and burned down by riots in 502 C.E. (Krystek, Lee). Then the 3rd church was built by Justinian. After long periods of time, Sultan Mehmed conquered Constantinople and changed it to an islamic city, converting the church to a mosque (Krystek, Lee). In 1934, President Ataturk changed the mosque to a museum for the people and tourists, instead of a sacred place of worship (Krystek, Lee).
Pantheon and Hagia Sophia Pantheon and Hagia Sophia are two extremely outstanding architectural pieces of their times. They have been built according to the traditions of those particular times. The materials used to built these buildings and the purpose for which they were used are all very important aspects and have been briefly covered in this report. Pantheon The statesman Agrippa built pantheon in 27 B.C. Then it was completely rebuilt by the emperor Hadrian. The Pantheon is remarkable for its size, its construction, and its design. The dome was the largest built until modern times. The present structure was probably originally built as a temple for all the pagan gods. We do hear of it as being a law-court and a reception area for Emperor Hadrian meeting his quests too. Some say that the rotunda of the building was once a Roman bath. Due to all this mystery, the Pantheon is often referred to as the Sphinx of Rome. The visitor will probably not appreciate the construction as much as the Flavian amphitheatre, but it is still a great masterpiece of engineering and well worth a visit. Most Roman and Greek temples at the time of the Pantheon's construction were large, colonnaded, rectangular enclosures with sanctuaries situated in their centers. The Pantheon was different. It consisted of a large circular drum topped with a hemispherical dome. It is a masterpiece of both engineering and art a lasting memory of Ancient Rome’s might. Roman architecture is architecture of wall and enclosed tactile space. Individual column with entablature is no longer the basic architectural unity. Spatially, it shows a development from closed, simple space units and regular articulation to more complex spatial relations, more fluid interpenetrati...
Justinian brought with his reign the construction of countless architectural successes that bolstered his empire into a Golden Age. The most well-known and prominent of his works is the Hagia Sophia, an awe-inspiring structure that upon completion 537 C.E. remained the world’s largest cathedral for hundreds of years to come. It captivated the people with its beautiful gold covered ceilings and felt as if though it were suspended from heaven, this perfection was seen as only possible through the influence of God. Not only was it a place of worship but an attraction that brought many travelers that came to marvel the sight, thus promoting trade and cultural diffusion. The creation of the Wall of Theodosius, Wall of Constantine, aqueducts, roads and the Hippodrome were all beneficial to the Byzantine Empire in terms of economic, cultural, and resistance related undertakings. Constantinople was the Rome of the Byzant...
One of the outstanding structures that would help Justinian Empire to be remembered was the dome of the church. Although it was destroyed by an earthquake, it was one of the architectural magnificent wonders that attracted a number of architects who adored it (Mainstone 165). Other than the dome, Lustration urns were also magnificent and they created the hyped interest on the church; the urns were curved out of marble blocks. The imperial gate to the structure was another outstanding structural phenomenon that had contributed to the respect accorded to the architects of the church and the emperor. The imperial gate is reported have been reserved for the emperors only. The upper gallery also had great mosaics that were used to preserve it. In addition to all the above stated artistic structures, Justinian emperor introduced figurative decorations on the walls. The decorations were different from those used by the other emperors. Some of the decorations included the image of Jesus at the centre of the dome. The church also had some of the greatest mosaics that included formed figures of Virgin Mary, saints and geometric images.
Throughout history many individuals have made achievements that have changed the course of history. Emperor Justinian's, Hagia Sophia, is an example of an achievement that has had negative and positive effects on society. In ~650 A.D. Emperor Justinian ordered the making of the Eastern Orthodox Church named Hagia Sophia. Hagia Sophia’s architectural design was based primarily on the Islamic Mosque structure. This created problems in the upcoming future.
Construction spanning one hundred and eight years, the final result is magnificent. Having had many different architects working on the project, changing after either the leading Pope would die or the architect, it is a wonder the plans for the basilica came together and that the building has lasted so long. The original basilica, built by Emperor Constantine in the fourth century is the foundation to this building. To those of the christian faith, this building is the epitome of belief. St Peter’s Basilica is from where the catholic faith
Monuments such as the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and San Vitale in Ravenna, perform a great importance in Byzantine and Islamic architecture. Both of these structures did not exclusively represent the main place of worship, but most importantly as a symbol of achievement and growth within the current times of construction. Starting in 524, under the influence of Orthodox bishop Ecclesius, the development of San Vitale was to represent the achievements of the emperor Justinian. Julius Argentarius was the sponsor for this structure and it was dedicated by Bishop Maximian in 547. The Dome of the Rock is built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in 692 with the help of Abd al-Malik with the suspected intention to symbolize Islams influence in Jerusalem and its involvement in a highly Jewish and Christian supremacy. Although separated by over 100 yrs, both of these domes share multiple similarity's including a projected confidence of their originating culture.
It was built on the same site as the two before it, the first commissioned by Marcus Agrippa, and the second by Domitian. The first was destroyed by fire in 80 CE and the second burned down after being struck by lightning in 110 CE. The Pantheon standing today was started by Trajan in 114 CE and completed by Hadrian in 125 CE. The text of the original inscription was added to the new façade. The inscription reads “M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT”, meaning "Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, made [this building] when consul for the third time.” In 609 CE the Byzantine Emperor Phocas gave the building to Pope Boniface IV. It was then consecrated as a Christian church called Santa Maria ad Martyres, which has been in constant use ever since. Dedicated to every god, it is one of the best preserved Roman temples. The Pantheon has also served as a tomb since the Renaissance. Among those buried are the architect Baldassare Peruzzi, the painters Raphael and Annibale Caracci, and two kings of Italy: Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I, as well as Vittorio Emanuele's Queen, Margherita. The building stands on a base, originally extended a further twenty-two feet in front of the colonnade. “The front of the temple is a deep portico with eight unfluted Corinthian columns across the front and four interior columns, thus dividing the porch into a barrel-vaulted nave, which leads
Built in or around 6th Century AD the Hagia Sophia which; means “Holy Wisdom”, was originally a cathedral in Constantinople (which is now Istanbul Turkey) during the Byzantine Empire. In the beginning it had served as a cathedral for the Constantine. The original was built of wood. During the riots of 404 AD the Hagia Sophia was mostly destroyed by fire and was rebuilt in 405 AD. The second church was destroyed during a revolt in 532 AD. The construction of the Hagia Sophia was a challenge during this time. The dome roof required a lot of support. In the end it was resting on pendentives: spherical triangles that arise from the huge piers that carry the weight of the cupola. The Byzantine had decorated the inside of
The Hagia Sophia was the biggest church in Europe at that time. The church was a symbol that the Bryzantine Empire was the strongest, Wealthiest, and most beautiful city in Europe. The church was so big that when traders were sailing they could see the church from the water. Justinian donated a lot of money towards education of art in hope that art prospers. Most of the art they had during that time was mosaics; much of bryzantine art was used to make religious statues and figures.