Are there mosaics in the Hagia Sophia?

Mosaics in Hagia Sophia. This Byzantine building is famous for the mosaics that decorate several of its interior walls. Mosaics are many different, small tiles placed to form figures and artistic motifs. Some of the mosaics in Hagia Sophia are considered masterpieces, and they are a reference to Byzantine art.

What happened to the original mosaics in the Hagia Sophia?

The original mosaics were not destroyed by the Ottoman conquerors but merely covered up when the city was captured in 1453. When Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum, they were uncovered so that visitors would enjoy them.

Who made the mosaics in Hagia Sophia?

The mosaics inside Hagia Sophia were built by the Byzantine emperors between the 9th and 13th centuries. In this sense, most of the mosaics in Hagia Sophia represent late Byzantine art.

What were the surfaces of Hagia Sophia once covered with?

In Byzantine times the exterior of Hagia Sophia was covered in panels of white Proconnesian marble, a few still survive on the front wall facing the vanished atrium. The areas of exposed brick and fieldstone were stuccoed and painted blue, while the dome and great cross were gilded.

How old are the mosaics in the Hagia Sophia?

The fascinating Mosaics of Hagia Sophia tell us many mysterious things about the history of this 1.500 year old edifice. Though covered and uncovered more than once throughout the history, mosaics outstand on the walls of this masterpiece. On the contrary to the general view, there were almost no figurative images in Justinian Hagia Sophia.

When was the Hagia Sophia Church in Istanbul built?

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. The church was built in AD 537, during the reign of Justinian. The minarets were added in the 15th-16th centuries by the Ottoman Empire.

Where did the marble come from for the Hagia Sophia?

Columns and other marbles were brought from all over the empire, throughout the Mediterranean. The idea of these columns being spoils from cities such as Rome and Ephesus is a later invention. Even though they were made specifically for Hagia Sophia, the columns show variations in size. More than ten thousand people were employed.

When did Sultan Abdulmecid build the Hagia Sophia?

Sultan Abdulmecid’s Mosaic tughra was built between 1847 and 1849 during the restoration by the Fossati brothers. Known for its Imperial Gate, Beautiful Gate (Splendid Door) and Marble Gate, Hagia Sophia has 104 columns, some of which are brought from ancient cities.