Native name: Ayasofya Muzesi
Hagia Sophia was constructed as a church between 532 and 537 at the order of the
Byzantine
Emperor Justinian I (527-565) . Its architects are Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles . It remained the largest cathedral in the world as well as the patriarchal church of the Patriarch of Constantinople for nearly a thousand years , until the completion of the Seville Cathedral in 1520 . The building was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453; the four minarets outside Hagia Sophia were actually added over the course of its history during the Ottoman era . Then , it remained to function as a mosque until after the declaration of the Turkish Republic when it was finally converted into a museum in 1935 . Hagia Sophia is actually placed among the foremost works in the world of Architecture and Art history .
Hagla Sophia was in fact the third church constructed at its place . There were two previous churches built on its site but could not reach today; only remains of the second structure were found in 1935 and are in display by the entrance of current building . Throughout its long history till today , there were several restoration works done to the building of Hagia Sophia , and specially related to its large dome .
An earthquakes in 553 and in 557 caused cracks in the main dome and the eastern half-dome of Hagia Sophia to appear . Then in 558 , a third earthquake caused the main dome to collapse altogether destroying the ambon , the altar and the ciborium over it . The emperor ordered restoration and appointed Isodorus the Younger , nephew of Isidore of Miletus to carry out the restoration works . During restoration which was completed in 562 , the dome was elevated by 6 . 25 meters from its previous height and allowed the building its current interior height of 55 . 6 meters . Another earthquake that happened in 869 caused one of the half domes to collapse . The 1344’s earthquake caused general damage to the building and Hagia Sophia was only repaired through special taxes and donations . Hagla Sophia structure was at the danger of collapsing all together during Ottoman period , however it was saved and reached today thanks only to the repairs and support footings made by the Great Architect of the Ottoman empire , Mimar Sinan .
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