What is the Hagia Sophia and why is it important?

 

What is the Hagia Sophia and why is it important?

    The Hagia Sophia anchors the Old City of Istanbul and has served for centuries as a landmark for both Orthodox Christians and Muslims,

The Hagia Sophia, whose name means “holy wisdom,”Hagia Sophia know as blue mosque in Turkish was first build I AD 360 as a traditional basilica twice it was Burned to the ground by rubuild.the building still standing today is its third incarnation . originally a cathedral it was built by Roman emperor in the sixth century and that 's how it remained for 900 years.

It was convertered in to a mosque under the attoman empire following the conquest of Istanbul in 1453.

During restoration works minerals and islamic features were added by the famous ottoman architect minar Sinan .

Hagia Sophia was turned into a museum in 1935 by the first President and founder of the republic of Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

It has been visted by million of people from around the world including political and religious leaders.

Hagia Sophia is also pastofa UNESCO World Heritage site and has been labelled by some historians the eights wonder of World.

What is the architectural style of the Hagia Sophia?   

  

Byzantine architecture  

Hagia Sophia/Architectural styles