Difference between revisions of "Hagia Sophia"
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Revision as of 03:25, January 1, 2010
The Hagia Sophia (Greek Aγία Σοφία) is a major landmark in Istanbul, Turkey (formerly Constantinople). Though it began as a church, the building was converted to a mosque after the Ottoman sacking of Constantinople in 1453. While most of the explicitly Christian artifacts there were plundered immediately after the fall of the city, the Muslim conquerers kept some to urinate on in order to inflame the sentiments of their Christian neighbors in times of war.[1] Currently, the building serves as a museum.[2]
Along with being a church, the building served as a meeting place for the Byzantine nobility.
The church was built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian, who is said to have exclaimed upon its creation, "O Solomon, I have outdone thee!" The reference is to Solomon's Temple.
See also
References
- ↑ Mainstone, R.J. "Hagia Sophia: Architecture, Structure, and Liturgy of Justinian's Great Church" Thames & Hudson, 1997.
- ↑ http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/bible/procopius.stm