Hagia Sophia (Ayasophia),The Mosque
The primary Byzantine edifice that remains in the city is the Hagia
Sophia or St. Sophia Church, now a museum. Dedicated in A.D. 536
during the reign of Justinian, the church was the architectural wonder
of its time, although it was the third such edifice on the site: the
first church built on the orders of Constantine's son, Constantinus,
burnt in A.D. 404, while the second sructure, built by Theodosius in
A.D. 415, was torched during the Nika riots of 532.
The present structure is essentially the creation of Anthenius of
Tralles and his assistant, Isidorus of Miletus, who labored for nearly
six years before the church could be consecrated on December 26, 537.
It was reconsecrated in A.D. 563 after repairs following an eartquake
which ruined the symmetry of the dome. It now measures 101 feet from
east to west and 104 feet from north to south, and stands 183 feet.
Special, thin marble panels absorbed and reflected the light of
thousands of candles and lamps, which illuminated the entire building
so well that it was used as a lighthouse by ships at sea. The myriad
of candles, possibly, accounted for the first great fire that
destroyed the original edifice as well as much of the city.
From http://www.maybea.com/
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