An Eastern Orthodox patriarchal cathedral for about 900 years, an imperial mosque for 482 years and after that a museum and a famed tourist spot beginning1935 This is the brief history of Hagia Sophia, the sixth century Byzantine structure that has made it through natural disasters, imperial intrusions, crusades and a World War. The architectural marvel in Istanbul, which is revered by both eastern Orthodox Christians and Muslims, is now being become a mosque by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Hagia Sophia (actually ‘Holy Knowledge’) was constructed by the Byzantine Emperor, Justinian I, in the very first half of the sixth century. This was the 3rd cathedral being developed at the website. The first one, with a wood roofing system, is believed to have been commissioned by Emperor Constantine I in AD 325 on the remains of a pagan temple. This was burned down by rioters in AD 404.
The 2nd church, purchased by Constans I, was likewise damaged in a fire throughout the Nika riots of ADVERTISEMENT 532 that saw extensive fire and destruction in Constantinople (today’s Istanbul). After establishing order in the city, Justinian found the fire an opportunity to restore the cathedral with his stamp on it. The imperial Byzantine power was at its pinnacle under Justinian. The Empire had conquered much of the traditionally Roman Mediterranean coast, including Italy, Rome and North Africa (The Byzantine influence would start diminishing after the outbreak of the Justinian Plague, one of the deadliest pandemics in recorded history).
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