4th-Century Structure Revealed Underground Beneath Hagia Sophia

Pravoslavie ^ | 8/31/22

[marshmallow]

“Fifteen centuries after its foundation, the magnificent Byzantine Church of Hagia Sophia still hides secrets whose discovery causes surprise and admiration.”

Now, the oldest structure of the entire Hagia Sophia complex in Istanbul has been opened.

The existence of the structure, a three-room catacomb dating to the 4th century, has been known since 1946, but only recently was the work of removing the tons of mud and sediment that engulfed the site completed, reports CNN Greece.

[Charles Martel]

Looks like the Venice catacombs scene in the third Indiana Jones film.

[ic555]

ceiling looks like it’s ready to fall at any moment, lasts 1600 years

[No name given]

Didn’t the Turks convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque or something?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Looks like a sanitary sewer. Or maybe a rainwater drainage system to keep the foundation dry.

[Honest Nigerian]

I think Turkey has an incredible number of underground sites, and many are open to visitors.

[skeeter]

Yeah they covered all of the ancient catholic frescos with placards of Muslim scribbles. At least they left the place standing.

[keving]

This area was part of an old 007 Bond Movie 🍿

[Tennessee Nana]

PING

[Robert A Cook PE]

New (20-40 years) steel plate and access portal!

[JParris]

The original cistern for the church??

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

For all the good that did them they could have had Geraldo open it.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Tennessee Nana.

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[Reily]

If I remember this right Hagia Sophia was a mostly a wooden structure that was damaged\burned in the Nikka Riots (532 AD). Justinian I had it rebuilt into the magnificent structure it is today.

[ComputerGuy]

Looks like Geraldo’s team beat them to it.

[oldvirginian]

Righto!

Byzantine Emperor Constantius commissioned construction of the first Hagia Sophia in 360 A.D. Unfortunately it had a wooden roof and burned to the ground during a revolt in 404 AD.
It was rebuilt but again with a wooden roof.
It was badly damaged during the Nika Revolt and repair was impossible. Emperor Justinian I commissioned renowned architects Isidoros (Milet) and Anthemios (Tralles) to build a new basilica. When it was completed in 537 AD Emperor Justinian is reported to have said, “My Lord, thank you for giving me the chance to create such a worshipping place.”

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-greece/hagia-sophia