[iowamark]

[Rodebrecht]

I went to basic training with a Turk. I called Istanbul Constantinople. He became visibly upset. But, it became a friendly feud between the two of us.

[Steelfish]

The Turkish conquest in 1453 of Byzantine Istanbul was a tragic and unfortunate turning point in world history. It’s evil consequences resonate through Europe and the world to this day.

[iowamark]

The Hagia Sophia(Church of the Holy Wisdom of God) was the largest Christian church in the world for a thousand years.

[Alex Murphy]

Experts have uncovered one of the six angel mosaics within the world-famous Hagia Sophia Museum in Istanbul after it had been hidden for 160 years behind plaster and a metal mask.

The mosaic, which measures 1.5 meters by 1 meter, was last seen by Swiss architect Gaspare Fossati, who headed restoration efforts at the museum between 1847 and 1849, and Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid. Experts were surprised to see that the mosaic, believed to date from the 14th century, was so well preserved.

Hagia Sophia, built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian between A.D. 532 and 537, was originally a basilica before it was converted into a mosque when Ottoman Turks conquered the city in 1453. During the conversion process, the Ottomans covered the mosaics with plaster instead of removing them.

Hagia Sophia / Byzantium ping!

Related threads:
Edifice Complex [Istanbul's Hagia Sophia - "the noblest structure on Earth"]
Defending Byzantium
Hagia Sophia called “a symbol of reconciliation”
FR Keyword: "Byzantium"
FR Keyword: "Hagia Sophia"

[OldCorps]

Glory to God for all things!

[SES1066]

Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) [built 532-537] is an absolutely amazing structure and accomplishment. Emperor Justinian built this while trying to re-conquer the Western Roman Empire and came close to bankrupting his entire empire.

The architects, Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles, can only be called geniuses when you consider that this was built in 5 years, was the largest building in the world for centuries and has survived to this day in spite of being in a major earthquake zone. Granted, the dome had to be rebuilt after earthquakes in the 550s by the nephew of Isidore, Isodorus the Younger, but still, overall an amazing feat.

One of the places that I definitely have in my "bucket list".

[brianhumeck]

Thanks for the post. Would love to see this in person.

[KyleHavel]

Its obvious Hagia Sophia https://muze.gen.tr/muze-detay/ayasofya will always stay as a mosque rest of time we have on this earth. And i really dont understand these religious fanatics(ortodox) .. its just a building and its not constantinopole anymore its ISTANBUL.

[Mashood]

Saw a documentary on this. A small group of Japanese restorers are using a portable ground penetraining radar to help locate the figures high up on the walls on the main dome. Muy interesante.