Did the Byzantine Empire built the Hagia Sophia?
Built between 532 and 537, Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom, Ayasofya) represents a brilliant moment in Byzantine architecture and art. It was the principal church of the Byzantine Empire in its capital, Constantinople (later Istanbul), and a mosque after the Ottoman Empire conquered the city in 1453.
What was the significance of the Byzantine Empire’s creation of the basilica of Hagia Sophia?
It served as a center of religious, political, and artistic life for the Byzantine world and has provided us with many useful scholarly insights into the period. It was also an important site of Muslim worship after Sultan Mehmed II conquered Constantinople in 1453 and designated the structure a mosque.
What were windows made of Byzantine churches such as Hagia Sophia?
Pane (later transparent glass was used) glass continued to be used in Byzantine buildings right up until 1453. It is even possible that some of the Byzantine window glass survived in Hagia Sophia until the 18th century or later in the great apse windows.
What happened to the original dome of the Hagia Sophia?
The first Hagia Sophia featured a wooden roof. The structure was burned to the ground in 404 A.D. during the riots that occurred in Constantinople as a result of political conflicts within the family of then-Emperor Arkadios, who had a tumultuous reign from 395 to 408 A.D.
How is the Byzantine mosaic different from a Roman mosaic?
Whereas Roman mosaics were largely functional, Byzantine structures placed an emphasis on decorative touches. However, both styles were employed to honor religious figures and domestic life.
Who was the most brilliant military mind the Byzantines ever produced?
A man of the people, Basil II was the most brilliant military mind the Byzantines would ever produce.
Why did the Hagia Sophia became a mosque?
The 1934 decree was ruled to be unlawful under both Ottoman and Turkish law as Hagia Sophia’s waqf, endowed by Sultan Mehmed, had designated the site a mosque; proponents of the decision argued the Hagia Sophia was the personal property of the sultan.
What were Byzantine mosaics made from?
Like other mosaics, Byzantine mosaics are made of small pieces of glass, stone, ceramic, or other material, which are called tesserae. During the Byzantine period, craftsmen expanded the materials that could be turned into tesserae, beginning to include gold leaf and precious stones, and perfected their construction.
How is Byzantine art similar and different from Roman art?
Generally speaking, Byzantine art differs from the art of the Romans in that it is interested in depicting that which we cannot see—the intangible world of Heaven and the spiritual. Thus, the Greco-Roman interest in depth and naturalism is replaced by an interest in flatness and mystery.