Ancient iconic Haji Sofia brings travelers and tourists over their rich history

When Western tourists visiting Istanbul, Turkey, a cruise to the port, many usually seek one specific attraction: “Haji Sofia”.

Determination of an ancient temple that served Church, museum And the mosque may be difficult from afar. Istanbul’s horizon seems to be overflowing with large mosques with combat domes and high minarets that surround them.

There’s a mosque süleymaniee, built in the 16th century for a competitor Hagia sophiaAccording to the order of Sultan Suliman, Britannica reports.

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Then there is a blue mosque, the temple of the Ottoman era in a short walk from the famous attraction, and behind it many other similar structures.

The Great Mosque Hagia Sophia is a Muslim worship place – but it is not because it attracts so much attention.

For almost 1000 years it was a Christian basilica, the largest and most entertaining temple not only in Constantinople but also in A whole Byzantine Empire.

“Hagia Sophia is just unique, without parallel,” said Robert Nelson, Robert Leman, a professor of art history, said Fox News Digital.

“Her height was not surpassed until the St. Piers building in the 16th century. Even more impressive than just its size, it is a beautiful, magnificent marble decoration inside.”

“Massive marble columns were brought from the entire ancient world. The walls are covered with beautiful marble, which have blunted over time but are still impressive,” he said.

It was ordered by the Eastern Roman emperor Justinian I and developed by two Greek architects and mathematics Isidore Miletus and Antemium Trales.

Not for surprise This is an architectural diva Often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world.

“Justinian dreamed of a brand new form,” wrote the Italian Renaissance scientist Frederick Hartt. And Justinian got exactly what he wanted.

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“Solomon, I won you!” It is reported that the figurative emperor boasted after the completion of his beautiful basilica.

The essence is that Sofia Hagia is ancient, built between 532 and 537 AD. – and Tourists can still step Inside it, soak in all your glory.

“The glorious impression of the harmoniously mixed space and light that we receive in the interior today must be supplemented by a fantasy, visualized by the majestic procedure of the Byzantine emperor and his court,” Hartt wrote.

Hagia sophia-big and exciting- and forces visitors to think how people have been able to develop such a complex structure for so many centuries.

And again, it’s about the Greeks.

When a basilica was erected, Constantinople, who was sitting at the eastern end of the European continent and named after Emperor Constantine the Great, was one of the most important capitals of Christianity.

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Previously known as Byzantium, this ancient city was built for Rome’s competitor. He was known for his newest fortifications.

After a large split of 1054, which broke Christianity Roman -Catholic And eastern Orthodox ties, everything became a little difficult.

Constantinople remained in the center of the Greek Orthodox Church, but its strength was weakened.

In April 1182, an event took place in a history known as Latin massacre. As Donald M. Nicol described this in his book “Byzantium and Venice,” “people needed to be encouraged. With enthusiasm released by many years of resentment, they began the massacre of all foreigners they could find … In the end, about 4,000 Westerners who survived the mass were surrounded and sold as slaves.”

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In 1204, Constantinople was fired by the Crusaders in revenge for the massacre and carried out the West for several decades, according to numerous sources.

In 1453 the problems came from the Asian side. The city was fired again – this time by the Turks – and included in the Ottoman Empire.

As a result, the Basilica Sofia Basilica was added to the mosque and the minaret was added.

“Haji Sofia had an immediate effect on the Ottomans after they won the city and Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror, stated that it was not necessary to harm. It was be his mosque And for some time there has been the main mosque of the city, “said Nelson Fox News Digital.

“Ottoman architects, since the end of the 15th century, sought to copy the dome and the interior.”

Historians say that the Ottoman Empire has grown in power, spreading to Africa and the eastern parts of Europe, threatening cities, raids that accept residents into slavery.

At the time when Western European The powers participated in exploration and expanded their territories to the New World, their oriental colleagues were occupied, protecting their own borders.

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Things became quite rough, especially for the Habsburg empire (Austria). The city of Vienna was siege several times.

The turning point came on September 12, 1683. It was then that the Polish King Jan III Sabyska, the head of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth, came to the aid of the Ostrian capital.

I am sure that this time they conquered Vienna, a huge Ottoman power led by Mustafa Karai, instead of the Sobis and his Polish-heavy cavalry, the famous winged Hussar.

Pope Innocent Si recognized the Sobis as “the Savior of the Vienna and Western European civilization.”

King Jan Sobysk wrote to his wife, Queen Mary Kazimieri: “God our Lord blessed, gave victory and glory of our nation, similar to which they have never heard in the last century,” the King John III Museum in Vilan and a letter translated by Claudin.

The Battle of Vienna noted the beginning of the decline of the Ottoman Empire, but the city of Constantinople on the Straits of Boupora, a natural waterway that shares Europe and Asia remained in the Turkish hands.

19th century brought a sudden revival International interest In Sofia’s sagi.

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According to Nelson, the reason was the movement to romanticism. “This has brought a new attitude to the past, especially to ancient and medieval Christianity,” he said.

The ancient city of Constantinople grows on two continents, and in 1930 was renamed to Istanbul.

In 1935, Mustafa Kemal Atatury, the founder of the modern Republic of TurkeyShe turned the hogy to Sofia into a museum.

For many years, the former basilica and the mosque have undergone significant repairs and became favorite among tourists. But in 2020, despite numerous objections from UNESCO and international communities, the Turkish government has abolished the status of the Khagi Sofia museum and turned it back into a mosque.

Now tourists are allowed To enter the top level (gallery) of this historic building and view its interior from above. However, this does not slow them.

There are long lines to buy tickets for those who have not provided tickets online. In addition, visitors should cover their heads at the entrance.

Having got inside, they were before the images of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and other saints Created by Christian artists So many centuries ago.

There is a separate entrance for Turkish citizens leading to the land level of the mosque.

According to the deputy Istanbul, Aciagli daily, Agia Sofia receives an average of about 50,000 visitors and approximately 6-7 million annually.

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The influx of visitors depends on the season.

These days Istanbul is a popular tourist point known for its colorful Turkish rugs, noisy fairs and fragrant spices.

But for many visitors, the main point is still Haji Sofia, a temple that was built before the Islam religion came.

Interestingly, his Byzantine domes are repeated in the mosques through Istanbul at both ends of the Boupora that looks like.

Perhaps two Greek architects, Isidore and antenia would be as surprised as tourists.

Their Byzantine design of the 6th century lives and multiplied.