Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia is located in Istanbul, Turkey, and is known as a great symbol of both art history and Christianity. It is also one of the largest tourist attractions in Turkey, and many  pictures of Istanbul and photographs of Turkey overall feature this beautiful structure. Hagia Sophia history experts often credit the Roman Emperor, Constantine the Great, for founding the church. Hagia Sophia history dates back 1500 years ago, when construction work on “The Great Church” was started. The Hagia Sophia, with its massive dome, 40 windows, and 100 square meter columns, took five years to build. It was built right on top of an ancient temple to Apollo, overlooking the Sea of Marmara. The church of Hagia Sophia was known as the Cathedral of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople for more than a thousand years. The city eventually changed its name to Istanbul and today the church is known as Hogia Sophia, or the Church of Holy Wisdom. Although the Hagia Sophia no longer conducts ceremonies, it attracts visitors from all over the world who are interested in art, architecture, history, and religion.

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