Hagia Sophia History

• The cumulative timeline of the Hagia Sophia history is of around 1500 years, and during this period, it suffered multiple attacks and went into the hands of various empires.
• During those 1500 years, it was used by both - Christians and Muslims as a place of worship, and it changed accordingly.
• The first structure was erected in the year 360 CE, and was developed on the lines of a Greek Orthodox church. But unfortunately, it was burnt down in 404 CE during political riots.
• From the multiple sources for Hagia Sophia facts, in the year 415 CE, the city came under the rule of the Roman Empire.
• The Roman Emperor finally ordered the reconstruction of Hagia Sophia, and thus, after its second round of construction, it was ready in 415 CE.
• Again, it was unfortunate when it burned down to the ground during the Nika Riots.
• The historical facts about the Hagia Sophia tell us that the present-day structure of the Hagia Sophia was reconstructed in the year 537 CE. This time also, it was developed as any other orthodox Christian Church.
• In 1453, Turkey came under the control of the Ottoman Empire, and Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II took over the reign of the whole city.
• He renamed the city to the present day “Istanbul” and ordered the renovation of Hagia Sophia. Hagia Sophia was redeveloped as an imperial mosque.
• Later, in the 20th century, President Kemal declared Hagia Sophia a secular structure and was developed as a museum.
• In 1985, UNESCO accorded it the title of “World Heritage Site” along with other sites in the city.
• Until 2020, it was a historical museum when President Erdogan, the current president, declared it a mosque. Since then, it has again become a place of worship.

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• The literal meaning of Hagia Sophia means the “Shrine of the Holy God,” whereas the word Sophia means “Wisdom” in the Greek Language.
• Hagia Sophia was the “Magna Ecclesia” (the Great Church). It was named so because of its grand structure.
• According to multiple accounts of Hagia Sophia history, it was earlier developed as a Greek Orthodox history.
• The present structure of the Hagia Sophia isn’t the original one that was earlier developed in the 6th century.
• The first phase of construction was completed in the year 360 CE by the contribution of the East Roman Empire.
• The first structure was destroyed in 404 CE during political riots.
• The second phase of construction was initiated later in 415 CE. But unfortunately, it was also burnt down to the ground in 532 CE.
• In 1453, the Ottoman Empire took over the reins of Turkey, and change came in the Hagia Sophia history.
• Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II ordered the transformation of the Hagia Sophia into an imperial mosque.
• More than 10 thousand workers were involved in the construction of the dome.
• Hagia Sophia’s dome is the second largest dome in the world, the first being the dome of the Pantheon, Rome.
• The combined history of Hagia Sophia is a whopping 1500 years old!
• In 1935, President Kamel had declared Hagia Sophia a secular site.
• Hagia Sophia was awarded the “Unesco World Heritage Site” title in 1985.
• Hagia Sophia was converted back into a mosque from a museum in the year 2020 by order of President Erdogan.

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