Built by the eastern Roman emperor Justinian I as the Christian cathedral of Constantinople for the state church of the Roman Empire between 532 and 537, the church was then the world’s largest interior space and among the first to employ a fully pendentive dome.
Which emperor constructed a major Byzantine cathedral?
When was the Hagia Sophia built? Much of the Hagia Sophia’s edifice evident today was completed in the 6th century (primarily from 532–537), during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.
What is the name of the most famous church built by the Byzantine Empire?
The largest, most important and still most famous Byzantine church, or indeed any building, is the Hagia Sophia of Constantinople , dedicated to the holy wisdom (hagia sophia) of God. It was built in 532-537 CE during the reign of Justinian I (r.
What was the name of the cathedral built by Justinian?
The Hagia Sophia’s Design
In an effort to create a grand basilica that represented all of the Byzantine Empire, Emperor Justinian decreed that all provinces under his rule send architectural pieces for use in its construction.
Was Hagia Sophia the grandest Byzantine structure built?
Hagia Sophia was the most magnificent of the more than 30 churches Justinian built or restored in Constantinople alone after a fire destroyed the earlier church. The Hagia Sophia is a domed basilica.
What is the meaning of Aya Sophia?
The Hagia Sophia, whose name means “holy wisdom ,” is a domed monument originally built as a cathedral in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey) in the sixth century A.D. ... In its 1,400 year life-span it has served as a cathedral, mosque and now a museum.
Who built Aya Sophia?
Built by the eastern Roman emperor Justinian I as the Christian cathedral of Constantinople for the state church of the Roman Empire between 532 and 537, the church was then the world’s largest interior space and among the first to employ a fully pendentive dome.
What is a very good example of Byzantine architecture?
Hagia Sophia , the most famous and most spectacular example of Byzantine architecture, was built between 532 and 537 to replace an early 5th century church that was destroyed by a fire during the Nika riots in 523.
What was the Byzantine religion?
Citizens of the Byzantine Empire strongly identified as Christians , just as they identified as Romans. Emperors, seeking to unite their realm under one faith, recognized Christianity as the state religion and endowed the church with political and legal power.
What is the new name of Constantinople?
Constantinople is an ancient city in modern-day Turkey that’s now known as Istanbul .
Who invented the Pendentive?
The Romans were the first to experiment with pendentive domes in the 2nd-3rd century AD. They saw the supporting of a dome over an enclosed square or polygonal space as a particular architectural challenge.
What was the Justinian’s code and what did it do?
What is the significance of the Code of Justinian? Although the Code of Justinian was not, in itself, a new legal code , it rationalized hundreds of years of existing Roman statutes. Contradictions and conflicts were eliminated, and any existing laws that were not included in it were repealed.
Is Hagia Sophia the Blue Mosque?
Until the completion of Istanbul’s Blue Mosque in 1616 the Hagia Sophia was the main mosque in the city , and its architecture inspired builders of the Blue Mosque and several others around the city and the world. After the end of World War I in 1918, the Ottoman Empire was defeated and divided by the victorious Allies.
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.
What was the main language of the Byzantine Empire?
Though Byzantium was ruled by Roman law and Roman political institutions, and its official language was Latin , Greek was also widely spoken, and students received education in Greek history, literature and culture.
What was the Hagia Sophia inspired by?
A Church and a Mosque
The fact that the building still showcases features of both Christian and Islamic architecture makes this monument a unique architectural masterpiece. The Byzantine architecture of Hagia Sophia served as an inspiration for many other Ottoman mosques such as Istanbul’s Blue Mosque.
