Interior Of Hagia Sophia

The columns the dome and the stunning mosaics speak to the grandeur of byzantium.

Interior of hagia sophia. Hagia sophia and the byzantine aesthetic experience ashgate. Giant columns allegedly brought from the temple of artemis in the ancient city of ephesus can be seen on the right. Farnham burlington farnham 2014.

But it was not covered in mosaic icons as practically the only means of decoration. This effect was achieved by inserting forty windows around the base of the original structure. Hagia sophia is famous for the light that reflects everywhere in the interior of the nave giving the dome the appearance of hovering above.

This photo is useful for viewing the interior of hagia sophia from a bird s eye view. In addition to its impressive architecture hagia sophia also exhibited an interior decorated with marble revetments on the floor and the lower sections of the walls spoliated columns intricate carvings as well as lavish mosaic decorations reserved for the upper sections and the galleries. Interior of the hagia sophia by john singer sargent sargent rapidly completed a few sketches and one oil painting of this interior.

In hagia sophia s narthex inner and outer narthex all the sections in the upper and lower galleries are in this category. The byzantine elements of hagia sophia are present in the interior s grand dome its massive marble pillars and the intricate mosaics of jesus and the virgin mary angels and saints that were uncovered when the building was transformed from a mosque into a museum. The dome stretching 107 feet across is an architectural marvel.

So yes the hagia sophia was once covered with mosaics and that enormous building had many more mosaic icons than visible today. The giant wall medallions low hanging lamps and the ornate mihrab recall the magnificence of the ottoman empire. It s famous for its rich history and is considered an architectural masterpiece.

Every inch of hagia sophia s interior is a work of art with centuries of stories to tell. The hagia sophia is a religious building that has crowned the skyline of istanbul turkey for almost 1 500 years.