Hagia Sophia is a major historical monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Istanbul, Turkey. The 6th-century architectural masterpiece is famous for reflecting the various religious changes that the Mediterranean region faced over the years. Originally built to serve as a cathedral, Hagia Sophia later became a mosque, then a museum, and then a mosque again.
In the year 537 AD. C., Hagia Sophia was originally built to become the largest cathedral in the world under the Greek Orthodox Christian Church. It was considered one of the best architectural monuments of the Byzantine Empire and included mosaics of Christian art made of gold, silver and colored stones. It also incorporated structural pieces from all the provinces ruled under the empire.
A millennium later, the Byzantine Empire was conquered by the Ottomans in the 15th century. Because Islam was the main religion of the Ottoman Empire, Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque where Muslims could pray. His original Christian art was then covered up and Islamic calligraphy was exhibited instead. Four slender columns, which are traditional features of a mosque, were also added to encircle the exterior of the building. The monument lasted as a mosque for the next 500 years.
In 1928, Turkey became a secular state, and the mosque was soon turned into a museum. During this time, Christian art was discovered and allowed to coexist alongside Ottoman Islamic art.
In 2020, the state of Turkey made a controversial decision. Hagia Sophia was converted back into a mosque. The decision was met with much scrutiny as protesters argued that the landmark was legitimately a Christian church. However, the Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque and Muslims were once again able to worship at the monument.
Hagia Sophia is considered one of the most historical artifacts in Istanbul. Although the building now serves as a Muslim house of worship, on 1,A 500-year-old monument that still attracts millions of tourists a year.
