Hey guys, my purpose is giving you at least a perspective for Hagia Sophia. As I promised, I'll share with you those informations about the selective highlighted parts of the Hagia Sophia.
This basilica is in the garden of the Hagia Sophia. We can say that there is nothing left from the first and the second Hagia Sophia(As you can remember, Hagia Sophia was rebuilt 2 times in the history) but this basilica is the only remaining till today from the second Hagia Sophia. There is no information about this basilica but it is claimed that the sheeps on it represent the apostles of the Jesus.
Imperial Gate
This door is the main gate enters to the Nartex and it was used only by the Emperors. The rumors belong to this gate is it is made of the wooden of the Noah arc.
VI. Leon Mosaic
In this icon, Jesus sits on a throne and there is the Gabriel and the St. Mary on his right and left and the King VI. Leon Isidorus kneeled on him begging for permission of his 4th marriage. The king has actually already married with someone else but he hasn't got a son. In those times, having a son was kind of an obligation for the permanentness of their lineage/family in the kingdom. In other words, he needs a successor. Meanwhile, he was having an affair with a women called Zoe. She became pregnant and gave a birth to a son for the king. Therefore, he begs for another marriage.
Dome
This is the view of the dome from the bottom. When it was first built by anthemius there were no windows around the dome.In an earthquake, the dome was collapsed. Isisorus the Junior rebuilt it and added 40 windows for balancing the weight. That was the second time of using dome construction in the world. Then, it became a prototype for Islamic period. They also used this style for blue mosque. This architecture style on the mosques has started with Hagia Sophia. In the middle of the dome there was the pantocrator of Jesus but now we can only see the writings belong to ottoman period. Those 4 angel figures around the dome are claimed to be there to protect the jesus and the god.
The dome has 56 meters height. In comparison, the Galata Tower can fit inside of the Dome of the Hagia Sophia.
Omphalion
This is the place where the byzantion emperors have been coronaled. Marbles were collected from different places. It is also believed that this place is the center of the world.
Dandolo Tomb
He was a commander during the crusade and he wanted to be buried here.
Deisis Mosaic
Vestibule Mosaic
On the right side, the Constantine presents Constantinople and on the left Justinian presents the Hagia Sophia to the Jesus in the middle who is carried by St. Mary.
Thank you for reading. Those are more or less the main parts of Hagia Sophia that is introduced to the guests. I hope you enjoyed it.
