Constructed as the largest Christian cathedral in the world, Hagia Sophia became the heart of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The dome, representing the heavens, was designed to strike awe with its immense scale.
When we think of the Hagia Sophia, the first thing that comes to mind is its dome. It is the centerpiece of the structure, drawing the eye upward and evoking a sense of grandeur. The dome has seen several repairs over the centuries, with architectural additions for support altering its original shape. Yet, nearly 1,500 years later, it remains a marvel of religion, architecture, and engineering.
Apart from being an architectural marvel, the dome also represents unity and greatness when it comes to its intercultural theme.
The proportions of the dome are remarkable. Inside Hagia Sophia, the vast open space beneath the dome brings about a sense of infinity through its design and use of light. The light streaming through the oculus gives the dome a dynamic, ever-changing quality as it shifts with the time of day, leaving a lasting impression on visitors.
The Hagia Sophia’s dome became a blueprint for later architectural masterpieces, including the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) in Istanbul, St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, and Santa Maria del Fiore (the Florence Cathedral). Its design established a new benchmark for dome construction in both Christian and Islamic architecture.
Over the centuries, the dome has undergone repairs and reinforcements, but the original engineering, including the careful distribution of weight and the use of external buttresses, allowed it to withstand the test of time. The dome is also built with a combination of brick, mortar, and stone, making it both durable and lightweight.
The dome of Hagia Sophia was designed by two main architects – Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles, who were tasked with constructing the building under the rule of Emperor Justinian I in 537 AD.
The oculus is a circular opening at the top of the dome that allows natural light to enter the building. It is symbolic of the divine light of God and creates a striking visual effect, especially when sunlight streams through it.
The original dome collapsed several times due to structural weaknesses, particularly from earthquakes. The dome that exists today is a later reconstruction, which was reinforced after a collapse in 558 AD, and further transformations were made over the centuries.
Yes, you can see the dome’s original mosaics, especially in the upper galleries. When Hagia Sophia was first converted into a mosque in the 14th century, the dome’s Christian mosaics were covered up. However, after it became a museum in the 1930s, some mosaics, including depictions of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and other figures, were uncovered.
