Discover the Top 12 Amazing Fun Facts About Hagia Sophia You Never Knew!

1. Cathedral-Mosque-Museum-Mosque Evolution

If walls could talk, the Hagia Sophia might just have the juiciest gossip and the most colourful resume of any building throughout history: Originally a Christian cathedral built in 537 AD, it was later transformed into a mosque in 1453, then a museum in 1935, and returned to being a mosque in 2020, serving as a focal point for historical events including excommunication drama and Venetian Doge burials.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Earthquake Boogie and Dome Remix

Talk about a "domino" effect: The mighty dome of Hagia Sophia, an exquisite architectural mambo, originally danced to the tune of 40 rhythmic ribs, only to crumble after boogying with an earthquake in 559 A.D. Post-collapse, the remix featured a sleeker dome, pumped up with the triple-threat of pendentives, arches, and a hefty dose of reinforcement!
Source => pbs.org

Did you know it took a "mere" 180 years to build the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral, featuring stunning stained glass windows and unforgettable memories? Discover the fascinating story behind this Gothic masterpiece!

=> Fun Facts about Notre-Dame

3. Hogwarts Meets Architecture

Imagine if the architects behind the Hagia Sophia had stumbled upon a Hogwarts spell book: they might have just waved their wands and chanted "domum levitamus" to achieve the gravity-defying marvel that now graces Istanbul's skyline! The magical phenomenon: a majestic, 184-foot high dome, with a diameter of 120 feet, seemingly floating atop the Hagia Sophia. This celestial spectacle, encircled by 40 illuminating windows, lends an ethereal air to the architectural masterpiece while leaving visitors spellbound.
Source => crc.blog.fordham.edu

4. Justinian's Fire-Breaking Wheel

When Emperor Justinian I took a leaf out of Daenerys Targaryen's book and said “I will break the wheel” - of wooden architecture, that is: He rebuilt the Hagia Sophia in just five years after it was burned down by the populace, using baked brick, mortar, and fire-proof iron on architect Anthemius' design blueprint. This remarkable construction feat had Justinian boasting, "Solomon, I have surpassed you!" and millennial modifications as well as dome repairs have gone into the iconic structure since then, though rumors of the original dome collapsing twice are greatly exaggerated.
Source => projects.mcah.columbia.edu

5. High-Dome Telenovela Twist

In a plot twist worthy of a telenovela, the Hagia Sophia didn't bat an architectural eyelash when designers Anthemios of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus gave it a high-dome instead of a mohawk: In reality, the staggering height of about 184 feet and the diameter of about 120 feet of its magnificent central dome was part of the original plan, while its more dramatic metamorphosis unfolded through changing from a Christian church to mosque, then museum, and back to mosque.
Source => crc.blog.fordham.edu

6. Viking Graffiti Hunt

Next time you visit the Hagia Sophia, don't forget your rune-glases: You might just catch a glimpse of some Viking graffiti! Carved onto the marble parapets of the southern and northern galleries, scholars have discovered possible runic inscriptions left by Norse visitors centuries ago. Although heavily worn and barely legible, these inscriptions spark fierce debate, leaving us to wonder what other ancient messages may hide within this iconic landmark's walls.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Spirit Level's Day Off

When the Hagia Sophia's architect saw his spirit level had a day off, he thought, "close enough": The cathedral's square-shaped base is not perfectly straight but instead curves into the massive dome, designed by Isidore the Younger, which measures 105 feet in diameter and 180 feet in height, all supported by four pendentives and 24 buttresses in a breathtaking display of Byzantine architecture.
Source => study.com

8. Viking Art Club

Who knew Vikings could be so artsy? While they weren't busy pillaging, some Norse mercenaries turned the Hagia Sophia into their personal canvas: Members of the Varangian Guard are believed to have engraved at least two runic inscriptions on the marble parapets during the Viking Age, with these inscriptions being discovered in the 1960s and 1970s.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Hidden Mosaic Chamber

Hiding in plain sight like a chameleon at a polka dot convention: the Hagia Sophia concealed a secret chamber with Byzantine-era mosaics that were finally unveiled to the public during restoration work when it served as a museum.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Dome Envy Showdown

Before Michelangelo gave the world his masterpiece thirst trap known as David, he had some serious dome envy: The dome of the Hagia Sophia, spanning a whopping 101 feet in diameter and soaring to 160 feet high, was the world's largest for almost a thousand years until Michelangelo's St. Peter's Basilica dome dethroned it.
Source => metmuseum.org

11. World War II Explosive Piñata

In a curious twist that proves even ancient architectural masterpieces aren't exempt from the perils of modern warfare, Hagia Sophia found itself entangled in a centuries-later World War II drama that could have turned it into one big explosive piñata: Hagia Sophia narrowly escaped potential destruction during WW2, thanks to Istanbul's neutral status, even though architect Robert Van Nice expressed concerns when anti-aircraft guns were placed nearby and fired during a passive resistance demonstration in 1939, fearing the consequences of an aerial attack on the grand structure.
Source => icfadumbartonoaks.wordpress.com

12. Dome-Admiring Chickens

Why did the chicken cross the Hagia Sophia? To marvel at the captivating dome suspended from the heavens, of course: This architectural masterpiece soars 184 feet above the central naos, boasting a diameter of approximately 120 feet, and remaining surprisingly intact throughout numerous earthquakes since 989.
Source => crc.blog.fordham.edu