Today's grand Hagia Sophia is the third structure built on this ancient site.
- 360 AD Megale Ekklesia (Big Church) ordered by Emperor Konstantios; wooden roof burned and building destroyed during the public riots of 404 AD
- 415 AD Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) ordered by Emperor Theodosios II; wooden roof burned and building destroyed during the public riots of 532 AD
- 537 AD ordered by Emperor Justinianos (Flavius Justinianus); architects Anthemios of Tralles and Isidoros of Miletus each employed 100 architects, each with 100 workers
About Justinian's Hagia Sophia:
Length: 100 meters
Width: 69.5 meters
Height: Dome from the ground level is 55.60 meters; 31.87 meters radius North to South; 30.86 meters radius East to West
Materials: white marble from Marmara Island; green porphyry from Eğriboz Island; pink marble from Afyon; yellow marble from North Africa
Columns: 104 (40 in the lower and 64 in the upper); nave columns are from the Temple of Artemis in Ephessus; eight dome columns are from Egypt
Mosaics: stone, glass, terra cotta, and precious metals (gold and silver)
Calligraphy Panels: 7.5 - 8 meters in diameter, said to be the largest in the Islamic world
Source: History, Hagia Sophia Museum at www.ayasofyamuzesi.gov.tr/en/tarihce.html [accessed April 1, 2013]
