Istanbul at one time was the central city for Christendom. At that time it was called Constantinople. It was the center of four Empires . The history here is so rich because it is the crossroads where East meets West. It is also a place where Islam and Christianity have switched back and forth depending on who conquered whom. Hagia Sophia, originally a church, then converted to a mosque and now a Museum tells the story better than any words can express. The Icon of Christ alongside the Islamic Calligraphy demonstrates the rich religious history. We are learning much about the history of Islam in Turkey as well as how it is practiced in a democracy and by well educated people.
Hagia Sofia blew me away. As an art major since high school, I had looked at pictures of this building all my life, and to stand in it was almost more than I could bear. The space is jaw-dropping and even bigger than I imagined. The restoration of the original mosaics makes the later Islamic decor bearable. I am so glad you found it interesting. It is indeed the crossroads of all the religious history of the region. I could have spent the whole day there.
ReplyDelete