7Istanbul, Turkey: Hagia Sophia’s Majestic Mosaics
The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, originally built as a cathedral in the 6th century by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, is renowned for its stunning mosaics. Over its long history, the Hagia Sophia has served as a cathedral, a mosque, and now a museum. Its mosaics, many of which were covered over when it was converted into a mosque in the 15th century, have been gradually uncovered and restored.
The mosaics in the Hagia Sophia depict religious figures such as Christ, the Virgin Mary, and various saints, often set against gold backgrounds that symbolize the divine. One of the most famous mosaics is the Deësis, which shows Christ flanked by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist, pleading for humanity’s salvation. The grandeur of these mosaics, combined with the architectural brilliance of the Hagia Sophia, makes it one of the most important sites for mosaic art in the world.
