The recent move to reconvert Istanbul’s ancient Hagia Sophia into a mosque ends nearly a century of the building standing as a symbol of secular Turkey.
Museum To Mosque: Inside Hagia Sophia
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The Hagia Sophia was built as a Christian cathedral nearly 1,500 years ago, when Istanbul -- then called Constantinople -- was the capital of Byzantine, the eastern Roman Empire.
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A 19th century painting by French artist Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant
depicting Sultan Mehmet II conquering Constantinople.
After the army of 21-year-old Sultan Mehmet II conquered and sacked Constantinople in 1453, Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque.
depicting Sultan Mehmet II conquering Constantinople.
After the army of 21-year-old Sultan Mehmet II conquered and sacked Constantinople in 1453, Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque.
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An 1852 illustration of Muslims praying inside Hagia Sophia when it was a mosque.
For nearly 500 years, Hagia Sophia was a working Mosque, and Christian iconography inside was plastered over or destroyed.
For nearly 500 years, Hagia Sophia was a working Mosque, and Christian iconography inside was plastered over or destroyed.
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An illustration of Hagia Sophia in 1857.
On the exterior of the former cathedral, towering minarets were added from where muezzins made the Islamic call to prayer.
On the exterior of the former cathedral, towering minarets were added from where muezzins made the Islamic call to prayer.