Editing Byzantine architecture (section)

== Important Byzantine monuments ==

=== Hagia Irene ===
[[File:Hagia Irene exterior.JPG|thumb|Exterior view of [[Hagia Irene]].]]
[[Hagia Irene]] served as a model church for the Hagia Sophia. Construction on the church began in the 4th century. This was the first church that was built in Constantinople, but due to its location, it was severely damaged by earthquakes and the Nika riots, and required repair several times. The Hagia Irene is defined by its large atrium, and is in fact the only surviving building of the [[Byzantine Empire]] to have such a feature.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|date=2016-01-01|title=The Unique Construction of the Church of Hagia Irene in Istanbul for The Teaching of Byzantine Architecture|journal=Procedia Engineering|language=en|volume=161|pages=1745–1750|doi=10.1016/j.proeng.2016.08.770|issn=1877-7058|last1=Musílek|first1=Josef|last2=Podolka|first2=Luboš|last3=Karková|first3=Monika|doi-access=free}}</ref>

==== Construction ====
Hagia Irene is composed mainly of three materials: stone, brick, and [[Mortar (masonry)|mortar]]. Bricks 70&nbsp;cm x 35&nbsp;cm x 5&nbsp;cm were used, and these bricks were glued together using mortar approximately 5&nbsp;cm thick. The [[building material]]s chosen for the construction of the church had to be lightweight, durable, and strong. Volcanic materials were chosen for this purpose, as volcanic concrete is very light and durable. Perhaps the most definite feature of the Hagia Irene is the strict contrast between the interior and exterior design. While the plain outside composed of stone and brick favors functionality, the interior is decorated in elaborate mosaics, decorative marble, and, in some places, covered in plaster. Another important characteristic of the church include two domes that follow one behind another, the first being a lower oval, and the second being a higher semi-circle.<ref name=":0" />

==== History of Hagia Irene ====
Throughout history Hagia Irene has undergone several changes. There were multiple repairs due to the Nika riots and earthquakes. When the Ottomans took over Hagia Irene they repurposed it and made a few changes, but none as drastic as what was done to Hagia Sophia.<ref name=":0" /> Today, Hagia Irene is still standing and open to visitors as a museum. It is open everyday, except for Tuesdays.

'''Construction of Hagia Irene'''
{| class="wikitable"
|+Timeline<ref name=":0" />
!Time
!Event
|-
|4th C.
|Construction began
|-
|532
|Church was burned during Nika riots
|-
|548
|[[Justinian I|Emperor Justinian]] repaired the church
|-
|740
|Significant damages from earthquakes
|-
|1453
|Constantinople was conquered by the Ottomans - became a weapons storehouse
|-
|1700
|Became a museum
|-
|1908-1978
|Served as a military museum.
|}

=== Hagia Sophia ===
The most famous example of Byzantine architecture is the [[Hagia Sophia]], and it has been described as "holding a unique position in the [[Christian world]]",<ref name="Heinle & Schlaich 1996">{{harvnb|Heinle|Schlaich|1996}}</ref> and as an architectural and [[cultural icon]] of [[Byzantine culture|Byzantine]] and [[Eastern Orthodox Culture|Eastern Orthodox civilization]].<ref>{{harvnb|Cameron|2009}}.</ref><ref name="M130">{{harvnb|Meyendorff|1982}}.</ref><ref name="Heinle & Schlaich 1996" /> The Hagia Sophia held the title of largest church in the world until the Ottoman Empire sieged the Byzantine capital. After the fall of Constantinople, the church was used by the Muslims for their religious services until 1931, when it was reopened as a museum in 1935. Translated from [[Greek language|Greek]], the name Hagia Sophia means "Holy Wisdom".<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/a-monumental-struggle-to-preserve-hagia-sophia-92038218/|title=A Monumental Struggle to Preserve Hagia Sophia|last=Bordewich|first=Fergus M.|work=Smithsonian|access-date=2018-11-22|language=en}}</ref>

==== Construction of Hagia Sophia ====
[[File:Hagia Sophia February 2013 02.jpg|thumb|Exterior view of Hagia Sophia]]
The construction is a combination of longitudinal and central structures. This church was a part of a larger complex of buildings created by Emperor [[Justinian I|Justinian]]. This style influenced the construction of several other buildings, such as [[St. Peter's Basilica]]. Hagia Sophia should have been built to withstand earthquakes, but since the construction of Hagia Sophia was rushed this technology was not implemented in the design, which is why the building has had to be repaired so many times due to damages from the earthquakes. The dome is the key feature of Hagia Sophia as the domed basilica is representative of Byzantine architecture. Both of the domes collapsed at different times throughout history due to earthquakes and had to be rebuilt.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2016-01-01|title=Disorders of the Building and its Remediation - Hagia Sophia, Turkey the Most the Byzantine Building|journal=Procedia Engineering|language=en|volume=161|pages=2259–2264|doi=10.1016/j.proeng.2016.08.825|issn=1877-7058|last1=Plachý|first1=Jan|last2=Musílek|first2=Josef|last3=Podolka|first3=Luboš|last4=Karková|first4=Monika|doi-access=free}}</ref>

==== History of Hagia Sophia ====
The original construction of Hagia Sophia was possibly ordered by Constantine, but ultimately carried out by his son Constantius II in 360. Constantine's building of churches, specifically the Hagia Sophia, was considered an incredibly significant component in his shift of the centralization of power from Rome in the west to Constantinople in the east, and was considered the high-point of religious and political celebration. The construction of the final version of the Hagia Sophia, which still stands today, was overseen by Emperor Justinian. Between the rule of these two Emperors, Hagia Sophia was destroyed and rebuilt twice. Following its reconstruction, Hagia Sophia was considered the center of Orthodox Christianity for 900 years, until the fall of Constantinople to the [[Ottoman Turks|Ottomans]].<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Cohen |first=Andrew |date=2011 |title=Architecture in Religion: The History of the Hagia Sophia and Proposals For Returning It To Worship |type=MA thesis |publisher=Florida International University |url=https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/2400/ |doi=10.25148/etd.FI14060867 |pages=2–3|doi-access=free }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Timeline
!Time
!Event
|-
|360
|Construction began
|-
|404
|Hagia Sophia was burned down in public riot.
|-
|415
|Construction begins on the next version of Hagia Sophia.
|-
|532
|The church is once again demolished during Nika riots.
|-
|537
|The final version of Hagia Sophia opens to Christian worship after five more years of construction.
|-
|558
|Earthquake - dome collapsed
|-
|859
|Fire damage
|-
|869
|Earthquake damage
|-
|989
|More earthquake damage
|-
|1317
|Large buttresses added
|-
|1453
|Constantinople fell to the Ottomans - converted into a mosque
|-
|1935
|Hagia Sophia is converted into a museum by secularists
|-
|2020
|Reverted to a mosque
|}