How was Hagia Sophia constructed under Emperor Justinian?

During the reign of Emperor Justinian, several significant religious structures were built or restored, including the Hagia Sophia of Edessa and the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus in Constantinople. The construction of the Edessa basilica began in 525 and faced considerable delays before its completion in 545. Meanwhile, the church dedicated to Saints Sergius and Bacchus, erected in the sixth century by Justinian, featured a central dome plan and sumptuous carved decorations.

What we know

• The Basilica of Hagia Sophia of Edessa was restored as a Byzantine basilica by Justinian I. [3]
• Construction of the Hagia Sophia of Edessa began in 525 and was completed eight years after the Hagia Sophia of Constantinople in 545, mainly due to significant delays. [3]
• The Hagia Sophia of Edessa featured a single dome rising from a square base, was surrounded by water, and had an interior decorated with white marble. [3]
• The Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus in Constantinople was erected in the sixth century by Justinian with a central dome plan. [4]

Still open

• The exact date of construction for the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus is disputed, with some scholars favoring a mid-520s groundbreaking by 527 and others dating it between 532 and 536.

Where to go next

• how it workedWhat was the architectural layout of the Hagia Sophia of Edessa?
• compared withHow did the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus compare to other sixth-century buildings?
• what caused itWhat caused the collapse of the Hagia Sophia of Edessa in the 12th century?
• whoWhat role did Emperor Justinian play in Byzantine monumental architecture?
• how we knowWhat archaeological and textual sources help reconstruct early Byzantine churches?
• an unexpected connectionHow does an ancient Edessa basilica connect to the legend of the Mandylion?The ancient Basilica of Hagia Sophia in Edessa was supposedly the first site where the famous Mandylion relic appeared.

Sources

• [1]Hagia Sophia, Iznik (Wikidata Q4430013) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Hagia Sophia, İznik · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Hagia Sophia, Edessa · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Little Hagia Sophia · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Agia Sophia Stadium · CC BY-SA 4.0