The Echoes of Empires: Hagia Sophia as a Palimpsest of Politics and Cultures
Disciplines
Architectural History and Criticism
Abstract (300 words maximum)
When entering the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Türkiye, one is captivated by the approximately seven meter in diameter calligraphic medallions that suspends between columns within the building. Inscribed on these medallions in gold lettering are eight of the holiest names of Sunni Islam, which include “Allah” and Prophet “Muhammad.” However, with further discovery of the mosque, Christian mosaics are found slightly uncovered, sparking a spectacle among many individuals. Considering the aniconism within Islam and the contrast between Christianity and Islam, this epitomizes the entanglement between the sacred and the political. Hagia Sophia’s layered history, from Byzantine cathedral to Ottoman Mosque, to secular museum, and back to an active mosque in 2020, reveals how architecture can serve shifting regimes and ideologies across time. In the contemporary context, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia from a museum into a functioning mosque reasserts the building’s role as a political and cultural symbol. This transformation has reignited debates about secularism, nationalism, and the place of Islam within the modern Turkish Republic. Erdoğan’s policies have reframed the meaning of Hagia Sophia, positioning it as both a testament to Islamic identity and a statement of political sovereignty, while simultaneously challenging the legacy of Atatürk’s secular reforms. By tracing the transitions of Hagia Sophia, this research explores how sacred architecture mediates between spiritual devotion and state power. It will examine how the building’s reinterpretations reflect broader ideological shifts, from Byzantine Christianity’s imperial authority to Ottoman Islam’s dominance, and finally to modern Türkiye’s contested national identity. Drawing on Mircea Eliade’s theories of sacred space in The Sacred and The Profane: The Nature of Religion and Emilio Gentile’s concept of the “sacralization of politics” in “Fascism as Political Religion” and other books, articles, and images, this study positions Hagia Sophia as a case study in how political regimes appropriate religious monuments to reinforce legitimacy and cultural continuity. A qualitative historical analysis approach will be used to interpret how Hagia Sophia’s evolving role proves the enduring capacity of sacred architecture to negotiate power, faith, and identity, embodying how religion and politics are still inseparably intertwined within both historical and contemporary contexts.
Use of AI Disclaimer
no
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CACM – Architecture
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Ehsan Sheikholharam
The Echoes of Empires: Hagia Sophia as a Palimpsest of Politics and Cultures
When entering the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Türkiye, one is captivated by the approximately seven meter in diameter calligraphic medallions that suspends between columns within the building. Inscribed on these medallions in gold lettering are eight of the holiest names of Sunni Islam, which include “Allah” and Prophet “Muhammad.” However, with further discovery of the mosque, Christian mosaics are found slightly uncovered, sparking a spectacle among many individuals. Considering the aniconism within Islam and the contrast between Christianity and Islam, this epitomizes the entanglement between the sacred and the political. Hagia Sophia’s layered history, from Byzantine cathedral to Ottoman Mosque, to secular museum, and back to an active mosque in 2020, reveals how architecture can serve shifting regimes and ideologies across time. In the contemporary context, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia from a museum into a functioning mosque reasserts the building’s role as a political and cultural symbol. This transformation has reignited debates about secularism, nationalism, and the place of Islam within the modern Turkish Republic. Erdoğan’s policies have reframed the meaning of Hagia Sophia, positioning it as both a testament to Islamic identity and a statement of political sovereignty, while simultaneously challenging the legacy of Atatürk’s secular reforms. By tracing the transitions of Hagia Sophia, this research explores how sacred architecture mediates between spiritual devotion and state power. It will examine how the building’s reinterpretations reflect broader ideological shifts, from Byzantine Christianity’s imperial authority to Ottoman Islam’s dominance, and finally to modern Türkiye’s contested national identity. Drawing on Mircea Eliade’s theories of sacred space in The Sacred and The Profane: The Nature of Religion and Emilio Gentile’s concept of the “sacralization of politics” in “Fascism as Political Religion” and other books, articles, and images, this study positions Hagia Sophia as a case study in how political regimes appropriate religious monuments to reinforce legitimacy and cultural continuity. A qualitative historical analysis approach will be used to interpret how Hagia Sophia’s evolving role proves the enduring capacity of sacred architecture to negotiate power, faith, and identity, embodying how religion and politics are still inseparably intertwined within both historical and contemporary contexts.