What happened to the original mosaics in the Hagia Sophia?

The original mosaics were not destroyed by the Ottoman conquerors but merely covered up when the city was captured in 1453. When Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum, they were uncovered so that visitors would enjoy them.
 

Can you see the mosaics in Hagia Sophia?

However, as of July 2021, all mosaics on the ground floor of Hagia Sophia are open. Some of the mosaics of Hagia Sophia are located in the galleries on the upper floor. If you go to Hagia Sophia right now, you may not see these mosaics because the upper floor is still under restoration.
 

What happened to the mosaics when the Muslims took control of the Hagia Sophia?

Although images of humans are almost never found in mosque architecture, the depictions of Mary and Jesus remained uncovered in the mosque of Hagia Sophia until 1739. At that time, the mosaic was plastered over. The plaster was later removed during the building’s 1934 conversion into a museum.
 

What mosaics are in the Hagia Sophia?

Hagia Sophia was beautifully decorated with mosaics within the centuries during Byzantine period. These mosaics depicted Virgin Mary, Jesus, saints and emperors or empresses. The history of the earliest mosaics is unknown as many of them were destroyed or covered during Iconoclasm.

How old are the mosaics in Hagia Sophia?

Those early works were all destroyed during the Byzantine Iconoclasm movements in the eighth and ninth centuries, which condemned the use of religious images and icons. Most of the mosaics that adorn the monument’s walls today were made between the 10th and 12th centuries; but those have come under attack, too.
 

What is the oldest mosaic in the world?

The world’s oldest mosaic has recently been discovered in Yozgat in central Turkey. Archaeologists excavated the design in Yogat’s Sorgun district. The mosaic measures 10 by 23 feet, is comprised of 3,147 stones, and is thought to be over 3,500 years old.
 

What happened to the artwork in the Hagia Sophia during the time of the Ottoman Empire?

When the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople (later renaming it Istanbul) in 1453, the structure again became the prize of the victor. Christian mosaics were plastered over, relics and ceremonial objects were removed, and Hagia Sophia was transformed into a mosque.

Why were some of the mosaics destroyed?

The first was during the 8th and 9th century when the Eastern church objected to the use of religious icons or images so many mosaics with Christian themes were removed. The second was due to the influence of Islam which prohibits the use of images of any sentient beings (animals included).
 

Where is the Lod mosaic now?

The Roman Mosaic from Lod, Israel | The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
 

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