Physics, Art, & History: A Multidisciplinary Exploration of Hagia Sophia
This week, my kids learned about the Hagia Sophia. My 9 & 6 yo girls fell in love with this beautiful building when we were studying the Byzantine Empire. Besides being gorgeous, studying this building allows you to study history, science, art, and religion all at the same time! Any time I can combine so many subjects together is a win.
One structure, hours of learning!
If your kids are into history, science, or art, this post is for you. I suggest activities and projects to bring this building alive!
History → Is it a church, or mosque, or a museum?
For those of you less familiar with this gorgeous building. It was built by Justinian in 537CE/AD. Constantinople (modern day Istanbul) was the Eastern capital of the Roman Empire. When Rome fell to the Visigoths, Constantinople became the capital of the Roman Empire. Historians would later rename the time period Byzantine era just for convenience. But the people of Constantinople would have considered themselves Romans. If you travel to Turkey, you will be rewarded with tons of historical sites that look just like Rome (see picture!) One of the reasons it’s on the top of my personal bucket list!
Christianity was still relatively new at the time Hagia Sophia was built and Justinian was very interested in spreading it. One of the ways he spread the faith was building beautiful churches all around the Roman Empire. Of all these churches, none are as beautiful as the Hagia Sophia (in my opinion) and certainly none are more impressive in scale. The Hagia Sophia was later converted to a Mosque after the Ottoman conquest the mid-1500’s. It was briefly a museum and now it is back to being a Mosque. Luckily, the Mosque leadership still allows visitors and the Christian mosaics are unveiled when services are not in session.
Activities & Projects
Map work - my kids LOVE map work → The left (pink) circle represents the Western Roman Empire (which fell when the Visigoths attacked). The right (purple) circle represents the Eastern Roman Empire where Justinian ruled in Constantinople. We also mapped out the areas that Justinian reconquered (green). If you want to get fancy, you can map out the churches that Justinian built and then go on tours! See next point.
Video tours → We went of video tours of several of the churches that Justinian built. My kids were riveted (me too). Two examples are below.
Make history come alive → We made cut outs of Justinian and his wife Theodora. The girls played with them for hours and weeks later still have them.
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Physics → Standing up to Earthquakes!
One of the most compelling parts of Hagia Sophia is it’s dome! Suspended on top of a square base, it’s defies gravity. In addition, Constantinople exists at the intersection of TWO tectonic plates so the area has earthquakes. The dome actually fell shortly after it was built but the second one has lasted hundreds of years despite earthquakes devastating the local area. There are several scientist groups that are building large-scale models of the building on earthquake plates to understand the physics of how the building is able to withstand these forces. These groups have also put force sensors on the walls of the structure to measure it during earthquakes.
Activities & Projects
Documentaries → There are numerous documentaries out there that discuss the physics of how this feat was accomplished at length. Briefly, the ancient builders used buttresses that can be observed outside of the building to support the inner structure. If your kids really get into this architectural feat, consider introducing them to the flying buttresses of the European cathedrals which allowed then to scrape the sky!
Build a model → If you are crafty, this is a fantastic project to try and recreate. You can go big and make a reconstruction or go small and just try to balance a circular cup on a square base.
Art + Science → Hidden treasures beneath the walls!
Hagia Sophia is known for it’s gorgeous, intricate glass mosaics. An added twist is most of these mosaics are actually still HIDDEN! When Constantinople was conquered by the Caliphate, Hagia Sophia was converted into a Mosque. Many of the Christian mosaics were then covered with plaster. Scientists are using non-invasive imaging to try and discover these hidden gems! Many of the mosaics had gold leaf in them. So scientists are using sophisticated metal detectors that can penetrate several feet into the wall and that can recreate an image from the gold leaf. Once they find a good spot, they start excavating. It’s like a fancy puzzle, wrapped in science and art history!
Activities & Projects
Watch artists recreate glass mosaics → my kids literally said “wow” while watching an artist make a glass mosaic
Make your own mosaics → You can just cut out construction paper or if you want to get fancy you can go to an art supply store and pick out glass or plastic beads
Metal Detector → A cheap project is to bury metal inside sand and use a magnet to find the metal. You can also buy a metal detector or make your own!
History + Art + Religion → How does one make a church or mosque?
The Hagia Sophia represents a very unique structure to study religion and how people of faith build structures to worship in as well as the art they surround themselves with. It was initially built as a church so you can discuss how builders looked to descriptions of ancient Jewish Temples for the floor plan. This church pre-dates the European Cathedrals that would eventually take on a cross like shape. But the height of the dome reaching to the heavens certainly must have influenced places like the gorgeous Duomo of Florence (see below).
However, the Hagia Sophia was eventually turned into a Mosque. By looking at the way the church was modified to serve a different religion is as interesting as what the Caliphate chose to leave behind. Mosques generally are built to face Mecca so a marking for the Qibla was built so worshippers knew where to face. The ceiling was also replaced with scripture from the Quran as well as numerous emblems. Scientists and art historians muse that at the center of the giant dome, there is likely a hidden mosaic of Jesus like other churches built by Justinian!
Most of the Christian mosaics were covered up though many have been relocated and are now visible during visiting hours. But the Caliphate did not disturb the dome. The space was so powerful that they knew to tear it down would be too much of a loss.
Activities & Projects
Architecture → Design your own building! I love looking at architectural plans. Have your kids make up their own buildings. This can be serious places but can also just be designs of fun places for them to play and enjoy!
Why such a deep dive into the Hagia Sophia? Because my kids fell in love with it. No matter what your kids are into, go deep! Let them explore their interests, passions, and great loves!
Childhood should be filled with beauty and curiosity!
~Claire Honeycutt
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I've long thought Hagia Sophia was fascinating for so many reasons.
The recent PBS special on how its design allowed it to withstand likely 100s of earthquakes & aftershocks was amazing.
Also worth noting: the Basilica of San Vitale, in Ravenna Italy has similar mosaics to Hagia Sophia, that haven't been plastered over. At least the ones in Istanbul have been largely preserved, as far as we know.