«Η ΑΓΙΑ ΣΟΦΙΑ
πρέπει
να συνεχίσει
να συνεχίσει
να παρουσιάζεται
με όλα τα επίπεδά της,
ως σύμβολο
της
διαθρησκευτικής αδελφότητας
διαθρησκευτικής αδελφότητας
και της παγκόσμιας ειρήνης»,
η χλιαρή τοποθέτηση
του τουρκικού ICOMOS
THE HAGIA SOPHIA should continue to be presented
with all its layers,
as
a symbol of interfaith brotherhood and world peace
a symbol of interfaith brotherhood and world peace
The Hagia Sophia, dating from the 6th century, has been admired around
the Mediterranean for centuries as an architectural masterpiece. It has drawn
the admiration of visitors with the marbles adorning its floors and walls, its
wide dome, and its glittering gold and silver mosaics. Converted into a mosque
by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror in themid-15th century, the monument has been
highly respected by the Ottomans. Sultan Mehmet II established a foundation to
protect this important cultural heritage site, ensuring its survival by
endowing various properties for its upkeep.
the Mediterranean for centuries as an architectural masterpiece. It has drawn
the admiration of visitors with the marbles adorning its floors and walls, its
wide dome, and its glittering gold and silver mosaics. Converted into a mosque
by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror in themid-15th century, the monument has been
highly respected by the Ottomans. Sultan Mehmet II established a foundation to
protect this important cultural heritage site, ensuring its survival by
endowing various properties for its upkeep.
After the War of Independence, the cultural heritage of Anatolia was
transmitted to the care of the Turkish Republic, and experts were invited to
work on monuments and to preserve them with their identities intact. Some of
the endowed properties (foundations, or waqfs) were adaptively reused as
museums, libraries, institutes and such, thereby providing for their
maintenance and repair. Among examples that can be cited are the Seljukid madrassahs
in Konya and Sivas and the Mahmut Pasha Bedesten (Bazaar) in Ankara.
transmitted to the care of the Turkish Republic, and experts were invited to
work on monuments and to preserve them with their identities intact. Some of
the endowed properties (foundations, or waqfs) were adaptively reused as
museums, libraries, institutes and such, thereby providing for their
maintenance and repair. Among examples that can be cited are the Seljukid madrassahs
in Konya and Sivas and the Mahmut Pasha Bedesten (Bazaar) in Ankara.
The decision taken in 1934 by Atatürk and his cabinet members for the
Hagia Sophia to become a museum reflects the worldview of the Republic of
Turkey and its interpretation of ‘common cultural heritage’. Secular Turkey
opted for the museum function, to allow for scientific research that would
informthe best way to safeguard a monument of universal value and present it in
the best possible way. With the transformation to a museum, the artistic
attributes of the monument that had previously been covered over were once
again made open and visible. This function allowed the figured mosaics and
calligraphic plates to stand side by side in peaceful co-habitation. The
mihrab, pulpit, sultan’s gallery and lecterns, which had been added for use as
a mosque during the Ottoman period, were preserved in situ, and the Hagia
Sophia was presented for the people from around the world to visit as a
monument reflecting our multi-layered history.
Hagia Sophia to become a museum reflects the worldview of the Republic of
Turkey and its interpretation of ‘common cultural heritage’. Secular Turkey
opted for the museum function, to allow for scientific research that would
informthe best way to safeguard a monument of universal value and present it in
the best possible way. With the transformation to a museum, the artistic
attributes of the monument that had previously been covered over were once
again made open and visible. This function allowed the figured mosaics and
calligraphic plates to stand side by side in peaceful co-habitation. The
mihrab, pulpit, sultan’s gallery and lecterns, which had been added for use as
a mosque during the Ottoman period, were preserved in situ, and the Hagia
Sophia was presented for the people from around the world to visit as a
monument reflecting our multi-layered history.
Thanks to this visionary decision by the Turkish State, researchers from
many countries studied the architecture, loadbearing system, and decorative
works of the monument, as well as developing proposals for its conservation.
International expert contribution was provided by UNESCO for the protection of
the Hagia Sophia, which was inscribed on the World Heritage List as part of the
Historic Areas of Istanbul in 1985. Various international organizations,
including ICCROM, the World Monuments Fund, Princeton University and the German
Research Fund, conducted advanced technical analyses on the dome and piers,
supporting the conservation efforts to mitigate the effects of time on the
structure.
many countries studied the architecture, loadbearing system, and decorative
works of the monument, as well as developing proposals for its conservation.
International expert contribution was provided by UNESCO for the protection of
the Hagia Sophia, which was inscribed on the World Heritage List as part of the
Historic Areas of Istanbul in 1985. Various international organizations,
including ICCROM, the World Monuments Fund, Princeton University and the German
Research Fund, conducted advanced technical analyses on the dome and piers,
supporting the conservation efforts to mitigate the effects of time on the
structure.
Today, there is a debate about transforming Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
The decision for the use as a museum strengthened the perception of the
multi-layered character that the Hagia Sophia accrued over time. It is
essential that the change in use does not make it more difficult to grasp and
perceive the Hagia Sophia as a masterpiece of 6th century art and architecture.
For this reason, preserving the museum function of the Hagia Sophia also means
preserving the Outstanding Universal Value that encompasses this identity,
which justified its inscription as World Heritage.
The decision for the use as a museum strengthened the perception of the
multi-layered character that the Hagia Sophia accrued over time. It is
essential that the change in use does not make it more difficult to grasp and
perceive the Hagia Sophia as a masterpiece of 6th century art and architecture.
For this reason, preserving the museum function of the Hagia Sophia also means
preserving the Outstanding Universal Value that encompasses this identity,
which justified its inscription as World Heritage.
Based on the principle of continuity in State decisions, the most
rightful approach would be the continuation of the museum function. The use of
the Hagia Sophia as a museum was taken as a basis in its acceptance on the
World Heritage List. As a State Party that is signatory to the UNESCO World
Heritage Convention, the Republic of Turkey is obliged to comply with the
Convention’s stipulations. The decision taken by Atatürk, who founded the
Republic of Turkey, and his friends must also be respected. The Hagia Sophia is
the most visited museum in Istanbul. Scientific studies and conservation works
for the monument are ongoing. The discovery of an angel’s face on the northeast
pendentive in recent years hints at the surprises that the building may still have
for us. The mosaics in the interior, which have been preserved for centuries
and are of high artistic value, should not be screened over.
rightful approach would be the continuation of the museum function. The use of
the Hagia Sophia as a museum was taken as a basis in its acceptance on the
World Heritage List. As a State Party that is signatory to the UNESCO World
Heritage Convention, the Republic of Turkey is obliged to comply with the
Convention’s stipulations. The decision taken by Atatürk, who founded the
Republic of Turkey, and his friends must also be respected. The Hagia Sophia is
the most visited museum in Istanbul. Scientific studies and conservation works
for the monument are ongoing. The discovery of an angel’s face on the northeast
pendentive in recent years hints at the surprises that the building may still have
for us. The mosaics in the interior, which have been preserved for centuries
and are of high artistic value, should not be screened over.
The purpose of heritage conservation is to reveal the authentic values
and attributes of cultural assets, to preserve and maintain them, to respect
their historical and other values, and to ensure that every segment of society
understands these values and celebrates them as enriching and adding meaning to
their lives. Features that are integral parts of the monument should be
displayed where they belong. What is respected at the international level, in
the arena where nations of the world meet, is the preservation of historical
memory and the universal, holistic nature of the culture shared by nations. The
Hagia Sophia’s presentation, intactwith all its layers, should not be
obstructed, so this magnificent monument of world architectural history can
keep inspiring us all as a symbol of interfaith brotherhood and world peace.
and attributes of cultural assets, to preserve and maintain them, to respect
their historical and other values, and to ensure that every segment of society
understands these values and celebrates them as enriching and adding meaning to
their lives. Features that are integral parts of the monument should be
displayed where they belong. What is respected at the international level, in
the arena where nations of the world meet, is the preservation of historical
memory and the universal, holistic nature of the culture shared by nations. The
Hagia Sophia’s presentation, intactwith all its layers, should not be
obstructed, so this magnificent monument of world architectural history can
keep inspiring us all as a symbol of interfaith brotherhood and world peace.
SOURCE: ICOMOS Turkey National Committee, 10.07.2020. ΑΡΧΕΙΟΝ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΥ, 11.7.2020.
ΠΕΡΙΣΣΟΤΕΡΑ για την ΑΓΙΑ ΣΟΦΙΑ, ΕΔΩ.
ΛΕΞΕΙΣ: ΑΓΙΑ ΣΟΦΙΑ
