For almost fifteen hundred years, the largest basilica in the world, Hagia Sophia, was at the spiritual centre of both the Christian and Muslim worlds. An architectural wonder, it inspired builders and designers of sacred spaces for centuries.

Duration - 23:12

Credit: NPR excerpt on 'The Sound of The Hagia Sophia, More Than 500 Years Ago.'

Posted: August 13, 2023


Highlights:

• Architectural features of the Hagia Sophia
• Transformation of the Hagia Sophia from a church to a mosque
• Historical and cultural significance of the Hagia Sophia
• Acoustic engineering of the Hagia Sophia
• Use of technology to explore the building
• Significance of the Hagia Sophia as a sanctuary and safe harbor
• Strategic location of Constantinople and its walls
• Parallels between the walls of Constantinople and modern geopolitics
• Shift in focus from cathedrals to skyscrapers and commercial structures
• Power and influence of large institutions and organizations