I've never been there, but

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I miss this place. I don’t know if that’s the correct term, but whenever I think of the Hagia Sophia I feel a deep sense of loss and longing. I have hope about the Turkish government, but not much faith in them. I don’t know… I don’t even know what I feel. But I can’t look at pictures and see the white-wash without my heart breaking.

 
I know what you mean. I was first made aware of Haiga Sophia as an art history student and was confused at the interior pictures of an obviously Christian church (we were studying the architecture) with these big round medalions inscribed in Arabic hanging from the ceiling! Then to learn (years later) it went from a church to a mosque to a museum was just unbelievable. Like the feeling I got going thru the Museum of Religion in Glasgow. Religious customs, beliefs, sacred books and furnishings can now be viewed as museum pieces.
Thanks for posting the picture. It’s still a marvel and maybe some day… But then I read about the Church of the Nativity being submitted to UNESCO as a ‘historic’ site by the Palestinians and I have to swallow really hard. Pray! Pray! Pray!
 
Nix89 said:
I know what you mean. I was first made aware of Haiga Sophia as an art history student and was confused at the interior pictures of an obviously Christian church (we were studying the architecture) with these big round medalions inscribed in Arabic hanging from the ceiling! Then to learn (years later) it went from a church to a mosque to a museum was just unbelievable. Like the feeling I got going thru the Museum of Religion in Glasgow. Religious customs, beliefs, sacred books and furnishings can now be viewed as museum pieces.
Thanks for posting the picture. It’s still a marvel and maybe some day… But then I read about the Church of the Nativity being submitted to UNESCO as a ‘historic’ site by the Palestinians and I have to swallow really hard. Pray! Pray! Pray!
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I too learned about Haiga Sophia in art history class. I’ve never been there, but what a sight it must be!
 
Well, look on the bright side: it still exists :). The Arabs were obviously quite impressed by it since they copied it a few times (especially during the Abbasid caliphate). There are many structures which sadly can no longer be seen.

But I do empathize. I have a sense of longing for the Library of Alexandria, the Imperial Library of Constantinople, and the Library of the Catholic University of Leuven (plus their contents). Even though no one really knows what was contained in them… 🤷

-Byrnwiga
 
What happened to the university of Leuven? Sacked by the Saracens as well?
 
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