I totally agree!! It is a church not a mosque....and the fact the Turkish government has converted Hagia Sophia to a museum-- it furthers the mockery of this great building!!!
@GudMuzlim786 Well, the Mezquita in Cordoba is Spain's business, not Greece's. As for the Islamic elements in Hagia Sophia, they aren't all that extraordinary other than the inscription inside the dome and the calligraphy with the names of Muhammed etc.; you can't compare it with Sultanahmet. If Turkey really wanted to make a gesture to the Greeks, it could give Hagia Sophia back. It would be a fine symbol; Orthodoxy's most important church and one of Islam's most beautiful mosques together.
the CATHEDRAL of Cordoba was first built by the visigoths and transformed it into a mosque with the muslim invasion of the 8th century, the spanish christians just basically RECONVERTED the mosque into the church it was.
Hagia Sophia was never a mosque...it was built by christians..by byzantines in the 6th century.
Thats the difference between these two cases. Give Hagia Sophia back! Cordoba will remain as a Church as it was before being a mosque
@STCOMPLINE See how they are wearing shoes, that would be strictly forbidden in a mosque. It's a museum already since 1935, because of it's massive historical value.
Hagia Sophia was one of the best buildings ever built by the Byzantines! The Ottomans were descendants of the Byzantines but just with a different religion! If you read the history of Sultan Mehmed II, it says that he wanted to re-unite the Roman Empire and he was actually about to because he captured the city of Otranto, near Italy!
I wonder if those turkish civilians are aware that this museum is a shining example of the great civilization that there ancestors worked relentlessly for 100's of years to destroy. Im sure most of them think the Ottomans built it. it's kind of sad.
@DavidBendele No, most of them know it was a church before; and Turkish tour guides there make no claims to the contrary. I wouldn't say the Ottomans' aim was to "destroy" the civilization. Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror at least saw the Ottoman Empire as a continuation, and himself as the new emperor of Rome, though in a very different tradition of course.
@DavidBendele i think its sad that you would actually think that... the turks werent born yesterday, in fact they are one of the worlds most ancient citizens. and no they didint and wont destroy it... and the christian and islamic artifacts are still there...
I am a Christian, but I think it is probably better the Hagia Sophia remains as it is; a monument symbolising the struggle between Christianity and Islam.
I would love to see it for myself one day, A true Roman masterpiece.
@STCOMPLINE You do realize that the Hagia Sofia is a museum, not a mosque? In 1931, it was decommissioned as a mosque and restored to show its history as a Orthodox (and for a period during the 13th century, a Catholic) church and Islamic mosque.
Its like saying, "The Parthenon needs to be given back to the ancient Greek religion it belongs to the cult of athena not christianity!" Both are museums/monuments which testify to the history of their use by different religions.
Türkiye Cumhuriyeti'ni kuran Türkiye halkına Türk milleti denir. ℂ⋆
Bu ülke, tarihte Türk’tü, bugün de Türk’tür ve sonsuza dek Türk kalacaktır
TÜRKİYE CUMHURİYETİ
OSMANLI DEVLETİ - 1453 conquest of Istanbul
Benim Türk milletine, Türk cemiyetine, Türklüğün istikbaline ait ödevlerim bitmemiştir, siz onları tamamlayacaksınız. Siz de, sizden sonrakilere benim sözümü tekrar ediniz
@shamsham1983 He was talking about the Barbarian invasions that were going on in the Western Roman Empire. The Germanic and other tribes from the North and East that helped to destroy the empire.
Hi, I dont know where many greeks get this claim, but in the name Istanbul don´t comes from the greek words "Is tin poli". Yes, once the city was called Istinpoli and in that time the Turks called the city also as Istinbolin. Than the turks would give the city a turkish image and TURKISH name and called it "Islambol" wich means "rich of Islam". At last Mustafa Kemal called it "Istanbul". it is absurd for us to change the name Constantinople to give another greek name to the city.
@xxTurquiaxx I think that the meaning that greeks give to the name Istambol isn't just a claim, but based in historical evidence, the one you use too. The turks once called it "istinbolin", so this change that kemal is supposed to have made isn't really a change.He just used the already existing name translating it as he wished. I don't mean to insult or anything, I am just giving my sincere opinion.
why say it became a byzantine empire, it never was was, byzantine empire is use to split the two time sets and eastern and western empires
narsplace 2 weeks ago
Istanbul is one of the most beautiful cities in the world! I'd love to visit someday!
ABookwormAndProud 3 weeks ago
Wait its a mosque? I thought it was a palace
JihadJoeC4 2 months ago
I totally agree!! It is a church not a mosque....and the fact the Turkish government has converted Hagia Sophia to a museum-- it furthers the mockery of this great building!!!
Kael7777 6 months ago
@Kael7777 u must thank to turks cose building still standing but in greece many mosque destroyed by cristians
TurkshFtr 4 months ago 10
@TurkshFtr True, but you took our city and church and made it into a mosque, so we have a reason
SerbianUltras 2 days ago
it needs to be repainted I think on the outside
Abdallah0822 6 months ago
@GudMuzlim786 Well, the Mezquita in Cordoba is Spain's business, not Greece's. As for the Islamic elements in Hagia Sophia, they aren't all that extraordinary other than the inscription inside the dome and the calligraphy with the names of Muhammed etc.; you can't compare it with Sultanahmet. If Turkey really wanted to make a gesture to the Greeks, it could give Hagia Sophia back. It would be a fine symbol; Orthodoxy's most important church and one of Islam's most beautiful mosques together.
sazji 6 months ago
@GudMuzlim786 Difference between the cases:
the CATHEDRAL of Cordoba was first built by the visigoths and transformed it into a mosque with the muslim invasion of the 8th century, the spanish christians just basically RECONVERTED the mosque into the church it was.
Hagia Sophia was never a mosque...it was built by christians..by byzantines in the 6th century.
Thats the difference between these two cases. Give Hagia Sophia back! Cordoba will remain as a Church as it was before being a mosque
Komnenit 7 months ago
Agia Sophía needs to come back in communion with Rome.
jorgecarrillo2 7 months ago
@STCOMPLINE See how they are wearing shoes, that would be strictly forbidden in a mosque. It's a museum already since 1935, because of it's massive historical value.
iRawrJan 7 months ago
@STCOMPLINE Dosen't belong to either of them!!!
baywatchrules12 7 months ago
Hagia Sophia was one of the best buildings ever built by the Byzantines! The Ottomans were descendants of the Byzantines but just with a different religion! If you read the history of Sultan Mehmed II, it says that he wanted to re-unite the Roman Empire and he was actually about to because he captured the city of Otranto, near Italy!
GudMuzlim786 8 months ago
This is MOSQUE... And müslims inside =) '' From Turkey ''
FaciaDolu 8 months ago
I wonder if those turkish civilians are aware that this museum is a shining example of the great civilization that there ancestors worked relentlessly for 100's of years to destroy. Im sure most of them think the Ottomans built it. it's kind of sad.
DavidBendele 8 months ago
@DavidBendele No, most of them know it was a church before; and Turkish tour guides there make no claims to the contrary. I wouldn't say the Ottomans' aim was to "destroy" the civilization. Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror at least saw the Ottoman Empire as a continuation, and himself as the new emperor of Rome, though in a very different tradition of course.
sazji 6 months ago
@DavidBendele i think its sad that you would actually think that... the turks werent born yesterday, in fact they are one of the worlds most ancient citizens. and no they didint and wont destroy it... and the christian and islamic artifacts are still there...
edurmaz100 5 months ago 4
A place I want to visit. Thanks for posting.
EgansBar1 9 months ago
For Orthodox Christians it belongs only to God, and it will be a church once more, as it was built for that purpose.
MMiskos 9 months ago
@MMiskos Be a church?? It is a church! lol
baywatchrules12 9 months ago
Very nice video, with information. You have great videos RickSteves. Thanks for sharing!
alaraa75 9 months ago
I am a Christian, but I think it is probably better the Hagia Sophia remains as it is; a monument symbolising the struggle between Christianity and Islam.
I would love to see it for myself one day, A true Roman masterpiece.
ak981260 9 months ago 2
@STCOMPLINE You do realize that the Hagia Sofia is a museum, not a mosque? In 1931, it was decommissioned as a mosque and restored to show its history as a Orthodox (and for a period during the 13th century, a Catholic) church and Islamic mosque.
Its like saying, "The Parthenon needs to be given back to the ancient Greek religion it belongs to the cult of athena not christianity!" Both are museums/monuments which testify to the history of their use by different religions.
mikmuroya 9 months ago
Türkiye Cumhuriyeti'ni kuran Türkiye halkına Türk milleti denir. ℂ⋆
Bu ülke, tarihte Türk’tü, bugün de Türk’tür ve sonsuza dek Türk kalacaktır
TÜRKİYE CUMHURİYETİ
OSMANLI DEVLETİ - 1453 conquest of Istanbul
Benim Türk milletine, Türk cemiyetine, Türklüğün istikbaline ait ödevlerim bitmemiştir, siz onları tamamlayacaksınız. Siz de, sizden sonrakilere benim sözümü tekrar ediniz
Fatih Sultan Mehmet & Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK
harbiye100 9 months ago
LOL @ the Greeks who want the Turks to give the Hagia Sophia back to the Eastern Orthodox Church.....its not gonna happen.
With that logic, Australia, America and South America should be given back to the indigenous...
TheCityofGod 9 months ago
@STCOMPLINE muslims could have destroyed all the pictures in it. but they didnt . they have respect to all religions. now its a museum not a mosque.
zelifcan 9 months ago
Wrong, Mr. Steves!
Hagia Sophia is translated as 'Holy Wisdom'.
TheJunito65 10 months ago
@STCOMPLINE Well how about we take back our Mezquita in Spain then because that belongs to Islam not to Christianity!
GudMuzlim786 10 months ago
@STCOMPLINE hagia sopha is a museum right now, it doesn't belong to the islam, it belongs to the ministry of culture of turkey...
aporia82 11 months ago 24
@aporia82 Great answer!
alaraa75 9 months ago
thank you justinianus, best temple ever..
inek33 11 months ago
Barbarians? Pagans are barbarian..Ottomans are monotheism
shamsham1983 1 year ago
@shamsham1983 He was talking about the Barbarian invasions that were going on in the Western Roman Empire. The Germanic and other tribes from the North and East that helped to destroy the empire.
gordo10bx 11 months ago
Islambol = The last capital of Islamic Caliphat
xxTurquiaxx 1 year ago
@donmanos
Hi, I dont know where many greeks get this claim, but in the name Istanbul don´t comes from the greek words "Is tin poli". Yes, once the city was called Istinpoli and in that time the Turks called the city also as Istinbolin. Than the turks would give the city a turkish image and TURKISH name and called it "Islambol" wich means "rich of Islam". At last Mustafa Kemal called it "Istanbul". it is absurd for us to change the name Constantinople to give another greek name to the city.
xxTurquiaxx 1 year ago
@xxTurquiaxx I think that the meaning that greeks give to the name Istambol isn't just a claim, but based in historical evidence, the one you use too. The turks once called it "istinbolin", so this change that kemal is supposed to have made isn't really a change.He just used the already existing name translating it as he wished. I don't mean to insult or anything, I am just giving my sincere opinion.
karakatapalomoyna 1 year ago
this is really sick how christians are crazy why dont they just let people in istanbul what they are.. muslims..
fahrudingoz 1 year ago
They lasted over 1000 years not just under
ROBHUGHES1453 1 year ago
KONSTANTINOUPOLIS and AGIA SOFIA is the capitol of 600mio ordodox cristians!!The day will comes and god give us back!!
Greekbouzouki35 1 year ago
it is not constantinople, its now ISTANBUL. I-STAN-BUL
proexot 1 year ago
Its Sictir git ...Sic-tir-git .....
Rhomios 11 months ago
It is proper for ALL Christians to STILL call the city Constantinople
MarkCox73 1 year ago
Concise history of Constantinople and Hagia Sophia.
jacquioe 1 year ago