1. THE HAGIA SOPHIA (HOLY WISDOM), CONSTANTINOPLE, (ISTANBUL), BUILT 532-537 MINARETS (TOWERS) ADDED BY THE TURKS IN THE 15 TH CENTURY.

2. HAGIA SOPHIA, LOOKING WEST

4. ELEVATION, HAGIA SOPHIA DIMENSIONS: 240’ W x 270’ L x 180’ HIGH DOME DIAMETER = 108’

5. DOME ON PENDENTIVES – IN THEORY, PENDENTIVES BEAR WEIGHT OF DOME (NOT WALLS OF BUILDING)

6. INTERIOR OF HAGIA SOPHIA PENDENTIVE PIER AT HAGIA SOPHIA, PIERS WERE NECESSARY TO BEAR WEIGHT OF DOME

7. INTERIOR OF HAGIA SOPHIA, LOOKING SOUTHWEST DOME IS CONSTRUCTED OF? THIN BRICKS MOST REMARKABLE ASPECT? LIGHT – 40 WINDOWS IN DOME – IT “FLOATS”

8. Close up – see golden mosaic tiles