ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Restoration and reinforcement work on the dome of the Hagia Sophia, a 1,486-year-old structure, is set to commence in Turkey. This project, described as one of the largest repair undertakings on the historic building, was announced by experts on Monday.
Initially constructed as the largest cathedral in the world, the Hagia Sophia held this title for 900 years until it was seized by Ottoman Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror in 1453. Subsequently, it served as one of Islam’s revered mosques for nearly 500 years. Over 70 years ago, the building was transformed into a museum by Turkey’s secular republic, only to be reconverted into a mosque by President Tayyip Erdogan in 2020.
Asnu Bilban Yalcin, a Byzantine art historian, described the upcoming restoration as a significant undertaking that will unveil new aspects of the Hagia Sophia’s history. She noted that restoration efforts on other parts of the structure have been ongoing for the past decade.
The restoration process will begin with the dome being covered for protection, explained Ahmet Gulec, a specialist in cultural property conservation and repair. Following this, the existing lead cover will be removed to facilitate the restoration and reinforcement work. To address structural vulnerabilities identified through earthquake simulations, experts will focus on reinforcing weak points in the structure.
Professor Hasan Firat Diker, an architecture expert at Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakif University, emphasized that the extent of structural issues will become clearer once the lead cover is removed. Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing restoration, Hagia Sophia is expected to remain accessible to worshippers and visitors.
Experts caution that the restoration timeline is subject to potential delays due to weather conditions and unforeseen complications.
