Visit the museum website of Hagia Sophia to read about the history and visit this website to see photos of the structure or gaze at the beautiful dome. Remember that Hagia Sophia has experienced several identities and functions through the years. Originally built as a Christian church, it became a mosque, and it now functions as a museum.

The Hagia Sophia is the hallmark of Early Byzantine architecture. Built under the rule of Justinian, the Hagia Sophia or "church of holy wisdom" originally functioned as a christian church, later converted to a mosque, and is presently a museum that hosts millions of visitors each year.

Module 9 continues to trace the footprints of the original Roman Empire but through the lens of the Eastern influences that occurred in and around Constantinople. Called the Byzantine Empire, it refers to the original location of Constantinople called "Byzantium". Byzantine culture was the representative of eastern half of the Roman Empire and directly followed the fall of Rome and lasted until the 15th century.  There are some stylistic and cultural anomalies that are most famously seen in Venice. While technically located in the "west" at that time, Venice was its own indepedent power and to this day, there are Byzantine influences present. For example, Basilica San Marco's rounded spires and  its brilliantly golden mosaic interior.

Visit the Opera di Religione della Diocesi Di Ravenna website where you can see “The Most Beautiful Mosaics in the World” at the Basilica of San Vitale, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Basilica of Sant'apollinare Nuovo and more!