Transition In Building Worship Utilization Poem by Terence George Craddock (Spectral Images and Images Of Light)

Aya Sophýa Istanbul
church built to honour our God
became prime model
for all mosques to honour Allah

Hagia Sophia Greek
Holy Wisdom
Sancta Sophia Latin
Sancta Sapientia Turkish

designed by the Greek
scientist Isidore of Miletus
who taught physics
in Alexandria Egypt
then Constantinople Bosporus

and Anthemius of Tralles
a Greek professor of Geometry
in Constantinople Byzantium
string construction of ellipse
conic sections elaborate vaulting

of Hagia Sophia incorporate theories
of famed Heron of Alexandria?
utilized to address challenges
presented by problematic building
an expansive dome over large spaces

designed by a physicist
and a mathematician
completed in 537AD rebuilt
by 563 after an earthquake

Aya Sofya an Orthodox
patriarchal basilica
from date of its dedication
in 360 until 1453

serving as cathedral
of Constantinople except
between 1204 and 1261
when it was converted

to a Roman Catholic cathedral
under powerful Latin Patriarch
of Constantinople as the Western
Crusader established Latin Empire

Aya Sofya a mosque
from 1453 until 1931
then secularized opened
as city museum in 1935
now a museum in Istanbul

Aya Sofya 1093 years
principal cathedral
of Constantinople
almost 500 years

principal mosque
of Turkish Istanbul
Hagia Sophia served
as a model for many

other Ottoman mosques
the Kılıç Ali Paşa Mosque
the Rüstem Pasha Mosque
the Şehzade Mosque
the Süleymaniye Mosque

the Sultan Ahmed Mosque
famous Blue Mosque of Istanbul
your vaulted dome planned
to surpass expansive spaces
mirror symbolic ascent into heaven

Aya Sofya famous massive dome
considered an amazing epitome
of surviving Byzantine architecture
changed concept history of architecture

largest cathedral in entire world
for over a thousand imposing years
until Catholic Seville Cathedral
Europe finally completed in 1506

1402-1506 a century in building

history abounds in massive building faith
building faith erected to honour God
transition in building worship utilization