Hagia Sophia restoration sparks discussion in Turkey
The decision to restore the damage sustained over the years by the dome of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul has garnered significant attention from various media outlets in Turkey. For instance, the newspaper Sozcu and the news site T24 reported on it with headlines suggesting that the dome of the former Orthodox Christian cathedral, which is now a mosque, is set to be “dismantled.”
Kathimerini was attending a conference with architects and civil engineers when the news broke. Speaking to the Greek newspaper, participants expressed surprise and questioned how such an intervention would be carried out. “We assume all the necessary studies have been completed,” they said. They emphasised that any intervention must be conducted with great care and under the supervision of various authorities, as Hagia Sophia is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
‘Our architects and art historians conducted a period analysis based on information obtained visually or from written documents and sources’
Kathimerini attempted to reach members of the scientific committee responsible for the restoration of Hagia Sophia. Some directed us to authorities such as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Directorate General of Foundations, while others promised to respond to our inquiries in the coming days.
An article by the Anadolu news agency mentions “dismantling the external side of the dome,” but it does not clarify whether the project will be comprehensive or limited to specific areas. What is confirmed is that a roof will be installed above to protect Hagia Sophia from all kinds of weather conditions. The restoration is expected to begin in the spring of 2025, although no specific timeline for its completion has been provided.
Restoration work is already under way on tombs and minarets located in the grounds surrounding Hagia Sophia. As Ahmet Gulec, a conservation chemist, associate professor, and chairman of the Department of Restoration and Conservation of Artifacts at Istanbul University’s Faculty of Letters, explained to Anadolu: “We started the analysis. It became clear that some of the materials used in previous repairs were cement-based. This was already known, but the analysis confirmed it, and we began removing these sections. Samples were taken for analysis during the scaffolding installation. Our architects and art historians conducted a period analysis based on information obtained visually or from written documents and sources. We are working to confirm this with materials and have made significant progress. These processes take time because so many analyses are involved. Our collaborators are conducting these analyses at the central laboratory of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. We will assess the results together and aim to uncover what was done and when.”
In any case, all of our contacts agree that restricting access to Hagia Sophia by requiring tickets for specific areas has helped reduce the wear and tear on this historic monument.
Source: ekathimerini.com
