The Basilica of Hagia Sophia Built around the 6th century AD, the Basilica of Hagia Sophia which; meaning "Holy Wisdom", it was originally a cathedral in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Türkiye) during the Byzantine Empire. It had initially served as a cathedral for Constantine. The original was constructed of wood. During the revolts of 404 AD the Hagia Sophia was largely destroyed by fire and was rebuilt in 405 AD The second church was destroyed during a revolt in 532 AD The construction of the Hagia Sophia was a challenge in this period. The domed roof required a lot of support. It ultimately rested on spandrels: spherical triangles that arise from the enormous pillars that support the weight of the dome. The Byzantines had decorated the interior of Iconoclasm means the rejection or destruction of religious images as heretical. “In 726, all icons, religious images and statues were removed from Hagia Sophia by order of Emperor Leo the Isaurian, as he was against the veneration of images.” (Hagiasophia.com) With its vaulted and domed ceilings, artists were able to use curved surfaces for dramatic effect or to complement narratives. The Hagia Sophia was filled with frescoes and mosaics of religious and royal events from the Byzantine period. Many of the mosaics were destroyed and the frescoes were covered by several layers of paint, starting from the wooden construction of the domed ceiling, up to the current marble and rock structures throughout the building. “The church has a rectangular shape and the square nave measuring 102 feet is covered by a central dome supported by four spandrels. The portico around the dome is uninterrupted with 40 arched windows to bring light inside. Excluding the two narthexes and the great atrium, the basilica measures 229 x 245 feet. The atrium measures 157 x 106 feet and the total length of the building measures 442 feet. (http://www.hagiasophia.com). Vestibules were later built to provide privacy and protection for the royals during services and meetings. Works of art such as the marble jars on the main floor were brought from other countries to decorate the church. Mosaics were created depicting the royals and their signatures of the time. The library created in the time of Mahmut I for school children and other scholars boasted a display of his calligraphic signature called "Tugra". The front of the library has six columns and in the middle there are bronze grills that closed the library