Editing Hagia Sophia (section)

==Notable elements and decorations==
Originally, under Justinian's reign, the interior decorations consisted of abstract designs on marble slabs on the walls and floors as well as mosaics on the curving vaults. Of these mosaics, the two [[archangel]]s [[Gabriel]] and [[Michael (archangel)|Michael]] are still visible in the [[spandrel]]s (corners) of the [[bema]]. There were already a few figurative decorations, as attested by the late 6th-century ''[[ekphrasis]]'' of [[Paul the Silentiary]], the ''Description of Hagia Sophia''. The spandrels of the gallery are faced in inlaid thin slabs (''[[opus sectile]]''), showing patterns and figures of flowers and birds in precisely cut pieces of white marble set against a background of black marble. In later stages, figurative mosaics were added, which were destroyed during the [[Byzantine Iconoclasm|iconoclastic controversy]] (726–843). Present mosaics are from the post-iconoclastic period.

Apart from the mosaics, many figurative decorations were added during the second half of the 9th century: an image of Christ in the central dome; Eastern Orthodox saints, prophets and [[Church Fathers]] in the [[Tympanum (architecture)|tympana]] below; historical figures connected with this church, such as [[Patriarch Ignatius of Constantinople|Patriarch Ignatius]]; and some scenes from the [[Gospels]] in the galleries. [[Basil II|Basil&nbsp;II]] let artists paint a giant six-winged [[seraph]] on each of the four pendentives.<ref name="ma287" /> The Ottomans covered their faces with golden stars,<ref name="ma287" /> but in 2009, one of them was restored to its original state.<ref name="ro157">Ronchey (2010), p. 157</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180px">
File: Empress loge Hagia Sophia 2007 002.jpg|The Loge of the Empress. The columns are made of green Thessalian stone.
File:Empress loge Hagia Sophia 2007 006.jpg|Verd antique columns and disc in the empress's loggia
File: Marble jar Hagia Sophia 2007 001.jpg|Lustration urn brought from [[Pergamon]] by [[Murad III]]. Carved from a single block of marble in the 2nd century BC.
File: Marble door Hagia Sophia 2007 003.jpg|Marble Door
File: Istanbul.Hagia Sophia052.jpg|The wishing column
</gallery>

===Loggia of the Empress===
The [[loggia]] of the empress is located in the centre of the gallery of the Hagia Sophia, above the Imperial Gate and directly opposite the apse. From this [[matroneum]] (women's gallery), the [[Byzantine Empress|empress]] and the court-ladies would watch the proceedings down below. A green stone disc of [[verd antique]] marks the spot where the [[throne]] of the empress stood.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.livescience.com/27574-hagia-sophia.html |title=Hagia Sophia: Facts, History & Architecture |work=Live Science |access-date=12 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=slvfEBAGZFEC&q=loge+of+the+empress+hagia+sophia&pg=PA37 |title=Istanbul City Guide (English) |publisher=ASBOOK |language=en |year=2009}}</ref>

===Lustration urns===
Two huge marble [[lustratio]]n (ritual purification) [[urn]]s were brought from [[Pergamon]] during the reign of Sultan [[Murad III]]. They are from the [[Hellenistic period]] and carved from single blocks of marble.<ref name="mw91" />

===Marble Door===
The Marble Door inside the Hagia Sophia is located in the southern upper enclosure or gallery. It was used by the participants in [[synod]]s, who entered and left the meeting chamber through this door. It is said{{By whom|date=December 2017}} that each side is symbolic and that one side represents heaven while the other represents hell. Its panels are covered in fruits and fish motifs. The door opens into a space that was used as a venue for solemn meetings and important resolutions of patriarchate officials.<ref>"The Marble Door." The Marble Door |Hagia Sophia Museum, ayasofyamuzesi.gov.tr/en/door-marble-door.</ref>

===Nice Door===
The Nice Door is the oldest architectural element found in the Hagia Sophia dating back to the 2nd century BC. The decorations are of reliefs of geometric shapes as well as plants that are believed to have come from a pagan temple in [[Tarsus, Mersin|Tarsus]] in [[Cilicia (Roman province)|Cilicia]], part of the [[Cibyrrhaeot Theme]] in modern-day [[Mersin Province]] in south-eastern Turkey. It was incorporated into the building by [[Emperor Theophilos]] in 838 where it is placed in the south exit in the inner narthex.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ayasofyamuzesi.gov.tr/en/door-nice-door |title="The Nice Door." The nice door, Hagia Sophia Museum |access-date=19 November 2017 |archive-date=29 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229231848/http://ayasofyamuzesi.gov.tr/en/door-nice-door |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Imperial Gate===

The Imperial Gate is the door that was used solely by the Emperor and his personal bodyguard and retinue.<ref name="Opstall-2018" /> At {{convert|7|m}} it is the largest door in the Hagia Sophia and has been dated to the 6th century. Byzantine sources say it was made with wood from [[Noah's Ark]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ayasofyamuzesi.gov.tr/en/door-emperor-door |title="The Emperor Door." The Emperor Door, Hagia Sophia Museum |access-date=15 July 2020 |archive-date=30 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230004659/http://ayasofyamuzesi.gov.tr/en/door-emperor-door |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In April 2022, the door was vandalised by unknown assailant(s).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/imperial-gate-in-hagia-sophia-mosque-damaged-173144 |title='Imperial Gate' in Hagia Sophia Mosque vandalized |date=21 April 2022 |access-date=21 April 2022 |archive-date=21 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421214857/https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/imperial-gate-in-hagia-sophia-mosque-damaged-173144 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Wishing column===
At the northwest of the building, there is a column with a hole in the middle covered by bronze plates. This column goes by different names; the "perspiring" or "sweating column", the "crying column", or the "wishing column". Legend states that it has been moist since the appearance of [[Gregory Thaumaturgus]] near the column in 1200. It is believed that touching the moisture cures many illnesses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://veryturkey.com/destination-info/istanbul/aya-sofya-or-hagia-sophia |title=Aya Sofya or Hagia Sophia Mosque-Church and Museum |work=Very Turkey |access-date=26 March 2014 |archive-date=17 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217015308/http://veryturkey.com/destination-info/istanbul/aya-sofya-or-hagia-sophia |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qt0-AQAAMAAJ&q=%22sweating+column%22+%22gregory+thaumaturgus%22&pg=PA153 |title=The Architectural Review |date=15 July 1905 |publisher=Architectural Press Limited |access-date=15 July 2020 |via=Google Books}}</ref>

===Viking inscription ===
In the southern section of Hagia Sophia, a 9th-century [[Vikings|Viking]] inscription has been discovered, which reads, "Halvdan was here." It is theorized that the inscription was created by a Viking soldier serving as a mercenary in the [[Eastern Roman Empire]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-04 |title=Discover the Beautiful Inside Hagia Sophia in Istanbul |url=https://istanbul-pulse.com/discover-the-beautiful-inside-hagia-sophia-in-istanbul/ |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=istanbul-pulse.com |language=en-US}}</ref>