Built by Justinian 1^st in 532 AD as a symbol of the might and glory of the Byzantine Empire after the victory over the rebels of the Nike Revolt, the Hagia Sophia not only served as an icon of political power, but was also intended to assert - and give a backdrop for - the Emperor's claim to be God's representative on earth.

Designed as a domed basilica, the Hagia Sophia has a large nave, two aisles (north and south) as well as two narthexes to the west. However, it is not so much the basic architectural shape as the shear scale and the strokes of engineering genius that make this church so unique and exemplary. The architectural pinnacle, in the true sense of the word, is the extraordinary dome crowning the central building.