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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Ayasofya |
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For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
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Type:
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Church |
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Plan Type:
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Cross Plan |
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Year of Costruction:
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Phase:
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Early Middle |
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Investigation Method:
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Altitude:
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230 |
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Region:
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Marmara |
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Province:
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Edirne |
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District:
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Merkez |
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Village:
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Kaleiçi |
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Antique Name:
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| Location: It was located adjacent to the building of Tekel Idaresi on the road to the Keçeciler Gate in the Kaleiçi Neighbourhood of Edirne [Eyice 1965:69; Eyice 1991:218]. |
| Geography and Environment: It was situated inside the city walls of Edirne, but it doesn't exist anymore. |
| Research and Excavation: The Russian Consul, Lechine took a photograph of the building in Edirne in 1888. At present, that photograph has been preserved in the archives of the Bulgarian Archaeology Institute [Eyice 1965:69-70]. In 1875, A. Choisy drew a sketch plan of the building, and published it [Choisy 1883:131, pic. 156; Choisy 1943:37, pic 6; Eyice 1965:pic. 9]. |
| Description: Building Phases: The original construction of the building is dated to the 5th century [Eyice 1965:71]. Based on the shape of the dome, it is suggested that the second phase during the Byzantine Period corresponds to the 12th and 14th centuries. The dome was renovated during the second construction phase, and four massive pillars were added [Eyice 1965:71]. Following the capture of Edirne by the Ottomans, it was converted into a mosque during the rule of Murad I, and a wooden minaret was erected, and it was called the Ayasofya Mosque. Devastated in the 1752 earthquake, it was completely brought down in the late 19th century to re-use the extant material [Eyice 1965:69; Eyice 1991:218]. Architectural Features: It is in cross plan, measuring 32.4x32.4 m. Each of the cross arms is 8.5 m long and 15.2 m wide. The center of the sanctuary was crowned by a dome, 14 m in diameter while the bays comprising the arms of the cross were covered by half-domes. Erected with bricks, the starts of arches have bonds of stone courses. The four massive pillars with vestibules, supporting the dome were added during the second construction phase [Eyice 1965:70; Eyice 1991:218]. |
| Finds: |
| Interpretation: |
| Destruction: No remains survived to date [TAYEx 22.04.2008]. |
