Hagia Sophia: Engineering the Unimaginable | SLICE EXPERTS | FULL DOC

Considered the finest example of Byzantine architecture in the world, Hagia Sophia was constructed on a scale unprecedented in human history. Built in the amazingly short time of five years, it bears witness to an amazing scientific knowledge and a rich cultural heritage from the past.
What were the artistic and cultural intentions of its architects? How did they manage to overcome the incredible technical and engineering challenges of the time?
Today experts are continuously discovering new artistic treasures in Hagia Sophia’s walls, relics of a tumultuous and majestic past. But its future may be threatened by a gigantic earthquake. An international team of architects, historians, seismologists and engineers are working on solving the monuments’ mysteries and are struggling on how to save it from destruction.
Documentary: Building Wonders, Hagia Sophia
Directed by: Gary Glassman & Olivier Julien
Production: NOVA, Providence Pictures, ZED & ARTE France

[@tedmarakas2626]

Excellent stuff. Excellent videography and information. I have visited the church about 5 times and I will be there again in 2 weeks. You can never get enough or bored looking at monuments like this.

[@user-qv9oo2co7t]

This is a PBS Nova documentary, it's great. Slice Experts have nothing to do with it. They are just repeating the work of others.

[@paullewis2413]

From Christian Church to Muslim Mosque to Museum and back to Mosque. So Erdogan’s plan for the Islamification of Turkey from a Secular State back to a Muslim State goes on. This building is historically so important it shouldn’t be returned to a particular religion because it belongs to civilisation as a whole.

[@MySpace662]

It is a civil engineering marvel, known at that time as the Megale Ekklesia, or the Great Church.

[@HypnoPol1499]

Wonderful documentary with amazing imagery.

[@OhCanadathebest]

Thank you

[@hugodias2449]

Yeah…just need to edit out all the talking heads 😅

[@fratercontenduntocculta8161]

I’m happy that although hidden, the christian art remains. It should be maintained as a secular museum in order to prevent one religion from insulting the other by claiming dominance over the structure. Much love to the Turkish people for maintaining one of the most historically important buildings in human history.

[@chrismaynard4117]

Stolen.

[@OllieRamone]

Yet many churches took over pagan temple in the past. The Parthenon became a church too ya know.

[@tedmarakas2626]

That's how history is. Especially after 1500 years. This is not a mosque or catholic church or orthodox church. This is a feat of engineering and history. It needs to be protected. period.