Religion plays an integral role in society; it forms the moral background for a national identity. There are a large number of sacred spaces dedicated for prayer—many built from times of antiquity—that remain in use today. Because these places of worship inevitably wear down with time, they are constantly undergoing different phases of restoration. This process of maintenance allows religious sites to be in good condition for the thousands of people who visit on a daily basis. Prime examples of such sites include the Pantheon in Rome and the Hagia Sophia Basilica in Istanbul, where tarp and scaffolding (as evident in the accompanying photos) continues to be seen in plain sight by locals and tourists alike.
The Pantheon in particular has a long history of reconstruction and restoration. Dated back to 27 BC, the Pantheon was initially commissioned by Marcus Agrippa to commemorate the victory of Actium over Antony and Cleopatra. After it burned in the great fire of 80 AD, it was rebuilt by Emperor Domitian, only to be struck by lightning in 110 AD and set ablaze once more. It was then reconstructed as a temple dedicated to all of the Gods of Ancient Rome by Hadrian. Much later, Emperors Severus and Caracalla restored the temple for their own uses—this included pagan ceremonies of animal sacrifice. The Pantheon has been in use throughout much of its history, and it now functions as a church for Roman Catholic worship. The church itself consists of a portico of monolithic granite columns opening into a concrete rotunda with a central oculus to the sky. After almost two thousand years since its construction, the Pantheon still has the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome, demonstrating its incredible state of preservation. The portico is no exception, as the right half of its façade (refer to the picture below) is currently undergoing restoration.
Another sacred space that has been restored and repurposed over the centuries includes the Hagia Sophia Basilica. The name derives from Greek origins and is translated as the “Holy Wisdom” of God in Eastern Orthodox theology. From the date of its dedication in 360 BC, it served as the main cathedral of Constantinople. It was then converted into a mosque upon the Ottoman conquest in 1453. This resulted in the addition of many Islamic features—which included mihrabs, minbars, and minarets—for the removal of Christian ones—such as iconic mosaics and the high altar. It functioned as a mosque until 1935 when it was secularized as a museum by the Republic of Turkey. Ever since the Byzantine Institute of the United States initiated the systematic renovation of Hagia Sophia in the 1940s, the cleaning and maintenance of the church continues to this very day (refer to the picture below that displays guarded restoration on its interior walls).
Through the eyes of a foreigner, these two photos capture the current state of renovation for both the Pantheon and Hagia Sophia. The architectural and holy grandeur of both of these religious sites adds to the overall magnificence and identity of their respective cities, reinforcing the long-standing religious traditions that are associated with sanctified landmarks. As a result, these sanctified landmarks will continue to receive public support for restoration upkeep, which will allow these sacred sites to remain active and in good condition for even more centuries to come.
Bibliography
"Hagia Sophia." ArchNet: Islamic Architecture Community. 2004. Web. 29 July 2010. http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=2966.
Hayes, Holly. "Pantheon." Sacred Destinations. 13 Sept. 2009. Web. 30 July 2010.
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/rome-pantheon.
The Pantheon in particular has a long history of reconstruction and restoration. Dated back to 27 BC, the Pantheon was initially commissioned by Marcus Agrippa to commemorate the victory of Actium over Antony and Cleopatra. After it burned in the great fire of 80 AD, it was rebuilt by Emperor Domitian, only to be struck by lightning in 110 AD and set ablaze once more. It was then reconstructed as a temple dedicated to all of the Gods of Ancient Rome by Hadrian. Much later, Emperors Severus and Caracalla restored the temple for their own uses—this included pagan ceremonies of animal sacrifice. The Pantheon has been in use throughout much of its history, and it now functions as a church for Roman Catholic worship. The church itself consists of a portico of monolithic granite columns opening into a concrete rotunda with a central oculus to the sky. After almost two thousand years since its construction, the Pantheon still has the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome, demonstrating its incredible state of preservation. The portico is no exception, as the right half of its façade (refer to the picture below) is currently undergoing restoration.
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| Front exterior of the Pantheon (June 19, 2010) |
Another sacred space that has been restored and repurposed over the centuries includes the Hagia Sophia Basilica. The name derives from Greek origins and is translated as the “Holy Wisdom” of God in Eastern Orthodox theology. From the date of its dedication in 360 BC, it served as the main cathedral of Constantinople. It was then converted into a mosque upon the Ottoman conquest in 1453. This resulted in the addition of many Islamic features—which included mihrabs, minbars, and minarets—for the removal of Christian ones—such as iconic mosaics and the high altar. It functioned as a mosque until 1935 when it was secularized as a museum by the Republic of Turkey. Ever since the Byzantine Institute of the United States initiated the systematic renovation of Hagia Sophia in the 1940s, the cleaning and maintenance of the church continues to this very day (refer to the picture below that displays guarded restoration on its interior walls).
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| Interior of Hagia Sophia (July 18, 2010) |
Bibliography
"Hagia Sophia." ArchNet: Islamic Architecture Community. 2004. Web. 29 July 2010. http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=2966.
Hayes, Holly. "Pantheon." Sacred Destinations. 13 Sept. 2009. Web. 30 July 2010.
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/rome-pantheon.
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