islamic arts  ayasofya  calligraphy  hat sanatı  hagia sophia  islam sanatları  ottoman history  travel photography  fossati brothers  prophet muhammad  osmanlı tarihi  kazasker mustafa izzet efendi  

A view of Four Huge Ones of Eight Medallions in Wonder Hagia Sophia inside from the center to Loge of Empress (Turkish: Muhteşem Ayasofya'daki Sekiz Büyük İslam Hat Madalyonu'ndan Dördünün Ayasofya Merkez'den İmparatoriçe Locası yönüne doğru görüntüleri). Hagia Sophia, which is considered as one of the eight wonders of the world, also occupies a prominent place in the history of art and architecture. It is one of the rare works of this size and age that has survived to our day.

Calligraphy, the art of Arabic writing, was one of the most important arts of Islam, and calligraphists (Calligrapher or Penman) were more popular than architects and miniature painters. The Fossati brothers take that into consideration, and ordered Kazasker Mustafa Izzet Efendi -the most famous calligraphist of its age- gigantic circular wooden frames to hang in columns in Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya). Kazasker Mustafa Izzet Efendi painted and finished eight huge frames. As in many mosques, the frames inscribed the names of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, the first four caliphs Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali, and the two grandchildren of Mohammed: Hassan and Hussain.

The huge leather medallions, 7.5 in in diameter, hanging from the walls at gallery level and the inscriptions on the dome remind us of its days as a mosque. These are the works of master calligraphers of the mid-19th century. The medallions contain the word Allah and the names of Prophet Mohammed, the first four caliphs, and Hasan and Huseyin, the grandchildren of the prophet. The mihrab in the apse, the stained glass windows over the mihrab and minber, the raised platform for the chanters are Turkish additions.

Photograph: Ayhan ÇAKAR - Source(s): istanbul.gov.tr and hagiasophia.com