Hagia Sophia: A Masterpiece of Byzantine Architecture at Risk from Earthquakes | FULL DOCUMENTARY

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 a gigantic earthquake may threaten its future. 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 : Monuments Revealed : Hagia Sophia
Directed by : Gary Glassman & Olivier Julien
Production : NOVA, Providence Pictures, ZED & ARTE France

#documentary #freedocumentary #history #hagiasophia #istanbul #architecture #byzantine #monument

[DanH-uf]

This building is one of the world's wonders. There are more than just 7.

[raymondo]

The genius of 6th century architecture and construction techniques revealed by 21st century science. A brilliant documentary...

[christieferrell]

Thank you for your work on this beautiful historical church.

[mohammedsaysrashid]

It was a wonderful documentary about Hajia Sophia ( divine wisdom)

[ThomasGazis]

Nobody is clearly mentioning in this video that this masterpiece of a church was built by the people that were living for 1000 years in Constantinople / Asia Minor/ Anatolia (in the geographical area that is corresponding to modern Turkey). That people were the Greek-Byzantines!

[rhondaradley]

What I wouldn't give to be able to see it in person ❤️😟😢

[thearcadiusproject]

12:06 no, it was still the Roman Empire until its final collapse in 1453. It was NEVER known as “Byzantine” until some German historian in the 17th century coined that term to legitimize the Holy Roman Empire.

[abhi]

A very good documentary which was diluted towards the end with the obsession with mosaics !

[abhi]

How on earth did they build it at that time ? What machines did they have ? And it required a very very intricate understanding of architecture and geometry and physics and what not to make structures like this!

[emmettjordan]

what are the circular ribs of the main dome made of? what is the material between each circular rib made of?

[kaloarepo]

Same sort of danger from earthquakes would also apply to St Peters in Rome and many of the other domed churches in that city. Rome too is subject to earthquakes - in about the ninth century a vast temple, now part of the Forum ruins, was destroyed by an earthquake and as recently as about 15 years ago a city not far away was badly damaged by an earthquake (L'Aquila).A major quake in Rome would have absolutely catastrophic consequences to the historic architecture of that city!

[artSFCA]

I want to go to Ravenna on my next trip to Italy

[gre]

1:19:15 Yes, Rembrandt should be removed, especially if it was deliberately painted as a disrespectful statement of power to erase the past.

[michaelogden]

No cranes, no trucks, no computers. Amazing.

[GloryDaze]

Very good documentary, but TOO MANY adverts😮

[willhovell]

A tragic insult to the secular Turkish state in converting a magnificent museum into a mosque

[pierredecine]

I've heard they even found some Norse Graffiti !

[csiribicsiriba]

Ads are super obnoxious…too often interrupting the program

[philoso]

If it coexists with the fault line the last thousand years or so, will it the next thousand years?

[madraven]

When I visited this building, I was struck with awe. It seemed to represent all of mankind, and so I wasn’t in the least put off by the representations both Christian and Islamic. By contrast, Saint peters basilica in Rome seemed almost too perfect, quite unlike the state of mankind, and therefore not representative the way the Hagia Sophia is.