Do you consider Hagia Sophia typical of Byzantine churches

Answer 1

The Hagia Sophia is considered the pinnacle of Byzantine architecture. Rather than say it is typical for this style of architecture, it is more accurate to say that the cathedral is a complete synthesis of the ideas conveyed in the artistic designs of Byzantine churches and the schools of thought informing the architectural theory.

Specifically, the Hagia Sophia was the largest Byzantine dome structure until the construction of St. Peter's Basilica in 1626, showcasing not just the architectural skill and the mathematic ideals of Heron of Alexandria, but the might of God. The purpose of such an enormous structure is to strike awe, and reiterate the grandeur and glory of God. This is why so many hallmarks of Byzantine architecture were used to support the sheer height and weight of the church and its dome. It's also why it took so long for its size to be outdone.

The columns of the Hagia Sophia are both composite and ionic, which indicates the extensive age of the church (remember, it was completed in 537 AD.) The ionic columns are probably older, while composite style columns were very common in the Late Byzantine Era. Obviously composite columns do make use of decorative elements, but they also serve the functional purpose of maintaining the weight of the church's incredible height. Similarly, flying buttresses added over the centuries to continue to support the size of the structure, were also very common architectural features in the Byzantine Era.