Hagia Sophia’s 1,500-Year-Old Imperial Gate Vandalized

Photo Credit: Frank Bienewald / LightRocket / Getty Images
Photo Credit: Frank Bienewald / LightRocket / Getty Images

The Hagia Sophia’s historic Imperial Gate, which dates back to the 6th century, was severely damaged on April 18, 2022. The vandalism was discovered that evening after the first Tarawih in 88 years was held at the iconic mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.

The 7-meter-tall gate, which is made of oak, is a central portal and the biggest door at the Hagia Sophia. The renowned artifact was supposedly carved from the biblical Noah’s Ark. Also known as the Silver Gates, it was used exclusively by the emperor and his personal guards.

The identity of the perpetrator(s) is not yet known. However, authorities have promised those responsible will be held accountable, and the General Directorate of Institutions has since shared that two inspectors – administrative and technical – have been assigned to the case.

‘The person or persons who caused this disaster should be identified through a camera,” said Mahir Polat, Deputy General Secretary of the Municipality of Istanbul. “The matter should be taken to the prosecutor, as they intentionally caused damage to the number one historic building, the Hagia Sophia.”

Hagia Sophia at sunset
Hagia Sophia. (Photo Credit: Brian Jeffery Beggerly / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0)

The Hagia Sophia was built between 532-537 AD by Byzantine Emperor Justinian the Great. It served as an Orthodox church for a millennium, with the exception of 1204-61, when it was temporarily converted into a Roman Catholic cathedral by the Latin Empire.

Major changes began in 1453, when the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople and put an end to the Byzantine Empire. As soon as Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror entered the city, he went to the Hagia Sophia and performed the Friday prayer, which began the temple’s conversion into a mosque.

In 1935, after six centuries, Turkish President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk secularized the mosque’s status, turning it into a museum. It remained open to the public until recently.

Exterior of the Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia, 1910. (Photo Credit: Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

In 2020, the Hagia Sophia returned to being a mosque. The decision led to widespread controversy, with the governments of the United States, France and Greece, as well as the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, protesting the change.

The Hagia Sophia is on the UNESCO list of protected World Heritage Sites. It’s also considered one of the most important and holiest sites for the Orthodox Church.

Damian Lucjan

Damian is a history geek that’s working for War History Online for almost a decade. He can talk about the history and its chain of events for hours and is 100% legit fun at parties. Aside of history, geography and etymology of all things are no less exciting for him! An avid video game player, meme distributor, and your comment section moderator all in one. Mythologies of all cultures are fascinating to him, Greek, Nordic, Slavic – you name it, and he’s in!

In his spare time, assuming he has some left, he gives it all to his family, enjoying morning walks, a good book, an exciting FPS, and a long nap…or a few. Definitely a cat person.