The Ayasofya Mosque, situated in Istanbul is one of the most famous and highly praised mosques in Turkey. What makes it so special is the fact that it was actually a church before it was transformed into a mosque and has a long history. It carries both the symbols and characteristics of a church and a mosque. In recent years an interesting discovery was also made in the Ayasofya Mosque that uncovered more details about the history of this important monument.
Ayasofya, ??stanbul, Turkey
The name ‘Ayasofya’ comes from the word ‘Aya’ which means ‘sacred, holy’. The etymology of the word ‘Sofya’ comes from ‘sophos’ which means knowledge in ancient greek.