Constantinople - Hagia Sophia Enterance
Hagia Sophia Image Gallery
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Because Hagia Sophia served so long as a Muslim mosque, much of what people encounter on the grounds today is more Muslim than Christian in character. There are several mausoleums and, in fact, the Christian baptistery there was also converted to a mausoleum. Fifty-four different sultans and princes rest in these structures now. There are also a number of schools and a library.
Only Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque by the Turkish invaders - every other church in Constantinople was ransacked and desecrated (not that Hagia Sophia was entirely spared harsh treatment, either). So long as the various parishes submitted to the sultan, they were allowed to continue using their church buildings. Over time, as the Muslim population grew while the Christian population shrunk, many other churches were transformed into mosques as well.
