Justinian's church of Christ as Holy Wisdom (Agia Sophia), built in five years over the ashes and destruction from the Nika Revolt.

Now, nearly 1500 year later, the Great Church is still nearly as impressive as it was when first built.

From the exterior Agia Sophia looms up almost like a mountain in the middle of the city.

A view of Agia Sophia from the site of the Hippodrome.  The Imperial Palace would have been off to the right and straight ahead, in front of Agia Sophia, was the Augoustaion, the central square of the City.

But the inside is the most impressive aspect of the building.  This was the largest enclosed space of its time, and for hundreds of years thereafter.  Compare what you see in this picture with Procopius' description of the church.

One of the huge columns along the side of the interior of the building.  These columns were supposedly brought from all different parts of the empire.

The entrance to the church from the south.  Notice the elegant marble decoration of the wall and the play of dark and light in the interior.

Above the doorway is a mosaic showing Constantine, on the right, offering the City to the Virgin and Child; on the left is Justinian offering the church of Agia Sophia itself.