Hagia Sophia and the Byzantine Aesthetic Experience

This book explores the Hagia Sophia's architectural beauty and its role in shaping early Byzantine identity, focusing on aesthetics, light, and the interplay between perception and cultural significance in Byzantine art.

"Hagia Sophia and the Byzantine Aesthetic Experience" delves into the profound influence of the Hagia Sophia on the formation of early Byzantine identity, focusing on its construction between 532 and 537 CE. The author explores the church's architectural beauty and its artistic significance within the context of early Byzantine aesthetics. By re-evaluating Byzantine aesthetic thought alongside late antique Neoplatonism and the writings of Pseudo-Dionysius, the book sheds light on the metaphysical foundations that shaped perceptions of art and beauty during this period.

The study emphasizes the interplay between sensation and perception, illustrating how these experiences contributed to the cultural identity of early Byzantium. It distinguishes between aesthetic data present in the architectural features of Hagia Sophia and the responses elicited by these features, particularly through literary descriptions known as ekphrasis. The author argues that these verbal representations aimed to evoke the same emotional and sensory responses that the physical structure inspired, offering insight into Byzantine expectations and cognitive processes related to the Great Church.

A key theme that emerges is the significance of light, which is portrayed as a crucial aspect of the sacred experience within Hagia Sophia. Light is not only a vital element in the church's architectural design but also symbolizes wisdom, intertwining these concepts as foundational to the unique aesthetic of the building. This focus on light and its epistemological implications resonates across other contemporary monuments, highlighting the widespread appreciation of these aesthetic values in early Byzantine culture.