The symposium’s main presentation was delivered by Professor Abdallah Attia Abdel-Hafez
The event focused on the longstanding cultural ties between Egypt and Turkey, featuring a scholarly symposium and a photo exhibition that explored Hagia Sophia’s role as a crossroads of Byzantine and Ottoman civilizations.
The gathering attracted academics, journalists, and students, providing a platform to discuss the architectural marvel and its shared heritage, underscoring the monument’s influence on regional history and art.
The proceedings began with an opening speech by Satiya Karaalioglu, director of the Yunus Emre Institute in Cairo.
Karaalioglu emphasized the deep historical connection between Egypt and Turkey, noting that both nations have embraced multiple civilizations, resulting in a blend of diverse arts.
She described Hagia Sophia as a historical and religious landmark that has inspired cultures across time.
Professor Abdallah Attia Abdel-Hafez, an expert in Ottoman architecture and Turkish studies and former head of the Department of Islamic Archaeology at Mansoura University's Faculty of Arts, delivered the symposium’s main presentation.
Professor Abdel-Hafez provided a historical overview, discussing the significance of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) during the Byzantine era and the Ottoman conquest led by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.
He described Hagia Sophia as a symbol of this conquest and examined the unique artistic and architectural features of the structure.
“Hagia Sophia was the main cathedral of the Byzantine Empire (the Eastern Roman Empire), embodying all the characteristics of Byzantine architecture and decoration,” Abdel-Hafez said.
He then highlighted the equally significant place Hagia Sophia held for the Ottoman sultans, symbolizing the fall of the Byzantine Empire and the conquest of Constantinople. He credited the Ottomans with the monument’s preservation.
“Were it not for the care of the Ottoman Turks, this monument would not have survived,” he asserted, pointing out that Istanbul is constantly subjected to devastating earthquakes, making the continuous maintenance by the Ottomans crucial to its survival.
Professor Abdel-Hafez also pointed out the clear imprints of the Ottoman era, including the addition of minarets, pulpits, libraries, and ablution fountains.
He connected the monument to the Egyptian context, explaining the significance of Byzantine art in Egyptian academia.
He noted that Islamic art was influenced by both Byzantine and Sasanian art, and Byzantine art is studied in Egypt’s faculties of arts, archaeology, and literature.
He concluded by highlighting the shared heritage between Egypt and Turkey: “Egypt boasts many Byzantine monuments, such as Saint Catherine’s Monastery, built by Justinian I, the same emperor who commissioned Hagia Sophia. It’s wonderful to highlight the shared heritage of our two countries.”
Hagia Sophia, The Jewel of Istanbul photo exhibition.
The symposium was followed by the opening of a photo exhibition featuring 22 photographs of Hagia Sophia.
The exhibition displayed Hagia Sophia’s exterior through the seasons and its detailed interior architecture, allowing attendees to visually experience and appreciate the monument’s grandeur alongside the scholarly presentations.
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