Hagia Sophia dome a challenging technical undertaking

Restoring the dome of Hagia Sophia is an immensely complex task, requiring extensive scientific research and advanced technical expertise. As Greek experts point out, one additional challenge is that the dome had already collapsed three times in the Byzantine era, resulting in its composition of four sections from different periods.

In response to the news of the restoration effort by the Turkish Ministry of Culture, Kathimerini reached out to Stavros Mamaloukos, an expert in Byzantine and post-Byzantine church architecture, from the University of Patra. "Hagia Sophia is a technical marvel - an extraordinary building that has withstood the test of time, admired and respected by all who have encountered it. Many have strived to preserve it and incorporate it into their cultural framework. However, intervening in such a significant monument presents particular challenges due...