ISTANBON (Reuters)-Turkey said that Türkiye is scheduled to start restoring and reinforcement work in the Hagia Sofia dome, in one of the largest reform projects implemented on the 1486-year-old structure.
Hagia Sofia was the largest in the world in the world in 900 years until it was seized by the Ottoman Sultan Muhammad al -Fatih in 1453, after which it was one of the most mosques imposed on Islam for nearly 500 years.
The building was transferred to a museum by the Secular Republic of Türkiye more than 70 years ago, but returned to a mosque by President Tayeb Erdogan in 2020.
“The restoration of other parts of the structure has been on 10 years ago, this process will be difficult and will open an important page in the Hagia Sophia book,” said Asno Bilban Yalin, adding that the restoration of other parts of the structure has been going on for 10 years, this process will be difficult and will open an important page in the Hagia Sophia book, “adding that the restoration of other parts of the temple was under implementation for 10 years.
“It is really a structure full of surprises because things are sometimes evolving in a way that we do not expect. That is, you are designing and planning it, but when you open it, things may develop differently,” said Reuters outside Hagia Sofia.
Ahmed Julik, an expert in preserving and reforming cultural property, said, adding that the current main cover will be removed in order to continue the project of restoration and reinforcement to continue, adding that the dome will be covered for the first time to protect it during the reform process, adding that the current main cover will then be removed for the restoration and reinforcement project.
The reinforcement project will focus on the weak structural points specified while simulating a large earthquake, in a country that crosses the rift lines.
Hassan Firat Decker, a professor of architecture at the University of Fatwa Sultan Mahham Fakiv, said that real structural problems will become more clear when lifting the main cover.
“It is expected that a Sofia Hagia is expected to be open to worshipers and visitors during the restoration process, making the reform process more difficult.
Experts did not specify a date to complete the restoration of the dome, given the potential setbacks due to weather conditions and unexpected additional actions.
(Participated in the reports of Ali Kokokoklkin; edited by Giles ELGOOD)
