ISTANBUL, Turkey — A stone ramp winds upward from Hagia Sophia's main floor to its upper galleries. This ancient passageway, built during the Byzantine period, provided access to the church's upper levels. The cobblestone surface and gradual incline allowed for easier movement between floors.
Photograph by David Coleman. The stone ramp in Hagia Sophia represents one of the building's original Byzantine architectural features, designed to provide access to the upper galleries. Unlike the steep stairs common in medieval architecture, this gently sloping ramp made movement between floors more manageable, particularly for members of the imperial court who would access the upper levels. The ramp's cobblestone surface and substantial width demonstrate Byzantine engineering principles that emphasized practical functionality and durability. This architectural feature has survived since the building's construction in 537 CE, continuing to serve its original purpose through multiple cultural and religious transitions. The ramp's construction shows sophisticated engineering, with a gradient carefully calculated to allow comfortable ascent while maximizing available space within the building's complex layout. Located within the building's massive buttress system, the ramp exemplifies how Byzantine architects integrated practical features into their monumental structures.
Size: 6706px × 4476px
Location: Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Turkey
Photo credit: © David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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