30-year Scientific Committee member evaluates damage at Hagia Sophia: 'It should have remained a museum'

Discussions continue regarding Hagia Sophia, which was converted from a museum into a mosque.

While damage increases day by day, shutters have been installed at the entrance of Hagia Sophia, and wooden flooring has been laid over the historic stone stairs. Furthermore, allegations that pieces were being chipped off from the historic door of the 1,500-year-old Hagia Sophia and that visitors were scraping the walls and putting the debris into bags had also become a topic of public debate. Additionally, footage emerged showing concrete pieces falling from the dome of Hagia Sophia due to 'moisture'.

Restoration Expert and Architectural Historian Prof. Dr. Zeynep Ahunbay

"HAGIA SOPHIA SHOULD HAVE REMAINED A MUSEUM"

According to a report by İsmail Arı from BirGün; a Scientific Committee was established for Hagia Sophia 30 years ago, in 1993. Restoration Expert and Architectural Historian Prof. Dr. Zeynep Ahunbay, known as a mentor to many scholars and a member of the Scientific Committee since its inception, explained the issues of concern.

Stating that she learned about Hagia Sophia's conversion into a mosque from the news, Prof. Dr. Ahunbay said, "This is a political decision... When news broke that it would be converted, we published and declared our opinions in various places. As the number of visitors increases, the wear and tear increases. Hagia Sophia should have remained a museum."

"WE HEARD IT IN THE NEWS"

Do you think the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque is damaging the historic structure?

Historic buildings should not be overused; it is not appropriate. Controlled visits should be made to historic structures. When you go inside, you see something uncontrolled... It is debatable how aware visitors are of the value of Hagia Sophia... As the number of visitors increases, the wear and tear increases.

I wrote an article stating that Hagia Sophia should remain a museum. That is my view, but... However, it is a political decision that has been made, and we cannot change it.

I want to ask clearly, did they ask you, the Scientific Committee, "Should we convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque?"

No, we were not asked. It is a political decision... When news broke that it would be converted, we published and declared our opinions in various places. We heard it in the news, just like everyone else...

"APPROVAL WAS OBTAINED FROM THE CONSERVATION BOARD"

The things being done at Hagia Sophia are highly debated... Now it has emerged that wooden flooring has been laid. Why was such a thing done?

The gallery floor of Hagia Sophia, meaning the upper floor, had been closed since it became a mosque and has now been opened to visitors. There are mosaics there... A route from the eastern facade was planned for its entrance. This came to the Scientific Committee. It was studied on how it could be done. An arrangement had to be made so that it would be separate from the circulation of the ground floor. The arrangement of the steps was in question. The steps were stone steps, they were worn, and their heights were also different. It was requested that they be arranged as steps of the same height so that people would not lose their focus and fall while walking in groups; the Scientific Committee recommended this.

The historic steps still remain under the wood in question; steps were created on top of them so that people could go up and down comfortably. These are additions that can be removed without causing damage. So, nothing was damaged. Wood was used, not parquet.

The installation of shutters also became a topic of discussion. Why were shutters installed?

Because it is intended to be entered with a ticket and to have a controlled entry... Of course, a better solution could be found. It was requested by the Ministry in a short time and an attempt was made to open it. It can be revised...

So, did the Scientific Committee approve the shutters?

The Scientific Committee mostly expressed its views regarding the interior of Hagia Sophia. The issue of the shutters and their design concerns the firm undertaking this work... Furthermore, approval was also obtained from the Conservation Board.

ALLEGATIONS OF WALLS BEING SCRAPED

The upper floor of Hagia Sophia has been closed to visitors since it was converted into a mosque, right? Also, some frescoes and drawings are still kept covered, right?

Those that were open when it was a museum were closed when it was converted into a mosque. As you know, they were also covered during the Ottoman period. The mosaics that were uncovered when it became a museum during the Republican era... A curtain system was installed so that they could be covered during prayer times.

When Hagia Sophia was being converted into a mosque, it was said that it would only be closed during prayer times, but every time I went, I observed that it was always closed...

I don't go in and out very much; I don't like that crowd. I don't know when it opens and closes. It's not my subject, so I don't know.

Footage of walls being scraped and filled into bags was also discussed...

The number of people needs to be limited and there should be supervisors. People should not go everywhere and touch things. It must be controlled. I think it has been increased now. It was said that “there are more supervisors”...

INJECTIONS MUST BE PERFORMED

Footage of pieces falling from the dome of Hagia Sophia also became a topic of discussion...

In such a structure, constant maintenance is required. There is plaster, there are mosaics... These can detach from the main structure and fall. It is always possible for mosaics and plaster to detach and fall. That is why it is necessary to set up scaffolding and perform constant maintenance... Injections must be performed behind the loosening pieces. Pieces can separate and fall.

'I HAVE BEEN ON THE COMMITTEE FOR 30 YEARS'

Does the Scientific Committee have 9 members? Is every step to be taken asked of you?

Yes, the number was smaller before, but it was increased when it became a mosque. We express what we do not find appropriate. An attempt is made to reach a result with the best solution. For the developed proposal, the final decision is already made by the Conservation Board. The Scientific Committee is only an advisory board. There are civil engineers, architects, and art historians. An attempt is made to find the most appropriate solution with experts from different disciplines.

The Scientific Committee was established in 1993. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Erdik and I have been serving on the Scientific Committee for 30 years, since it was first established. There were other professors as well, some of whom have passed away. In other words, work has been going on for 30 years, and Hagia Sophia has not been abandoned.