Question

How did architects create elements in the dome of Hagia Sophia (in Istanbul) that float higher than any previous dome?

A) By using clerestory and mosaics to give the sense that the dome is actually higher than it really is
B) By building flying buttresses
C) By including vaulting, which had not previously been attempted in such a dome
D) By using pendentives

Answer 1

Architects created elements in the dome of Hagia Sophia that float higher than any previous dome by using pendentives.

Step-by-step explanation:

Architects created elements in the dome of Hagia Sophia that float higher than any previous dome by using pendentives. After the original dome collapsed due to an earthquake, the architect redesigned and elevated the dome by adding pendentives and ribs, similar to the inside of an umbrella. These pendentives distribute the weight of the dome along 40 windows, reducing the overall weight and allowing the dome to be raised higher. By incorporating this architectural feature, the Hagia Sophia's dome reached a height of 55.6 meters and remains one of its most remarkable features today.