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“Systems of Monads” in the Hagia Sophia : Neo-Platonic Mathematics in the Architecture of Late Antiquity

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Architecture and Mathematics from Antiquity to the Future

Abstract

The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul (sixth century A.D.), still escapes sufficient understanding. As the architects Anthemius and Isidorus were excellent mathematicians, it is natural to search for latent mathematics in the building. The starting point is a barely visible, highly accurate square between the four large main piers. The side length of nearly exactly 31 m is usually—and at first sight quite convincingly—translated to exactly 100 ft. This leads however to a diagonal with an irrational value thus to further irrational building dimensions. The present paper shows that the plan is essentially based on ‘systems of monads’ using exclusively integral numbers. Further integral distances can be obtained by division or combination, and finally combined into a geometrical figure.

First published as: Rudolf H. W. Stichel and Helge Svenshon , “Systems of Monads as Design Principle in the Hagia Sophia : Neo-Platonic Mathematics in the Architecture of Late Antiquity”, pp. 111–120 in Nexus VI: Architecture and Mathematics, Sylvie Duvernoy and Orietta Pedemonte, eds. Turin: Kim Williams Books, 2006.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    For a general description of the Hagia Sophia , see (Mainstone 1988; Kähler 1967).

  2. 2.

    For a new interpretation of central parts of the liturgy in Hagia Sophia , see (Schneider and Stichel 2003).

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Acknowledgment

This research was sponsered by Zentrum für interdisziplinaere Technikforschung (ZIT) of the Darmstadt University of Technology. See preliminary reports: (Stichel and Svenshon 2002; Stichel 2003; Svenshon 2003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fachbereich Architektur, Technische Universität Darmstadt, El-Lissitzky-Str.1, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany

    Helge Svenshon & Rudolf H. W. Stichel

Authors
  1. Helge Svenshon
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  2. Rudolf H. W. Stichel
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Correspondence to Helge Svenshon .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Kim Williams Books, Torino, Italy

    Kim Williams

  2. School of Architecture and Built Environment, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia

    Michael J. Ostwald

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Svenshon, H., Stichel, R.H.W. (2015). “Systems of Monads” in the Hagia Sophia : Neo-Platonic Mathematics in the Architecture of Late Antiquity. In: Williams, K., Ostwald, M. (eds) Architecture and Mathematics from Antiquity to the Future. Birkhäuser, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-00137-1_16

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