- The Hagia Sophia, currently a Mosque in Istanbul, was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in 537 CE as the Cathedral of the Byzantine Empire.
- It continued in use until 1453 CE, when it became a Mosque and four Minarets were added. In 1935 it became a Museum, and in 2020 was returned to being a Mosque.
Columns
- Eight of the rose granite columns in the Hagia Sophia were transported by Justinian I in 537 CE from the colonnade of the Great Court of the Baalbeck Roman Temples.
- They came originally from a quarry at Aswan in Egypt.
Church of the Holy Apostles (no longer extant)
- The Church of the Holy Apostles was built by Constantine I between 330-337 CE.
- It was the second most important church after the Hagia Sophia. The Church was destroyed in 1462 CE and no vestiges remain.
- It was the Mausoleum for the Eastern Roman Emperors of the Byzantine Empire starting with Constantine I, in 337 CE until 1056 CE with Theodora, after which there was no more space. The Emperors were placed in Porphyry Sarcophagi.
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul