Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why does the interior of Hagia Sophia appear rectangular even though its plan is nearly square?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Hagia Sophia
A bird's-eye view of Hagia Sophia on the shore of the Bosporus, Istanbul.
Although the Hagia Sophia has an almost square floor plan, its interior appears rectangular because of the architectural design of its roof. Specifically, the presence of great semidomes at the east and west ends of the structure serves to prolong the visual effect of the roof, creating the impression of a rectangular space when viewed from within.12