The original dome of the Hagia Sophia collapsed in 558 after an earthquake
The architectural marvel of Constantinople, the Hagia Sophia, suffered a catastrophic structural failure in 558 when its massive dome collapsed following a series of devastating earthquakes.
In 558, just twenty years after its completion, the original dome of the Hagia Sophia collapsed during an earthquake. The structure was the crowning achievement of Emperor Justinian I, but the original design was too shallow, putting immense pressure on the supporting walls. The disaster occurred while the city was already struggling with the aftermath of a plague.
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