Güneş Saati, Ayasofya Camii Avlusu

Editor's Note

Güneş Saati, Ayasofya Camii Avlusu stands in Fatih, İstanbul, a monument raised to mark a historic figure or event — one of the small, often-overlooked landmarks that anchor Türkiye's cultural memory in physical form.

Story

Located in the courtyard of the Hagia Sophia Mosque, the Sundial is one of the most distinctive examples of Ottoman-era knowledge of measuring time. Made of marble, this dial was placed in the courtyard designed by the architect Sinan in order to determine the times of prayer. The sun's shadow fell on a different point each hour, showing worshippers their way. It is the combined form of the high mathematical knowledge of Islamic observation. While visiting the courtyard, the depth of history can be felt among the shadows falling on the marble and the Byzantine columns along the courtyard's edges. The morning hours in particular are ideal for observing the angle of the sun - you can witness the rhythm of how earlier times understood the passage of time.

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