From the Hagia Sophia Museum to the Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi: Practices of Selective Forgetting

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, a monument steeped in national, political, religious, and cultural significance, has a rich history. It symbolized the dominance of Christianity during the Byzantine Empire and after its conversion in Mosque (1453) represented Ottoman rule in Constantinople, highlighting its imperial prestige. Over time, its spaces underwent various changes, including the erasure and renovation of its decorations. In 1935, the Turkish Council of Ministers secularized Hagia Sophia, transforming it into a museum. This move was a symbol of the modernization and secularization efforts of the newly established Turkish Republic. However, 86 years later, in 2020, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, with the Council of State’s decree, controversially closed the Hagia Sophia Museum and converted it into Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi (Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque). This study aims to provide an overview of the evolving narratives surrounding Hagia Sophia as a museum institution, considering the significance of the monument and its study in Turkish political agendas and rhetoric. It explores how these narratives have transformed over time, influencing the presentation of its collections, interactions with visitors, and the dissemination and reception of this institution until its recent reconversion in 2020. The goal is to reflect on the practices of ‘selective forgetting’ carried out by both the Museum’s board and Erdoğan’s government, aimed at erasing parts of its Christian or Islamic legacies to align the monument with their political agendas.