Gli (c. 2004 – 7 November 2020)[1][2] was a cat from Istanbul best known for living in the Hagia Sophia, for which she became an Internet celebrity, grabbing the attention of visiting tourists. Gli was born in 2004 and was raised at the Hagia Sophia. She gained significant media attention when the Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque in 2020.
 Gli at the Hagia Sophia in 2009 | |
| Species | Cat (Felis catus) |
|---|---|
| Sex | Female |
| Born | c. 2004 Hagia Sophia, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey |
| Died | 7 November 2020 (aged 16) Levent, Istanbul, Turkey |
| Resting place | Hagia Sophia, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey |
| Known for | Living in Hagia Sophia |
| Owner | Hagia Sophia's Inventory (June 2020 - November 2020) |
| Parent(s) | Sofya |
| Offspring | Karakiz |
Gli died on 7 November 2020 at a veterinary clinic in Levent, Istanbul. It was announced that she would be buried on the premises of the Hagia Sophia. The Instagram account @hagiasophiacat was dedicated to Gli and was followed by more than 118,000 people at the time of her death.
Life
editGli was born at Hagia Sophia in 2004. A kitten of Sofya, she had two siblings, Pati and Kızım. Gli had only one offspring, a jet-black cat aptly named Karakız ("Black Girl").[3] Gli was loved by the tourists who visited Hagia Sophia, which was a museum at the time, and she became a symbol of the Hagia Sophia. Gli first became popular when Barack Obama visited Hagia Sophia in 2009; he and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan petted Gli. After it was announced that the Hagia Sophia would be converted into a mosque, Gli was posted all over social media and mentioned often in the news, receiving a new wave of fame. Presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın stated: "That cat has become very famous, and there are others who haven't become that famous yet. That cat will be there, and all cats are welcome to our mosques."[4]
Gli died in 2020 at a veterinary clinic in Levent, where she had been receiving treatment since 24 September. She was buried in the garden of the Hagia Sophia.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Hagiasophiacat". Archived from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ a b "Famous Hagia Sophia cat Gli dies at age 16". Daily Sabah. 7 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
- ^ hagiasophiatr (14 December 2017). "Gli the Cat of Hagia Sophia". Hagia Sophia. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
- ^ Usta, Bülent; Küçükgöçmen, Ali (24 July 2020). "Gli the cat can stay even as Istanbul's Hagia Sophia changes". Archived from the original on 12 December 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
Further reading
edit- Geddo, Benedetta. "Did you know Istanbul's Hagia Sophia has a resident cat?". Lonely Planet. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- "Ayasofya'nın bekçisi kedi Gli" (in Turkish). NTV. 24 July 2020. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- Karaburç, Harun (28 January 2018). "Ayasofya'nın kraliçesiyim" (in Turkish). Yeni Şafak. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- "Ayasofya'nın maskotu Gli" (in Turkish). Milliyet. 27 November 2018. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
External links
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