 Justinian was a prolific builder ; the historian Procopius bears witness to his activities in this area . Under Justinian 's patronage the San Vitale in Ravenna , which features two famous mosaics representing Justinian and Theodora , was completed . Most notably , he had the Hagia Sophia , originally a basilica @-@ style church that had been burnt down during the Nika riots , splendidly rebuilt according to a completely different ground plan , under the architectural supervision of Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles . According to Procopius , Justinian stated at the completion of this edifice , " Solomon I have outdone thee " ( in reference to the 1st Jewish temple ) . This new cathedral , with its magnificent dome filled with mosaics , remained the centre of eastern Christianity for centuries . 
