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Istanbul Basilica Cistern 
Built around 532 CE, during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (527-565), it served as a water reservoir for the Topkapi Palace and is close to the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Located originally beneath a large public square called the Stoa Basilica, which is how it got its name. The construction of the cistern took around 5 years and required a labour force of approximately 7,000 slaves. The cistern measures about 469 feet (143m) long, and 213 feet (65m) wide, and has a capacity of 80,000 cubic meters of water. It has a brick ceiling supported by 336 marble columns.  Each of the columns is 9 meters high, and they are arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns.  The columns were reused from earlier Roman structures and are mainly in the Ionic and Corinthian, with a few Doric style capitals. It is interesting to note that some of the columns were adjusted to fit by placing two columns together with one on top of another.   The height was also adjusted by the use of column bases that had also been reused and examples of this can be seen with columns being placed on the top of the heads of Medusa, one of which is placed sideways, which may have been done to obtain the correct height for the column, although the one place upside down does not offer a logical explanation.   The cistern fell into disuse following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453 and was largely forgotten. (Note: Constantinople was the name of Istanbul until 1930). In 1545 it was rediscovered by the French scholar Petrus Gyllius, who was exploring Byzantine antiquities. Gyllius recorded seeing fish swimming in the water something that can still be seen today.  The Basilica Cistern underwent significant renovations during the Ottoman period, particularly in the 18th century during the reign of Sultan Ahmed III (1703 –1730) and in the 19th century by Sultan Abdul Hamid II (1876 –1909). It was finally cleaned and restored for public access in the mid-20th century and officially opened to the public in 1987. Today, the entrance to the Basilica Cistern is by a small surface building.  Visitors then descend the staircase to a dimly lit subterranean area with its columns and timber walkways suspended above the water.  The Basilica Cistern is one of Istanbul's popular tourist attractions, offering visitors a glimpse into the city's history and architectural ingenuity. |
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All Photographs were taken by and are copyright of Ron Gatepain
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