The Basilica Cistern of Istanbul is a masterpiece of ancient hydraulic engineering, in this case from the Byzantine era, as it was commissioned by Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century (likely over an earlier construction from the time of Constantine in the 4th century). It is a massive underground reservoir that was fed by water from several aqueducts and provided this essential resource to the Great Palace of Constantinople, especially as a reserve tank in case of siege or necessity. In this post, we share some fascinating facts that will surprise you and certainly encourage you to visit.
Colossal dimensions
The first thing that strikes you when entering the Basilica Cistern is its enormous size. Simply mentioning its dimensions makes this clear. Its floor plan is 143 meters long by 65 meters wide, with a height of over 10 meters. This creates a cavern with a storage capacity of nearly 100,000 m3, making it the largest in the entire city (which had about 60, according to some sources).
A peculiar name
The name itself is somewhat unusual: the term “basilica” was used because it was located under the stoa (an elongated porticoed construction) of the city’s basilica (an elongated building used for judicial purposes). Therefore, it was situated beneath one of the most important sites in the ancient city of Constantinople.
Palatial architecture
In Turkish, the popular name for the Basilica Cistern was Yerebatan Sarayı, which can be translated as ‘sunken palace‘. This is because the architecture is more reminiscent of a palace than a hydraulic infrastructure which, moreover, remained hidden from view. Its symmetry, monumentality, and forest of columns can even bring to mind a religious temple.
Columns steeped in history
In fact, its 336 columns, arranged in 12 rows of 18 each, hide a history closely related to religion: they were brought one by one from important ancient temples in Anatolia, which is why they are made of marble and feature their respective capitals in Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian styles.
Two mysterious capitals with the face of Medusa
Of all the capitals, there are two that break the norm and are shrouded in mystery. They are located in one of the corners and have the head of Medusa carved into them, used in this case not as a capital but as a base. It is well known that this mythological monster turned anyone who looked at it into stone, so it is believed that to neutralize this unwanted effect on visitors, they were placed upside down and facing outward from the enclosure.
A colossal forgotten well
It should be noted that the Basilica Cistern of Istanbul continued to be used for centuries but fell into disuse following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. From then on, the use of running water was preferred, causing it to be forgotten… at least by the majority of the population, as it is known that in the 16th century there were local citizens who, using a secret system of wells, managed to extract water and even fish.
Fortunately, that period of neglect is in the past. In fact, in the 1980s, it underwent a thorough restoration to allow for tourist visits, which is possible today via elevated wooden platforms. Tickets, by the way, are not included in the city’s museum pass and their price varies depending on the time of entry, starting from 1,500 Turkish Liras (approximately €30), with reduced prices for young children. It is advisable to check in advance for more precise information.
