The Basilica Cistern

The Basilica Cistern

 

Area: Sultanahmet
City: Istanbul
Country: Turkey
Phone: (county code:+90 city code: 212 ) 522 1259

 

 

This is the beggest and most spectacular cistern in the city.The cisterns entrance is in the small building to the west of Hagia Sophia. The ceiling of the cistern which looks like a forest of pillars is covered with bricks and crosswise arches. It was named the Basilica Cistern because of a basilica which used to be in the vicinity. It was built during the reign of Justinanus the 1st. ( 527 - 565 ) to provide water to the palaces in the vicinity. The pillars are decorated with some plain and Corinthian style pillar heads. There are 336 pillars in 12 rows of 28 pillars and their dimensions are 170 x 70 meters. The level of water changed in accordence with the changes in the seasons. Water was distributed outside through pipes on different levels on the eastern wall. The marks left by different levels of water can be seen on the pillars. The floor was cleaned during the big restoration of 1984 unearthing from one meter of mud the original floor of bricks and marble blocks with the figure of Medusas head.