 |
|
|
The name of this
subterranean structure
derives from a large
public square on the
First Hill of
Constantinople, the Stoa
Basilica, beneath which
it was originally
constructed. According
to ancient historians,
Emperor Constantine
constructed a structure
which was later rebuilt
and enlarged by Emperor
Justinian after the
Nika riots of 532.
The enlarged cistern
provided water for the
Great Palace of
Constantinople and other
buildings on the First
Hill, and continued to
provide water to the
Topkapi Palace after the
Ottoman conquest in
1453 and into modern
times.
This cathedral-sized cistern is an
underground chamber
approximately 143 metres
(470 ft) by 65 metres
(210 ft) - about
9,800 square metres
(105,000 sq ft) in area
- capable of holding
80,000 cubic metres
(2,800,000 cu ft) of
water. The ceiling is
supported by a forest of
336 marble columns, each
9 metres (30 ft) high,
arranged in 12 rows of
28 columns spaced
4.9 metres (16 ft)
apart. The capitals of
the columns are mainly
Ionic and Corinthian
styles, with the
exception of a few Doric
style with no
engravings.
The
cistern is surrounded by
a firebrick wall with a
thickness of 4 metres
(13 ft) and coated with
a waterproofing mortar.
The cistern's water was
provided from the
Belgrade Woods—which lie
19 kilometres (12 mi)
north of the city—via
aqueducts built by the
Emperor
Justinian.
Cracks
to masonry and damaged
columns were repaired in
1968, with additional
restoration in 1985 by
the Istanbul
Metropolitan Museum; the
cistern was opened to
the public on 9
September 1987.
|
 |
|
Medusa
 |
Located
in the northwest corner of the cistern,
the bases of two columns reuse blocks
carved with the visage of Medusa. The
origin of the two heads is unknown,
though it is thought that the heads were
brought to the cistern after being
removed from a building of the late
Roman period. Tradition has it that the
blocks are oriented sideways and
inverted in order to negate the power of
the Gorgons' gaze.
The cistern was used as
a location for the 1963
James Bond film From
Russia with Love. In
the film, it is referred
to as being constructed
by the Emperor
Constantine, with no
reference to Justinian.
Its location is a
considerable distance
from the Soviet (now
Russian) consulate,
which is located in
Beyoğlu, the newer
"European" section of
Istanbul, on the other
side of the Golden Horn.
The finale of the 2009
film The International
takes place in a fantasy
amalgam of the Old City,
depicting the Basilica
Cistern as laying
beneath the Sultan Ahmed
Mosque -which, in the
film, is directly
adjacent to the
Süleymaniye Mosque.
|
Open daily between
09:00-18:30 |
|
|
Home Page,
About Turkey,
About Us,
Contact Us
Ephesus,
Ephesus Tours,
Celsus Library,
Artemis Temple,
Heracles Gate,
Istanbul,
Istanbul Tours,
Hagia Sofia,
Topkapi,
Dolmabahce,
Grand Bazaar
Section of Ephesus,
Istanbul Museum,
Istanbul Palaces,
Istanbul Churches,
Istanbul Castles, Istanbul Bazaars |
|