THE BASILICA CISTERN
The largest and most magnificent covered cistern in the city is entered
through a small building to the west of the Hagia Sophia Square. The
ceiling of this forest of columns is made of brick and is cross-vaulted.
The name of the cistern comes from a basilica that was once located
nearby.
It was built during the reign of Justinian I (527-565) to supply water
to the palaces in the vicinity. Its 336 columns are arranged in 12 rows
of 28 each. The cistern measures 140 by 70 meters. The columns are
topped with capitals, some of them plain, but most in Corinthian style.
The water level in the cistern changed from season to season. The water
was distributed through the pipes at different levels in the eastern
wall.
The ground was cleared during the major restoration in 1987, and when
over one meter of mud was removed, the original brick pavement and two
marble Medusa heads at the base of two of the columns were revealed. The
walkway that was constructed at that time enables visitors to walk
around the cistern.
|