by Elizabeth Coughlan

Created on: August 31, 2010

The Basilica Cistern, known locally as the Yerebatan Sarnici, stands as a glorious testament to the skill of Roman engineering. Water supply has always been a problem in Istanbul, and in ancient times water was fed to the city through a system of waterways and reservoirs. The Emperor, Great Constantinius, who ruled from 324 to 337, began a major reconstruction of the city's failing water supply, which included a small cistern where the Basilica Cistern is located today. However, by the time the Byzantine Emperor, Justinian 1, came to power (527-565), this network was also failing and unable to supply the needs of an ever-growing population. To increase its capacity, Justinian had the cistern enlarged to its present dimensions of approximately 140 x 70m (460 x 230 ft).

Water was fed into the cistern by the Hadrian and Valens aqueducts that ran from the Belgrade forest (near the Black Sea coast), all the way down to the cistern on the Sarayburnu peninsula. In the early days, the cistern was used to supply water to the Grand Palace and St. Sophia's Basilica, which is how it became known as the Basilica Cistern. Eventually, as the population of the area expanded even more, local citizens were also allowed to draw their daily water from above, by dropping buckets down large round holes in the ceiling.

Even though recycled stonework from Rome, and other areas, was used in the building of the Basilica Cistern, it is not just a utilitarian structure. The walls of the cistern, 4.8 m thick (16 ft), are made of firebrick, treated with a special coating to make them waterproof. The many roof arches of the cistern are supported by 336 marble columns, 8m (26 ft) in height. The capitals on the columns are a variety of Doric and Corinthian styles, and the patterns on the columns themselves are randomly different, as are the bases, proving that they came from a variety of buildings. Two of the bases have carved reliefs of the head of Medusa, the Gorgon with snakes for hair. One head is on its side and the other is upside-down, although it is not clear why they were placed like this. Legend has it that anyone who looked into Medusa's eyes would be turned into stone, so one speculation is that the heads were placed in this way to prevent this. Whatever the reason, the two heads of Medusa have continued to provide visitors with endless fascination.

During the Ottoman era, the cistern was renovated twice, but was only used to water the palace gardens. There were more attempts at restoration in both the 18th and 19th centuries, but eventually the Basilica cistern fell into disuse.  In 1940, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality nationalized the area around the cistern, and constructed the present building at the entrance, to provide access. Years of neglect had left the cistern full of dirty water and tons of mud. This was removed during a cleaning operation mounted between 1985 and 1988, and the raised walkway between the columns was built. The basilica cistern was then designated a museum, and opened to the public.

Today, the Basilica cistern is a draw for both local and international visitors to Istanbul, as well as being a unique venue for musical events. The subdued lighting gives the cistern an air of mystery, and visitors tend to speak in hushed tones, as if they were in a house of worship. Situated as it is, 150m (500 ft) west of the Aya Sofya (Hagia Sophia), it is easily accessible for everyone visiting Sultanahmet, the old city of Istanbul that was once called Constantinople.

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