Basilica Cistern

This subterranean cistern was called Basilica because it was located under a large public square, the Stoa Basilica, on the First Hill of Constantinople.{{cite web |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/istanbul/sights/other/basilica-cistern |title=Basilica Cistern - Lonely Planet |first=Lonely |last=Planet}} Prior to its construction, a great basilica stood on the spot. It had been built during the Early Roman Age between the 3rd and 4th centuries as a commercial, legal and artistic centre. The basilica was reconstructed by Illus after a fire in 476.

Ancient texts indicated that the [https://www.basilica-cistern.com/ basilica cistern] contained gardens surrounded by a colonnade that faced the Hagia Sophia. According to ancient historians, Emperor Constantine built a structure that was later reconstructed and enlarged by Emperor Justinian after the Nika riots of 532, which devastated the city.

Historical texts claim that 7,000 slaves were involved in the construction of the cistern.

The enlarged cistern provided a water filtration system for the Great Palace of Constantinople and other buildings on the First Hill, and continued to provide water to the Topkapı Palace after the Ottoman conquest in 1453 and into modern times.

The existence of the cistern was eventually forgotten by all but the locals who still drew water from it until, in 1565, the French traveller Petrus Gyllius left a record of it. Gyllius recorded being rowed in between the columns and seeing fish swimming in the water beneath the boat.{{Cite book |last=Yale 1 Tonguç 2 |first=Pat 1 Saffet Emre 2 |title=Istanbul The Ultimate Guide |publisher=Boyut |year=2010 |isbn=9789752307346 |edition=1st |location=Istanbul |pages=54–56 |language=English}}

This cathedral-size{{Cite news |last=Zararia |first=Priti|title=Basilica Cistern |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/basilica-cistern/articleshow/58460340.cms |access-date=2024-02-11 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} cistern is an underground chamber approximately {{convert|138|m}} by {{convert|65|m}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ibb.gov.tr/sites/ks/en-US/1-Places-To-Go/museum/Pages/basilica-cistern.aspx |title=The Basilica Cistern |access-date=2010-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208215523/http://www.ibb.gov.tr/sites/ks/en-US/1-Places-To-Go/museum/Pages/basilica-cistern.aspx |archive-date=2010-12-08 |url-status=dead}} – about {{convert|9800|m2}} in area – capable of holding {{convert|80000|m3}} of water. The ceiling is supported by a forest of 336{{cite web |url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN,113825/yerebatan-palace-cistern.html |title=Yerebatan Palace (Cistern)}} marble columns, each {{convert|9|m}} high, arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns each spaced {{convert|5|m}} apart. The capitals of the columns are mainly in the Ionic and Corinthian style, with the exception of a few Doric capitals with no engravings. One of the columns is carved with raised pictures of a Hen's Eye, slanted branches, and tears, and resembles the columns of the 4th-century Triumphal Arch of Theodosius I (AD 379–395), erected in the 'Forum Tauri' Square, today's Beyazıt Square. The majority of the columns in the cistern appear to have been recycled from the ruins of older buildings (a process called 'spoliation'), likely brought to Constantinople from various parts of the empire, together with those that were used in the construction of Hagia Sophia. They are carved out of different types of marble and granite.

Fifty-two stone steps descend into the cistern which is surrounded by a firebrick wall with a thickness of {{convert|4|m}} and coated with a waterproofing mortar. The Basilica Cistern's water came from the Eğrikapı Water Distribution Centre in the Belgrade Forest, which lie {{convert|19|km}} north of the city. It traveled via the {{convert|971|m|ft|adj=mid|-long}} Valens (Bozdoğan) Aqueduct, and the original {{convert|115|m|ft|adj=mid|-long}} Mağlova Aqueduct, which was built by the Emperor Justinian.

The weight of the cistern is carried on the columns by means of the cross-shaped vaults and round arches of its roof.

The Basilica Cistern has been restored several times since its original creation. The first repairs were carried out in the 18th century during the reign of the Ottoman sultan Ahmed III in 1723 by the architect Muhammad Ağa of Kayseri. The second major repair was completed during the 19th century reign of Sultan Abdulhamid II (1876–1909). Cracks in the masonry and damaged columns were repaired in 1968, with additional restoration in 1985 by the Istanbul Metropolitan Museum. During the 1985 restoration, 50,000 tons of mud were removed from the cistern, and platforms were erected to replace the boats previously used for touring the cistern. The cistern was opened to the public on 9 September 1987. It underwent additional cleaning In May 1994. Then in 2017 it was once again closed for restoration and earthquake-proofing, reopening to the public in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Sabah |first=Daily |date=2022-07-24 |title=Istanbul's Basilica Cistern reopens after restoration |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/istanbuls-basilica-cistern-reopens-after-restoration/news |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=Daily Sabah |language=en-US}}

Image:MedusaHeadIstanbul.jpg

The bases of two columns In the northwest corner of the cistern reuse blocks carved with the face of Medusa.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-23 |title=Exploring the Interior of the Basilica Cistern - 2024 |url=https://istanbul-tours-activities.com/basilica-cistern/inside/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |language=}} The origin of the two heads is unknown, though it is thought that they were brought to the cistern after being removed from a building of the late Roman period. There is no evidence to suggest that they were previously used as column bases. Tradition has it that the blocks are oriented sideways and inverted in order to negate the power of the Gorgons' gaze.{{Cite web |title=Basilica Cistern Tickets |url=https://www.basilica-cistern.com/ |access-date=2023-09-22 |website= |language=en}}

The cistern was used as a location for the 1963 James Bond film From Russia with Love.{{Cite web|title=James Bond and Karim at Cistern|url=https://spymovienavigator.com/filmclip_type/james-bond-and-karim-at-cistern/|access-date=2021-12-18|website=Spy Movie Navigator|language=en-US}} In the film, it is referred to as having been constructed by the Emperor Constantine, with no reference to Justinian, and is fictitiously located under the Soviet consulate. In reality it is a long way away from the former Soviet (now Russian) consulate in Beyoğlu.

The cistern plays a key role in Dorothy Dunnett's historical novel Pawn in Frankincense (1969), fourth volume of The Lymond Chronicles.

In the fantasy series The Old Kingdom, the reservoir beneath the palace in Belisaere was inspired by the cistern.{{cite tweet|user=garthnix|number=1597364430727413761|title=While the reservoir under the palace in Belisaere (in my Old Kingdom books) was inspired by Yerebatan Sarnici in Istanbul, I didn't know there was something similar, if more modern, not far away from home in Sydney, now the Tank Gallery of the AGNSW. Might be handy for filming 🤞|author=Garth Nix|author-link=Garth Nix|access-date=2022-12-01}}

The finale of the 2009 film The International takes place in a fantasy amalgam of the Old City, depicting the Basilica Cistern as lying beneath the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, which, in the film, is directly adjacent to the Süleymaniye Mosque.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}

In the 2011 video game, Assassin's Creed: Revelations, the player-controlled character, Ezio Auditore, is given the chance to explore a section of this cistern in a memory sequence entitled The Yerebatan Cistern.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/wikis/assassins-creed-revelations/Memory_6_-_The_Yerebatan_Cistern |title=Memory 6 - The Yerebatan Cistern |date=24 December 2011 |access-date=30 May 2018 |work=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis, LLC}}{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/5840188/see-the-real-places-youll-go-in-the-next-assassins-creed |title=See The Real Places You'll Go in the Next Assassin's Creed |last=Totilo |first=Stephen |date=14 September 2011 |access-date=30 May 2018 |work=Kotaku |publisher=Gizmodo Media Group}}

The cistern also features in Jean-Baptiste Andrea's film thriller Brotherhood of Tears (2013). In the sequence, the lead character, acting as a transporter (played by Jeremie Renier), delivers a suitcase to a mysterious client (played by Turkish actor Ali Pinar).

The cistern with its inverted Medusa pillar featured in the 2013 Dan Brown novel Inferno{{cite web |url=http://www.enjoy-istanbul.com/archeology/dan-brown-brings-more-visitors-to-basilica-cistern/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140207015851/http://www.enjoy-istanbul.com/archeology/dan-brown-brings-more-visitors-to-basilica-cistern/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=February 7, 2014 |title=Dan Brown draws visitors Basilica Cistern |last=Guillet |first=Marc |date=5 May 2015 |access-date=30 May 2018 |work=Enjoy Istanbul}} (as well as its 2016 film adaptation).{{cite news |title=Istanbul's Basilica Cistern on silver screen with 'Inferno' |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/istanbuls-basilica-cistern-on-silver-screen-with-inferno-104831 |date=12 October 2016 |access-date=30 May 2018 |newspaper=Hurriyet Daily News |publisher=Muro Media}}

The cistern is featured in Age of Empires IV as one of the two Castle Age Landmarks of the Byzantines, named Cistern of the First Hill

File:Basilica Cistern Statue.jpg|Statues in Basilica Cistern

File:Basilica Cistern1.jpg|Art installation inside Basilica Cistern

File:Cisterna Basílica, Estambul, Turquía, 2024-09-28, DD 52-54 HDR.jpg|Columns and vaults of Basilica Cistern

Cisterna Basílica, Estambul, Turquía, 2024-09-28, DD 40-42 HDR.jpg|Medusa head

Cisterna Basílica, Estambul, Turquía, 2024-09-28, DD 73-75 HDR.jpg|Atmospheric lighting now brightens up a visit to the Basilica Cistern

File:Yerebatan Sarnıcı Istanbul.jpg|Unique "peacock-eyed" column in the Basilica Cistern

• Cistern of Philoxenos (Istanbul)
• History of Roman and Byzantine domes
• List of Roman cisterns
• Theodosius Cistern (Istanbul)

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web |last= Crow |first= J. |title= The Water Supply of Byzantine Constantinople |publisher= History of Istanbul |date= 2015 |url= https://istanbultarihi.ist/554-the-water-supply-of-byzantine-constantinople |accessdate= January 15, 2021}}
• {{cite book |last= Mango |first= Cyril |date= 1995 |chapter= The Water Supply of Constantinople |editor1-last= Mango |editor1-first= Cyril |editor2-last= Dagron |editor2-first= Gilbert |title= Constantinople and its Hinterland |pages= 9–18 |location= Aldershot, Hampshire, UK |publisher= Ashgate Publishing |isbn= 9781315259567}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Ward |first1=K. A. |last2=Crapper |first2=M. |last3=Altuğ |first3=K |last4=Crow |first4=J. |title=The Byzantine Cisterns of Constantinople |journal=Water Supply |volume=17 |issue=6 |pages=1499–1506 |publisher=IWA Publishing |place=London |year=2017 |doi=10.2166/ws.2017.053 |url=https://iwaponline.com/ws/article-pdf/17/6/1499/204633/ws017061499.pdf}}

{{commons category|Basilica Cistern}}

• [http://www.byzantium1200.com/yerebatan.html Byzantium 1200 | Basilica Cistern]
• Short BBC documentary on the Basilica Cistern [https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0gr04n9/istanbul-s-ancient-subterranean-basilica-cistern]

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Category:6th-century establishments in the Byzantine Empire

Category:6th-century religious buildings and structures

Category:Byzantine secular architecture

Category:Cisterns in Istanbul

Category:Cultural depictions of Medusa

Category:Fatih

Category:Hagia Sophia

Category:Justinian I

Category:Reservoirs in Turkey

Category:Roman cisterns

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