Basilica Cistern: The Joy of Istanbul

Basilica Cistern was built in the 6th century at the time of Byzantine rule by Emperor Justinian as a cistern. Cistern means water tank. Romans had a massive and advanced water system that consisted of miles-long walls that are called aqueducts. Aqueduct; literally means walls used for carrying water. There were pipes inside the aqueducts that were made of clay and used to carry water so that to carry water, aqueducts were always built according to gravity. Aqueducts were mainly built for the reason that water could flow down through the clay pipes in the walls and would fill these tanks up with water.

Interior view from the Basilica Underground Cistern of Istanbul

Before Constantinople was conquered by the Romans, there was a Greek city-state that was called Byzantium at the first hill of Istanbul. And this city-state was conquered by the Romans. The Roman strategy of conquering enemy cities was to surround the city and cut off the food and water supplies. This way, while clashes continued among the soldiers of both sides, women and children would take refuge inside the city walls. However, the problem was that the people of the enemy cities, when the food supply was cut off, could still survive. Yet, when the water supply finished they could not survive. Therefore as the Latin proverb says ‘In vino veritas, in aquas sanitas’ there is truth in wine and health in water’ water meant life for all people, and for that reason, Romans built massive water tanks after they conquered cities.

It was the same thing that happened during the conquest of Byzantium. After all men and women were massacred, The Romans rebuilt the city as a Roman city at the first hill where the previous Greek city-state Byzantium was built. But the water supply was not sufficient anymore. Firstly because the population of the city got bigger over time. And also the city was at the hill overlooking the sea to control overseas trade but was away from the main water sources. That’s why Romans built these massive aqueducts and carried water with these walls from outside of the city into the cisterns inside the city. Finally, They distributed the water from the cisterns to the main city centers.

This place always reminds us of Dante’s inferno but in a different way! Basilica Cistern doesn’t give you the feeling of inferno, on the contrary, it gives you the feeling of the Elysium as mentioned in Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’. It feels like you are totally beyond this life. Because it has a spiritual and mystical atmosphere. You are suddenly going to find yourself in the 6th century, at the time of Justinian, even going to be a participant of the Nika Rebellion that shook the throne of the emperor Justinian. Then you are going to find yourself, watching the construction of the marvelous Hagia Sophia in the years of 527-532 AD. So you are going to be an actual Roman, strolling through the Agora and watching the chariot races in the ancient Hippodrome of Constantinople and also maybe betting on the teams “Greens or Blues” during a breathtaking chariot race! We’re going to cut it short here so basically; Basilica Cistern makes you feel like: You are a part of the history!

Finally, don’t forget to see the two Medusa heads which were put upside-down, at the far corner of the Basilica Cistern! If you wonder why these Medusa heads were placed that way underneath the columns, you should come and visit Istanbul and ask your guide for this very interesting fact! Or wait for my next post! The next post will be about why two Medusa heads were placed upside-down.

Medusa head inside the Basilica Underground Cistern of Istanbul

And last, there is another very interesting column in the cistern. It’s the crying column! Why is it called the “crying column”? And why does it have a hole in it? So many questions are waiting to be answered! For all the answers and to have an amazing lifetime experience, come and join us to enjoy this breathtaking city…

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