The Basilica Cistern – Underground Palace
The Basilica Cistern – Underground Palace (Yerebatan Sarayi):
The Basilica Cistern (Underground Palace) was built in 532 by Justinian I. During the Byzantium Period, it was used as a water storage for the Great Palace and other buildings in the First Hill and had its brighest days in this period. During the Ottoman Period, the water was used for Topkapi Palace and watering the gardens of it.
The interior of Underground Cistern is 138m / 452ft long by 65m / 213ft wide. There are 336 columns in 12 rows and most of the capitals are either in Corinthian or Doric in style. At the far end of the Cistern, there are two heads of Medusa which are put upside down or side ways. These are taken from an ancient site and the position in which they were placed suggests that the people who put them there, were Christians and did not want to remind a god from pagan period. The water inside the underground cistern is collected rain water. The carp in the water are decorative and used against pollution.
It was cleaned and restored by the Municipality of Istanbul between 1985-1988.
