Basilica Cistern

Enticing visitors to the tranquil depths of Istanbul, the Basilica Cistern is the city’s largest covered reservoir. Built in 532 AD on the site of a great basilica, the Basilica Cistern once supplied water to nearby palaces such as the Great Palace of Constantinople and Topkapi Palace.

Also known as the Sunken Palace, the underground site takes up 9,800 square meters and has the capacity to store up to 100,000 tons of water. The water that feeds the Cistern comes through a viaduct, connected the source of supply at Belgrade Forest. The distance from this source to the Basilica Cistern is about 19km. Five-meter-thick walls contain the Cistern and are specially coated to ensure waterproofing.

Its domed ceilings are held up by intricately designed marble and granite columns varying in style between Corinthian, Doric and Ionic. There are 336 columns in all, arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns.

There are two columns of particular interest at the Basilica Cistern, both bearing the head of Medusa. Medusa being the female monster from Greek mythology with hair made of snakes, whose gaze was said to have turned those who looked upon her into stone. Medusa was beheaded by the hero Perseus, who then gave her head to Athena to use as a weapon on the top of her shield as a way of averting evil.

 Medusa’s upside-down head is found on the base of one column. Various theories attempt to explain just why her head was placed upside down, but many believe that it was done to ward off evil spirits.

Next to the upside-down head is another head depicting Medusa, this one placed sideways. Why the two heads were aimed in different directions only deepens the mystery, but some think that situating the heads in the same direction would have given rise to evil forces.

Massive restoration was required to make the Basilica Cistern as visitor-friendly as it is today. In 1985, 50,000 tons of mud was removed from the site, and walking platforms were constructed; in 1994, another revamp was carried out.

Now, visitors can stroll along the platforms and watch resident goldfish swim in the Cistern’s cool waters. The Basilica Cistern also houses its own candlelit café, where soft lighting and classical music contributes to the overall atmosphere of the place.

Nowadays, Basilica Cistern has gained more fame among people who enjoy reading the novels of Dan Brown. In his last book, titled “Inferno,” the Bailica Cistern was one of the fantastic places that held hidden clues of a secret.