BASILICA CISTERN
BASILICA CISTERN
History
The original name of cistern stems from the Roman basilica that stands above cistern once. There is a belief that the basilica was built in the 3rd or 4th century B.C. Nika insurrections demolished Constantinople in 532 A.D. Emperor Justinian wanted to rebuild the basilica, but it does not exist today.
The Basilica Cistern used for the water needs of inhabitants and Byzantine palace that emperor resides at the Byzantium times. After the conquest of Istanbul in 1453, the usage of cistern continued for a short time. It supplied water for Topkapı Palace where sultan resided. However, the Ottomans installed their water facilities later because they preferred running water rather than dead water with respect to their beliefs. Thus, the cistern was not used following times until its exploration at the mid of 16th century by Gyllius.
Prokopis Gyllius noticed it when he came to Istanbul for researching of Byzantine ruins in between 1544 and 1550. Dutch traveler rediscovered it and familiarised to the western world. One day, while he was horsing around Hagia Sofia, he succeeded to enter inside the cistern from the backyard of a wooden house surrounded by walls located on the cistern. He went inside from stone steps toward to underground by using torch carrying. He witnessed that householders pulled water from the large round holes in analogy to well on the ground floor of their houses and even fished there. He bats around the cistern by using a boat, measured it and described columns. A travel book including his experiences published and influenced many travelers after that.
Prokopios Gyllius expresses why the emperor built the cistern like that: ‘In summer months, the city stress from water shortage although other seasons live in copiousness. Thus, the emperor planned draft like that: Empire Portico used by legists had a large courtyard. It was very long, proportionally wide and surrounded with pillar from every side. Four colonnaded stoa was located at sides. Emperor Justinian hollowed the court and one of the stoas deeply and made a water reservoir to collect water that was spent other seasons in vain.’ (Freely and Çakmak,2004)
He explains how he discovers cistern while he is looking for a library of Stoa Basilica: ’While cistern stands, Emperor Portico doesn’t exist. Nobody couldn’t discover this place before me because of carelessness and dismissiveness of inhabitants. Whole area covered with buildings so this does not create a sign about cistern. Although people extract water from well every day, they have no doubt. Accidentally, I entered a house that has entrance to cistern and board to a lifeboat. Owner of the house flashed out this place and went boating between pillars. Then, I discovered here. He caught fishes at cisterns base.’ (Freely and Çakmak,2004)
Architectural Properties
This giant rectangular structure is 140-meter-long and 70 meters wide. 52 steps staircase helps to access into the cistern. The structure has 9-meter- high 336 columns. The distance between 12 rows that each has 28 columns is 4,8 meters.
The columns through arches conveyed the case-bay of the cistern. The ceiling load is distributed among the columns through to arched crossed vaults. These columns remind Grand Mosque of Cordoba’ columns in Spain with their palm tree styles. While some columns belong to Corinthian style, others reflect Ionic and Doric style. That is why these columns were brought from somewhere else. These kinds of columns are named as spolia.
One column draws special attention due to engraved pictures resembling eyes and tears. As ancient texts suggest, these tears pay tribute to the hundreds of slaves who died during the construction of the Basilica Cistern. Beyond architectural quality, this cistern which contains many recycling materials shows decoration richness of 6th century and changes that existed after establishing the city. An eyed pillar that reminds a tree trunk pruned its boughs is same as the pillar recovered at Theodosius Forum but more elegant. (Yerasimos,2000)
High brick walls (4,8 meter) were covered with a thick layer of brick dust mortar for water tightness as well as the brick floor. The cistern approximately has the capacity of 100.000-ton water and covers 9800-meter square area. It still has a few feet high water and fishes in it.
Left corner of the cistern differs from other parts due to its level. Walking platform goes down with several stairs. Here reminds nymphaeinon that is monumental construction erecting near water resources. Two pillars were settled on enormous Gorgon heads. One of them is inverted while one is atilt. (Yerosimos,2000)
Medusa Heads
Most of the columns are shaped as a cylinder but there are two columns glorious and quite different from others, which are edged and grooved. These columns located at northwest of cistern has two Medusa heads to support them. The Medusa heads belong to the Roman age, which has great craftsmanship. The unknown of where Medusa heads were got from is another attention- grabbing point. There is a thought that the heads have been taken for supports of columns during construction. But stories about Medusa heads spread irrepressibly.
Here is another hearsay that Medusa plums herself upon about her appearance such as her black eyes, beautiful body and long hair. She fell in love with Perseus who is the son of Zeus. Also, Athena loved him and envied Medusa. Thus, she turned Medusa’s hair into snakes. Then, whoever looks at Medusa’s eyes was gorgonized. Thereafter, Perseus cut off her head and used for defeating enemies. Therefore, Byzantines engraved on the handles of the swords the head of Medusa. It is applied onto supports of communes in reverse so that watchers do not be gorgonized. Another myth is that Medusa gorgonized herself by looking sideways. Thus, the sculptor positioned Medusas in three different ways in respect to angels of light.
Current Situation
The cistern has been renovated a lot of times under different reign of civilizations. In the Ottoman Empire period, it was repaired two times. First was by Kayserili Mehmet Aga during the rule of Ahmed III in 1723. The second one was in rule of Sultan Abdelhamid II in between the years of 1876 and 1909. At Republican times, Istanbul Municipality cleaned the cistern and opened to visitors. After that, one more comprehensive cleaning was made in 1994. At the present time, the cistern is operated as a museum by Kültür A.Ş. ( Culture Co) which is one of the affiliates of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
The basilica cistern has attracted people from all strata. Some of them are leaders like Bill Clinton, Ex-prime minister of the Netherlands Wim Kok, Minister of Italy Lamberto, Sweden Minister Goran Persson and President of Austria Thomas Klestil. Besides politicians, the cistern has influenced film directors. There are anecdotes filmed in the cistern in the movies of ‘ From Russia with Love’ and ‘ The International’. Also, Clive Cussler give place to a scene from the cistern in a chapter of his book ‘Crescent Dawn’.
Besides being a tourist attraction, many cultural activities have been arranged in the cistern. Concerts, poem reading nights and Ney concerts during Ramadan month are the most common events. The basilica cistern continues to be home for a lot of national and international activities.
REFERENCES
-Yerasimos, Stefanos. Istanbul Imparatorluklar Baskenti. Istanbul: Mohn Media, 2000
-Freely, John and Çakmak, Ahmet. Istanbul’un Bizans Anıtları. Istanbul: Yapı Kredi Yayınları,2004
-https://www.yerebatan.com/tr
-https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-asia/incredible-subterranean-basilica-cistern-001686
-Atlas Obscura, 2014. Basilica Cisterns of Istanbul. [Online]
Available at: http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/basilica-cisterns-istanbul
[Accessed 21 May 2014].
-Lonely Planet, 2014. Basilica Cistern. [Online]
Available at: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/istanbul/sights/other/basilica-cistern
[Accessed 21 May 2014].
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