The Basilica Cistern, also known as the Yerebatan Cistern, is an ancient underground water reservoir. It was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, and its purpose was to provide the city with a reliable water supply.
The cistern is an engineering marvel, measuring approximately 138 meters long and 64.6 meters wide, with a capacity of around 80,000 cubic meters of water. It was constructed by skilled workers who used a combination of brick, stone, and mortar to create a vast network of columns, arches, and vaulted ceilings that supported a flat roof. The columns were brought in from other parts of the empire and various types of columns can be seen throughout.
The cistern’s name “Basilica” is derived from the fact that it is located underneath the site of a former basilica that once stood on the same spot. The cistern was forgotten for centuries and was only rediscovered in the 16th century.
One of the most famous features of the cistern is the two Medusa heads that are used as the bases of two columns, which are believed to have been taken from an ancient temple and placed in the cistern for protective purposes. I seem to have not found those, but admit to being very tired by that point.
Two of the columns in the Basilica Cistern are famously upside down, with their capitals (the decorative tops of the columns) placed below the base. The reason for this unusual placement is not entirely clear, and several theories have emerged over the years.
One popular theory is that the upside-down columns were recycled from an older structure, possibly a pagan temple, and were placed in the cistern as a way of neutralizing their power. According to this theory, turning the columns upside down was a way of symbolically rendering them powerless, as the tops of the columns would no longer be able to support the weight of the building.
Another theory is that the upside-down columns were simply a result of a mistake made by the builders of the cistern. It is possible that the builders did not have a clear understanding of the correct orientation of the columns, or that they were in a rush to complete the project and did not notice the mistake until it was too late.