The basilica cistern is the largest of the ancient cisterns in istanbul and was built in the sixth century. Having broken its own historical record after world famous writer dan browns recent book inferno was published, the basilica cistern was visited by. The basilica cistern, one of istanbuls most unusual tourist attractions, gains fame because of its underground location, and if you are visiting the hagia sophia, blue mosque, or topkapi palace, it is worth taking a short detour to see it. The basilica cistern, one of istanbuls most unusual tourist attractions. In addition to general information about the basilica cistern yerebatan.
There is a small building next to the tram line, there leads the stairs down to the. Istanbuls constantinople 6th century basilica cistern electrum. The basilica cistern, or cisterna basilica, is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of istanbul, turkey. The cistern located 150 m southwest of the hagia sophia on the historical peninsula, was built in the 6th century during the reign of byzantine emperor justinian i. Hi everyone im going to istanbul next week for 3 days. The cambridge ancient history, volume 14 edited by averil cameron, bryan. Basilica cisterns of istanbul istanbul, turkey atlas. Basilica cistern was built by justinian under a large basilica in constantinople. Called yerebatan sarayi in turkish, which means sunken palace, it was built during the 6th century under byzantine rule. Istanbul is the largest city in turkey, as well as the countrys economic, cultural, and historic heart. So spectacular is the cistern that one could easily mistake it for a sacred subterranean temple.
The basilica cistern was built during the reign of justinian 527565 to supply the byzantine palace. It has pictures and gives the history of the cistern. The cistern, located 150 metres 490 ft southwest of the hagia sophia on the historical peninsula of sarayburnu, was built in the 6th century during the reign of. After a trip to the basilica cistern i found that it was an ideal shelter contradicting many conditions of the outside world. The basilica cistern is a most impressive, ancient water reservoir built beneath istanbul in the 6th century. Sophia cistern and theodosius cistern are some of the 80 cisterns that supplied water in constantinople. The basilica cistern is an underground water reservoir that was built for the byzantium emperor justinianus i in the the 6th century 532. This basilica is believed to have been built sometime in the 3 rd or 4 th centuries b. One medusa head is placed on its side whilst the other is upside down, perhaps in an attempt to negate the power of the gorgons gaze which could turn men to stone. The basilica cistern has been featured in several books and films. Library of constantinople said to contain 120,000 books in the 5th century. The cistern, located 150 metres southwest of the hagia sophia on the historical peninsula of sarayburnu, was built in the 6th century during the reign of byzantine emperor justinian i. The basilica cistern, yerebatan sarnici, is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of istanbul, turkey. Being the largest of istanbul, the basilica cistern, yerebatan sarn.
The books are set in england i shouldnt really have been finding associations here in turkey, in a city like istanbul with its influences of eastern europe and asia. This cistern was used to store water for the great palace and other buildings in the area during justinians reign. A guide to the basilica cistern in istanbul property turkey. Sunken palace, it is one of the major tourist attractions of modern istanbul. Basilica cistern, yerebatan sarayi, istanbul, turquie. The origin of the two heads is unknown, though it is thought that the heads were brought to the cistern after being removed from a building of the late roman period. The incredible subterranean basilica cistern ancient origins. Alamy this underground space is close to the much more famous hagia sophia. Dan brown draws visitors basilica cistern enjoy istanbul. The name basilica comes from the former religious structure on the site where the cistern was built. Book your tickets online for basilica cistern, istanbul. Buy basilica cistern in istanbul a travel guide and tour as with the best local guide.
He graduated from kuleli military high school in istanbul, earned a degree in english. It is the largest of many cisterns beneath the city, the size of a cathedral. The basilica cistern, built in 532, is the largest surviving byzantine cistern in istanbul and was designed to service the great palace and surrounding buildings with a capacity to store up to 80,000 cubic metres of water. Hagia sophia basilica cistern blue mosque spice market. The roof is supported by 336 marble columns, mostly in ionic or corinthian styles, each measuring 9 meters in length.
Other articles where basilica cistern is discussed. Basilica cistern istanbul, turkey attractions lonely planet. Columns of basilica cistern, istanbul illustration. The book cover of petrus gylliuss istanbul bogazi, which was made after his visit. Basilica cistern cistern, istanbul, turkey britannica. Basilica cistern and medusa heads in istanbul, turkey. Would have liked some audio andor video commentary to bring the history to mind while we were there. We organize all turkey tours if you want to discover turkey with us keep follow and contact us. Basilica cistern or better known as yerebatan sarayi is a very authentic place and a must see in istanbul. The istanbul we read about in history books is reemerging as works on which. Used book sales was first initiated by umayyad in andalusia in the year of 700s. Basilica cisterns of istanbul istanbul, turkey atlas obscura. Istanbul private halfday tour hagia sophia, basilica cistern. The basilica cistern, or cisterna basilica turkish.
Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Basilica cisterne istanbul 2020 alles wat u moet weten. The basilica cistern, or cisterna basilica is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of istanbul, turkey. A marvel of byzantine engineering under the streets of istanbul. The largest and most famous of the many underground cisterns in istanbul, the basilica cistern was built in the 6th century under the byzantine emperor justinian the great. One of two monumental medusa carvings which hold up columns in the basilica cistern of istanbul formerly constantinople. In 1545, petrus gyllius, a dutch traveler, was researching byzantium ruins in. Basilica cistern was repaired by justinian and came to its current state after a fire in nika riot. Basilica cistern istanbul, turkey attractions lonely. One of the magnificent ancient buildings of istanbul is the basilica cistern located in the southwest of hagia sofia.
Basilica cistern yerebatan sunken palace serif yenen on. Discover basilica cisterns of istanbul in istanbul, turkey. Basilica cistern is an underground cistern built by the late. In some, like the great basilica cistern near hagia sophia called by the turks the yerebatan underground palace, old material was reused. Constructed for justinianus i, the byzantium emperor 527565, this big underground water reservoir is called as yerebatan cistern among the public because of the underground marble columns. The cistern was constructed in the 6th century bce reusing the medusa blocks from an earlier roman building. Basilica cistern istanbul travel guide, introducing istanbul. Basilica cistern istanbul 2020 all you need to know. The basilica cistern is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that still lie beneath the city of istanbul, former constantinople, turkey. Having broken its own historical record after world famous writer dan browns recent book inferno was published, the basilica cistern was.
The water was transported from the belgrade forest by the immense byzantine aqueducts valens aqueducts. Located across the hagia sophia museum, yerebatan sarayi is also known as the basilica cistern because of a basilica that was once located nearby as a cultural centre. Istanbul 1957 directed by hoseph pevney, the film stars errol flynn, cornell borchers and nat king cole and tells the story of a suspected diamond smuggler who returns to istanbul and. Basilica cistern is an underground cistern built by the late roman or early byzantine emperor justinian the. Dating back to the byzantine era, the huge cistern was built in the mid500s on the former site of a basilica. Hidden beneath the city of istanbul constantinople, turkey, are hundreds of ancient cisterns that stored and supplied water to its inhabitants in the ancient past. The cisterns are deposits which were built so the city had water reserves should it be attacked. The 10 best basilica cistern yerebatan sarayi tours. View of the basilica cistern known in turkish as yerebatan sarn.
The basilica cistern of istanbul and the heads of medusa i walked down 55 stone steps, sensing dampness in the air when i reached the bottom and the basilica cistern. Most recently at the end of dan browns inferno with tom hanks, as well as the 1963 james bond film from russia with love. Having broken its own historical record after world famous writer dan browns recent book inferno was published, the basilica cistern was visited by more than 2. Istanbul in dan browns inferno hagia sophia, basilica.
Look for the unassuming entrance to the yerebatan sarn. Before that, its believed that it had a porticoed courtyard with marble columns. The only sounds were whispers from tourists and the odd drip of water. Known locally as yerebatan sarayi meaning sunken palace or yerebatan sarnici sunken cistern, this underground water cistern was the major water reservoir of constantinople. Underground cistern istanbul tour studio istanbul guide. You can visit the underground cistern either with our one day in istanbul or istanbul. Sophia cistern and theodosius cistern is some of the 80 cisterns that supplied water in constantinople. The basilica cistern, one of istanbul s most famous historical sites, impresses visitors with its 336 columns, each nine meters long, and two medusa heads. Istanbuls constantinople 6th century basilica cistern. Books on istanbul history not guide books istanbul forum. The cistern is located at the sultanahmet square, when you are about to reach the sultanahmet square on the right bank you will see the basilica cistern. Beautiful yet eerie, basilica cistern yerebatan sarayi isnt your average underground well. Subterranean cistern, is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of istanbul formerly constantinople, turkey. More than 300 marble columns provide a grand, serene atmosphere to what was essentially subterranean water storage.
Basilica cistern, constantinople illustration ancient. Basilica cistern medusa heads located in the northwest corner of the cistern from roman empire, the bases of two columns reuse blocks carved with the visage of medusa. Photo source it may be pointed out that the name of this cistern is derived from the fact that it stands under the site where a roman basilica a large, open, public building where business or legal transactions could be carried out once stood. Nicknamed yerebatan sarayi, or the sunken palace in turkish, it is known in english as the basilica cistern because of its location on the site of an ancient basilica. This not only contains thousands of precious books, but also 556 years of history. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. The cistern, located 150 metres 490 ft southwest of the hagia sophia on the historical peninsula of sarayburnu. It stands on a triangular peninsula between europe and asia founded on the sarayburnu promontory around 660 bc as byzantium, the city now known as istanbul has become one of the most important cities in history for nearly sixteen centuries following its reestablishment with.
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