Basilica Cistern.

The Basilica Cistern Museum is one of the most important cultural assets, allowing us to trace the magnificent history of Istanbul. This large underground cistern, built by the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I (527-565), is known as the "Sunken Palace" among the people due to the countless marble columns that rise from the water. The structure, known as "Cisterna Basilica" in Latin, is also called the "Basilica Cistern" because a Stoa Basilica was previously located in its place. With a water storage capacity of 80,000 tons, the Basilica Cistern is the largest enclosed cistern in the city and is distinguished by its greater number of reused structural elements compared to other enclosed cisterns. It is a massive rectangular structure covering approximately 10,000 m2, with a length of 140 meters and a width of 70 meters. According to written sources, the Basilica Cistern supplied water from aqueducts and rainwater, meeting the city's water needs for centuries by distributing it to the Great Palace, where the emperors resided, and surrounding buildings. Water was also supplied to the cistern via the Hadrian Aqueduct, one of the historical aqueducts. Inside the cistern, there are 336 columns, each 9 meters high. These columns are spaced 4.8 meters apart and form 12 rows, each containing 28 columns. Most of the columns, carved from various types of marble, are made of a single piece, while some are made of two pieces. The capitals of the columns exhibit different characteristics. Some reflect the "Corinthian" style, while others feature simple, unadorned capitals. It is observed that most of the columns in the cistern are cylindrical, with only a few being angular or fluted. The walls of the cistern, made of brick and 4.8 meters thick, and the brick-laid floor, are covered with a thick layer of Roman mortar, making them waterproof. After the conquest of Istanbul in 1453, the historical cistern was used for a while to meet the needs of Topkapi Palace, and it is also known that the local population used it as residential areas gradually developed in the region. Until the mid-16th century, the structure was "unnoticed" by Westerners, but during this period, it was almost "rediscovered." Petrus Gyllius, a French naturalist and topographer who lived in Istanbul between 1544 and 1555, is the person who made this discovery. Gyllius, who made the first measurements of the cistern, stated that the largest water reservoir of Constantinople was 336 feet long, 182 feet wide, and had a circumference of 224 Roman paces. Petrus Gyllius, who meticulously counted the columns of the structure, recorded a total of 336 columns and noted the presence of numerous wells on the surface of the cistern. Gyllius's words, "They draw water with buckets; they even row boats inside the cistern, illuminating it with lamps and fishing. Air and light seep in from the wells, and the fish swim in the light," convey that the local population was "aware" of the cistern and passed this knowledge on to future generations. The Basilica Cistern, which underwent its first restoration during the reign of Sultan Ahmed III and its second during the reign of Sultan Abdulhamid II, continued to be restored in subsequent years. Between 1955 and 1960, nine columns at risk of collapse were reinforced with a thick layer of concrete. During a comprehensive restoration and cleaning project carried out by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality between 1985 and 1987, the Medusa head blocks, which are the most important symbol of the Basilica Cistern, were discovered. Of the Medusa heads used as column bases, the one located on the western side of the structure is upside down, while the one on the eastern side is horizontal. The Medusa heads, which are among the most unique examples of Roman sculpture and attract great interest from visitors, have also been the subject of many legends. According to one legend, Medusa is one of the three Gorgons, female monsters of the underworld in Greek mythology. Medusa, with her snake-haired head, has the power to turn anyone who looks at her into stone. Another legend tells of a beautiful girl named Medusa, with black eyes, long hair, and a beautiful body. Medusa was in love with Perseus, the son of Zeus. Meanwhile, Athena was also in love with Perseus and was jealous of Medusa. Therefore, Athena turned Medusa's hair into snakes. From that point on, anyone who looked at Medusa would turn to stone. Later, Perseus cut off Medusa's head and used her power to defeat many enemies. After the restoration, the magnificent structure was opened to visitors as a museum by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality in 1987, with the addition of a viewing platform. Over time, it has hosted various national and international events. This mysterious place, an integral part of Istanbul's tourist itineraries, has been visited by many prominent figures, including former US President Bill Clinton, former Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok, former Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini, former Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson, and former Austrian Prime Minister Thomas Klestil. The Basilica Cistern Museum, strengthened by the largest restoration in its history, carried out by İBB Miras, reopened its doors on July 22, 2022, to witness many more centuries. With its modern museum approach, the unique museum, which hosts temporary exhibitions, contemporary art performances, cultural and artistic events, and concerts under the auspices of Kültür AŞ, aims to create a universe for the art of the future with its deep historical memory. The columns in the Basilica Cistern are mostly cylindrical, with only a few being square or fluted. The two Medusa heads, used as bases for two columns in the northwest corner of the cistern, are masterpieces of Roman sculpture. It is unknown from which structures these Medusa heads were taken and brought to the cistern. Researchers generally believe that they were brought to the cistern specifically to be used as column bases. However, this has not prevented the formation of legends surrounding the Medusa heads. According to one legend, Medusa was one of the three Gorgons, female monsters of the underworld, in Greek mythology. Of these three sisters, Medusa possessed the power to turn those who looked at her into stone. It is believed that during that era, images and sculptures of Gorgons were used to protect important buildings and sites, and the placement of the Medusa head in the cistern may be related to this practice. Another legend tells of Medusa, a beautiful girl with dark eyes, long hair, and a lovely figure. Medusa was in love with Perseus, the son of Zeus. Meanwhile, Athena was also in love with Perseus and was jealous of Medusa. As a result, Athena turned Medusa's hair into snakes. Anyone who looked at Medusa would then be turned to stone. Later, Perseus beheaded Medusa and used her power to defeat many enemies. Based on this, the Medusa head was incorporated into sword hilts and placed upside down on column bases (to prevent people from being turned to stone). Another legend states that Medusa looked in a mirror and turned herself into stone. Therefore, the sculptor who created the statue here depicted Medusa in three different positions, taking into account the angles of light reflection.

Source: kultur.istanbul — https://kultur.istanbul/yerebatan-sarnici-muzesi/