Basilica Cistern Museum: One of the coolest spots in Istanbul

Visitors can find one of the stunning historic buildings of Istanbul in Istanbul’s Basilica Cistern located in the southwest part of Hagia Sofia. 

Built to commemorate Justinian I, the Byzantium Emperor (527-565), the massive underground water reservoir is known in the form of “Yerebatan Cistern” among the public due to the marble columns that are underground. 

There was an ancient basilica at the location that was the cistern site. It’s often referred to as Basilica Cistern.

Technical Facts

The cistern measures 140 meters long and 70 m wide. It is spread across the entire area in a rectangle, making it enormous. It is accessible by a 52-step staircase. 

The cistern houses 336 columns; each is 9 meters tall. Built at 4.80 meters from one another, the columns are comprised of 12 rows, including 28 columns. The cistern’s case bay is carried through the arches of the columns. 

A majority of the columns, many of which are believed to be derived from the structures of the past and sculpted using various types of marbles. They are composed of a single piece, and another is made up of two pieces. 

The columns’ heads have distinct features in different parts. They are 98 in Corinthian style, while a few of them are a reflection of those of the Dorian style. The cistern features 4.80 meters high walls of brick, and it is surrounded with bricks, then covered with the thick layer of mortar made from bricks to ensure water tightness. 

The area covers 9,800 square meters over its entire surface, and this cistern has a water storage capacity of 100,000 tonnes.

Legends: Medusa Heads

Apart from a few of the columns grooved and edged off the cistern, the majority are formed in the shape of a circular. The two Medusa heads, utilized as support under two columns on the cistern’s northwest end, are among the most impressive works of art dating from that of the Roman period. 

The most exciting thing to people who visit is that the exact structure that the Medusa heads were removed is unclear. Researchers often believe that it was brought to use as a support to the column during the construction of the cistern. However, this hasn’t been able to stop myths about the head of Medusa.

According to legend, Medusa is one of the three Gorgons, which are female monsters from the world of the underground in Greek mythology. 

The snake-head Medusa is one among the three sisters who can gorgonize people who happen to be looking at her. It is why Gorgone sculptures and paintings were used to protect large structures and venues. The idea of placing Medusa’s head in the cistern was done for protection motives. 

According to another story, Medusa was a girl known for her dark eyes with long hair and gorgeous body. Medusa loved Perseus, one of the children of Zeus. Athena loved Perseus, and this caused Medusa to be jealous. Thus, Athena converted Medusa’s hairs into snakes. 

Then, everyone who happened to see Medusa was gorgonized. After that, Perseus headed off Medusa and defeated many foes using her strength. 

Thus Medusa’s head was engraved onto the handles of swords in Byzantium and placed on the support of the communes reverse (so that people who were watching were not gorgonized). 

According to another legend, Medusa gorgonized herself by turning her head sideways. It is why the artist who created it made Medusa at three different positions based on the angle of light reflection.

Basilica Cistern Restorations Throughout the History

They believe that the Basilica Cistern has been renovated repeatedly until today. Architect Kayserili Mehmet Aga repaired it during Ahmad III (M.1723) in the Ottoman Empire, followed by Sultan Abdulhamid II (1876-1909) during the 19th century. 

There are eight columns on the northeast wall, towards the center of the cistern, and were exposed to the possibility of breaking during construction work in the years 1955-1960, which is why a thick layer of cement enclosed them. As a result, they lost their initial feature.

In the republican era, it was cleaned up through the Istanbul Municipality in 1987 and opened to public visits to make away. They carried out a further thorough cleaning in May 1994.

What Was the Basilica Cistern Used For?

During the Byzantium period, the Basilica Cistern met the water requirements and needs of the palace that encompassed a large area in which the emperor was a resident in addition to other residents of the region. 

Following the city’s conquest in Istanbul in 1453, the Basilica Cistern was utilized for a brief time, and the water was pumped through the Topkapi Palace, where the sultans resided. 

But it was the Ottomans who preferred running water over still water and set up their water infrastructure within the city. They believe that the cistern did not get utilized after that, and the western world was unaware of it until the latter half of the XVI century. 

In 1544-1550, P. Gyllius, a Dutch traveler who came to Istanbul to research Byzantium ruin, was discovered and was introduced to the western world. In one of his investigations, P. Gyllius, as he walked in Hagia Sofia, managed to access the cistern by using the torch in his hand. 

P. Gyllius ranged around the cistern in the back of a rowing vessel under challenging conditions, took measurements, and identified its columns. 

The knowledge he gained from his experiences was published in the book on travel that he wrote. Gyllius influenced many travelers.

Basilica Cistern in Modern Times

The cistern was utilized to be the setting for The 1962 James Bond film “From Russia with Love”. The film depicts it’s mentioned as having been built by Emperor Constantine without any reference the Emperor Justinian the Emperor, and is situated beneath the Soviet consulate. 

Its actual location is far distance from the old Soviet (now Russian) consulate that is located situated in Beyoglu, located in the “newer” European section of Istanbul situated on the other end of the Golden Horn.

The cistern was also featured within Jean-Baptiste Andre’s cinematic action thriller Brotherhood of Tears (2013). In the scene the protagonist who plays the role of a driver (played by Jeremie Renier) is able to deliver an unidentified suitcase to a customer.

The cistern and its inverted Medusa Pillar was featured in 2013’s Dan Brown novel Inferno.

The mysterious location is an integral component of Istanbul’s itineraries. US the former president Bill Clinton, Wim Kok the Premier Secretary from the Netherlands, Lamberto Dini, Former Minister of Foreign affairs from Italy, Goran Persson, former Premier Minister of Sweden and Thomas Klestil, Former prime Minister of Austria to the present visited the cistern.

Why Basilica Cistern Museum Is Closed?

Because of the cistern’s tiny entrance, the crowds of visitors grew across the street, which led to tourists being adversely affected by environmental elements.

In the renovation, they will cover the entryway with glass eaves and construct waiting areas. Additionally, they will make needful changes in the structure design that exits the cistern with a better exit layout to the Museum.

Additionally, during restoration, they will put insulation in the areas that could threaten visitors’ safety. There is a large volume of water that leaks from the cistern’s ceiling to the walkways of the visitors when it rains. 

They will remove the concrete reinforced platform inside the structure, and a new one constructed with contemporary materials is set on top of it. 

The necessary strengthening of the building’s columns, walls, and vaults will be finished by the procedures under the restoration report and restoration plan. The columns, which were strengthened with reinforced concrete, using interventions not done using the traditional method, are to be removed according to the restoration plan and rebuilt to conform to their original state.

The Milion Stone, located in the park adjacent to the cistern, is the beginning point of every one of the Ancient Roman roads, the central point of the globe and dating back up to the 4th century as well as the spirit level of 16th century adjacent to it will be restored.

Is Basilica Cistern Open Now?

Experience the enchantment of history with a visit to the Basilica Cistern, reopened in July 2022 after extensive restoration. The cistern welcomes visitors daily from 9:00 to 18:30, with a special night shift from 19:00 to 22:00.

During the night shift, surprise concerts are held on select days of the week, offering a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the captivating ambiance of this ancient marvel.

How Much Does It Cost To Go To Basilica Cistern?

Admission fees are 600 TL per person for daytime visits and 1000 TL per person for the night shift.