The beautiful Basilica Cistern is one of several hundred cisterns that lie underneath the city of Istanbul. This incredible place was built in the 6th century, just next to the Hagia Sophia. It is quite a dark and mysterious attraction.
The cistern was used to supply water to the Great Palace of Constantinople as well as other buildings on the First Hill. Its purpose was water storage as well as water filtration for those buildings.
This huge historical cistern is approximately 105,000 square feet in area and can hold up to 2,800,000 cubic feet of water. Today the cistern is not used and has very little water. Due to its underground construction, the roof of the cistern is held aloft by 336 marble pillars. These pillars were salvaged from other buildings, some outside of the city itself and many of the pillars are either Ionic or Corinthian style with a few Doric columns.
Touring this ancient artifact is one of the many attractions in the city of Istanbul. The history of an empire can be told in the artifacts and buildings left behind as well as its infrastructure – of which the cistern is an example.
The crying column is a monument to the slaves who lost their lives building this amazing water cistern. I thought is was really sad that so many slaves died in its construction. The column is always wet representing the tears.
The Medusa head columns are a great artwork from the Roman Period. They attract the attention of most people. It’s not known where these heads have been taken from. I found them very intriguing, I almost felt seduced by the medusa, but luckily I wasn’t turned to stone.
I had a very enjoyable day exploring the Basilica cisterns. I would recommend everybody to visit it when they are in Istanbul.
Que lugar incrível! Istambul vai entrar na minha lista de lugares para conhecer um dia! Bjo🌻
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Com certeza. Um lugar magico, que devemos visitar. Obrigado! Beijos!
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Wow that’s freaking amazing. Like some twisted Hogwarts nightmare
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I love you description Mike, very creative! Thank you!
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Incredibly beautiful place…
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Thanks Karin!
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So beautifully captured!!
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Thanks Amy!
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Fascinating and a little eerie! How cool 😎
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Thanks Ellie!
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Interesting blog with beautiful photographs!
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Thank you very much!
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Quanta beleza….
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Que bom que gostou Ana. Muito obrigado!
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Gosto muito……através das suas postagens vou conhecendo o mundo.Parabéns……
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Muito obrigado! Gosto muito do seu blog sobre a importância da leitura.
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beautiful…
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Thank you!
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Beautiful and intriguing post. The cisterns are work of arts in all respect. Just imagine a system like this being built to store water. That showed great care of the city. I find every picture fascinating and all these marble columns.
The crying column is sad as it represents so much suffering.
Thank you
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That’s true. It’s also hard to believe that they could build something like that centuries ago. Thank you !
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It looks like such an incredible place to visit!! 😀
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Thanks Amelia!
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It’s okay 😊
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Reblogged this on BCSBook Reviews and News.
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Thank you!
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All photos looks so nice!
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Thanks a lot!
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Haha, it’s good that the medusa head didn’t turn you into stone although the low light probably would be quite helpful…is it always that dark in there?
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It’s quite dark, which makes the place more interesting. I found very difficult to take pictures, I don’t think my camera was very good for that. Thank you!
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Hi my friend,
Just to inform you that I am going to answer your questions this week (please keep a look at your email). I’m having a tougher work week, so I’ve been too busy! But I loved the questions. Can’t wait!!
Have a great day!
XO
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Don’t worry! I’m busy as well. Whenever you have time. Thanks for taking your time to do it!
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I’ve now sent you the email. Thank you!
Let me know when you post it (if you do) and I will share it with all my friends. I’m sure more people will find your blog, too.
Cheers!
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Thanks a lot. I just received it.
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I’m glad u didn’t turn to stone lol
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Hahaha! Me too. Thank you.
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Lovely pics. Sad but amazing.
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Thank you!
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Lovely!! I wish to visit someday !! The picture are truly mesmerising and how well you shared the information!!
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Thank you for the nice comment!
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My pleasure
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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What a fascinating place!… When I’m not mistaken, the breathtaking end of a movie based one of Dan Browns books has been filmed there.
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I’m not sure about that. Thanks for the information!
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Great pictures as usual and you got someone to take pictures of you – that’s not always easy, and then the photos don’t always come out as well as you’d like them too. I did most of my traveling before digital cameras were around unfortunately, and, in digitizing those photos, they lack clarity of the originals. I visited Kusadasi as part of a Greek Island cruise, but did not get to Instanbul. I missed a lot it seems!!! This is an interesting blog – I had to come back here as I got busy this week (short work week due to Thanksgiving) and catch up!
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Thanks a lot for taking your time to check my blog!
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You’re welcome – I am enjoying it … I like what you say on your blog header: “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.”
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I really like that quote as well, that why I chose it. Thank you.
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They are good words to live by …
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Incredible!!!
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Thank you!
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I love that place. So quiet, intimate, barely lit. A hidden gem, a place that breathes history
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Thank you very much!
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Fascinating! Interesting how basilicas were built immediately after the Christian persecution and the catacomb plights. The catacombs were dark. Strange how these historic basilicas are also dark.
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It’s very interesting! Thank you.
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Wow
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beautiful! Istanbul is on my list. someday I will get there!
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Thanks a lot!
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