One of the many magnificent ancient buildings of İstanbul is the Basilica Cistern located southwest of Hagia Sofia.
This grand underground cistern was built by Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I (527-565).
This incredible subterranean lair is nicknamed “Yerebatan Sarayı” (Sunken Palace) among the public due to its numerous marble columns rising from the water.
The cistern has an 80,000-ton water storage capacity and covers around 10,000 square meters, making it the largest covered cistern in the city.
The cistern used to distribute water from waterways and rain to the Great Palace, and the surrounding buildings, meeting the city’s water needs for hundreds of years.
The forest of 336 marble columns are all slightly different, some repurposed from other buildings.
Some are more intriguing than others however including the two mysterious Medusa faces forever half submerged in the waters, perhaps to dull their mythical powers.
