#basilica cistern

[389]

Medusa head, Basilica Cistern, Istanbul, Turkey

[fentonphoto]

Reflections at the Basilica Cistern - the largest ancient cistern that lie beneath Istanbul.

[orendarling]

Basilica Cistern

Istanbul, Turkey

September, 2022

[emaadsidiki]

Basilica Cistern & The Heads of Medusa

[whatwhodid]

Colossal head of Medusa, Basilica Cisterna, Istanbul.

[histonics]

Basilica Cistern in Istanbul, an underground water storage facility built in the 6th century, contains two enigmatic Medusa heads, one placed upside down and the other sideways, possibly to neutralize the power of her gaze as per mythology.

Largely forgotten after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, it was rediscovered in 1545 by French traveler Petrus Gyllius, who learned of it from locals drawing water through holes in their basements.

The origins of the Medusa heads are unknown but are generally thought to have come from Roman ruins, repurposed for the cistern’s construction.

[onefootin1941]

The Basilica Cistern lies beneath the city of Istanbul, Turkey. It was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. Today it is kept with little water, for public access inside the space.

[nastyacitrus]

[sailoil]

(via το νερό της ζωής)

[istanbulpulse]

old and new basilica cistern

[thegreywarren]

Basilica Cisterna

[fentonphoto]

Reflections at the Basilica Cistern.

[orendarling]

Basilica Cistern

Istanbul, Turkey

September, 2022

[kerem-ay]

[sandros-travel-blog]

Basilica Cistern, Istanbul, Turkey

[phat-tours]

Basilica Cistern Istanbul Turkey. Built by the Roman’s as a means to store fresh water.