Water tanks? Well, one of the coolest sites in Istanbul is inside a water tank. A very old water tank. It was built by the Romans back in the 6th century. The Basilica Cistern was one of many large water tanks built to supply Constantinople’s complicated water infrastructure. Kongo loves this type of place. It’s all about practical engineering with a flair.
The many cisterns in Constantinople were built to serve as large head tanks to keep a constant pressure on city’s water system. The cistern was filled from an aqueduct (Valens Aqueduct) that brought water from a reservoir 75 miles from the city. The total length of this project was nearly 500 miles long, with 99 percent of it built underground. The cistern itself is vast, holding more than 26 million gallons of water. The cistern walls are 12 feet thick and is supported inside by 336 massive columns, each 30-feet tall, many of which were recycled from earlier construction projects.
Today, you can walk through the cistern on an elevated pathway. The cistern is illuminated to show the architectural details.
One of the most interesting aspects of the cistern’s construction are two Medusa head that are used to support two of the columns.
There is lots of speculation about the Medusa heads. Why were they used? Why is one upside down and the other fitted sideways? Some believe that ancient workers placed the Medusa heads this way to diminish the power of Medusa’s gaze. Ancient workers likely didn’t relish the possibility of being turned to stone by Medusa’s famous evil gaze. Kongo’s personal opinion is that the placement of the stone heads was more about getting the right fit for the column support by the practical Roman engineers overseeing the construction. It does make for a great conversation topic at dinner and some of Kongo’s group left the gift shop with little upside down Medusa head refrigerator magnets. Like, why take a chance, right?
The Chora Church, also known historically as the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora and now officially the Kariye Mosque (Kariye Camii), stands as one of Istanbul’s most stunning and historically significant Byzantine landmarks. Nestled in the Edirnekapı neighborhood, it is renowned worldwide for its exceptionally well-preserved Late Byzantine mosaics and frescoes, which represent a pinnacle of the Palaeologian Renaissance. The name “Chora” (Greek: χώρα) refers to its original location “in the country” or “in the fields,” as the first church on this site was built in the early 4th or 5th century as part of a monastery complex situated outside the ancient city walls of Constantinople. When Emperor Theodosius II expanded the city’s land walls in the early 5th century (413-414 AD), the Chora monastery became incorporated within the city’s defenses but retained its rural name.
The Chora Church is relatively modest in size compared to Istanbul’s grand imperial mosques, but its artistic wealth is unparalleled. The interior is almost entirely covered in intricate mosaics and vibrant frescoes, depicting scenes from the lives of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, as well as portraits of saints and Old Testament figures.
As of its reopening in May 2024, the Kariye Mosque functions as both a place of worship and a site accessible to tourists. Visitors can admire the mosaics and frescoes, though it’s important to be aware that some Christian iconography may be veiled or covered during Muslim prayer times, following practices similar to those implemented at Hagia Sophia.
Below are a couple of spectacular views of Istanbul from one of the public parks on the Asian side of the Bosporus.
Next up in Kongo’s journey across Turkey is the ancient city of Bursa, the birthplace of the Ottoman Empire. Stay tuned for more adventures.
Travel safe. Have fun.
