The construction of the vast Basilica Cistern is credited to the Emperor Justinian during the first half of the 6th century AD. The cistern was constructed using the remains of ruined buildings and pagan temples, hence why there is so much variation in the columns and the capitals found in the cistern. Two large Medusa head carvings provide the bases of two columns in the cisterns' north-west corner.
Creator
Joshua Bryant
Date of Visit
1st to 7th July 2012
Contributor
Joshua Bryant
Type
Architecture
Citation
Joshua Bryant, “Basilica Cistern, Istanbul,” Architecture and Asceticism, accessed May 4, 2024, https://architectureandasceticism.exeter.ac.uk/items/show/264.