The Basilica of Constantinople and its cistern
The Basilica (in greek Basilike) or Stoa Basilica was a large public square and building in Constantinople. It was located on the Mese, not far from the Milion, and had an unclear connection to the Tetrastoon, another building in the capital. The Basilica had great significance as a cultural and intellectual center in Constantinople during the early Byzantine period, before losing its importance and disappearing in the Middle Ages. Today, the Basilica Cistern is the only visible remain connected to this important location.
Historical context of the Basilike.
The Basilica was built on the first hill of Constantinople, a few hundred meters west of Hagia Sophia. It was a great building dating back to the Roman age, between the 3rd and 4th centuries. It formed a vast square courtyard and was surrounded by colonnades inside and porticoes outside.
In the centuries following the foundation of Constantinople, it served as a legal and cultural center of the city. Rhetoricians and lawyers assembled there, and in the 5th century, it also housed the university and a library. A law of Theodosios II from 440 prohibited the establishment of shops and boutiques in the Basilica, as well as bringing in horses or celebrating marriages there.
In 476, the building was burned down but was immediately restored by Flavius Illus, a Roman general who was a key figure under Emperors Zeno and Basiliscus.
After the Nika revolt of 532 that devastated Constantinople, Justinian constructed a cistern nearby, perhaps enlarging an older one dating back to the reign of Constantine. Historical sources of the time claim that 7,000 slaves were involved in the construction. This cistern is probably the one called Yerebatan Sarayı, or Basilica Cistern. It supplied water for the Great Palace of Constantinople and other buildings around, and continued to provide water to the Topkapi Palace after 1453 and into modern times.
Under Justin II, a horologion, perhaps a sundial, was placed in the Basilica. However, after the 6th century, the Basilica lost its position as an intellectual center. It was thereafter primarily considered a repository of old statues, including those of Emperors Heraclius and Justinian II.
It was no longer mentioned in the historical sources after the 10th century, and apart from the Basilica Cistern, no remains of it are visible today.
The Basilica Cistern.
This cistern is probably the only remaining part of a building connected to the Basilica. It is an underground structure measuring approximately 138 meters (453 ft) by 65 meters (213 ft). Its surface covers about 9,800 square meters (105,000 sq ft), and at full capacity, it can hold 80,000 cubic meters (2,800,000 cu ft) of water.
A total of 336 marble and granite columns, each measuring 9 meters (30 ft) high, support the ceiling. They are arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns, each spaced 5 meters (16 ft) apart. The capitals are, for the most part, in the Ionic and Corinthian styles, but a few are Doric. The majority of them seem to have been reused from the remains of older buildings, perhaps brought to Constantinople from various regions of the empire, as was the material for the Hagia Sophia.
The cistern was restored several times during the Ottoman period.
