Sieber’s life as a scout...
The ability of Constantinople to withstand prolonged sieges and blockades was not solely due to the length, height, and thickness of the Theodosian Walls. The construction of the walls was designed to protect large agricultural plots between the urban area and external fortifications, which were utilized for cultivating crops and ensuring an ample food supply for the population during critical times.
Hundreds of small and large water reservoirs with water filtration systems were crucial for the defensive system. The Royal Cistern, the largest of them all, built during the reign of Emperor Justinian I (527-565 CE), could hold 78,000 to 100.000 cubic meters of water. Its roof was supported by a complex structure featuring 336 marble columns, each 8 meters in height.The cistern received water from the Belgrade Forest, located about 19 kilometers (12 miles) north of Constantinople. Water was transported to the cistern through aqueducts.
Two columns, supported by massive blocks with carved Gorgon heads, including upside-down placement and one positioned sideways, contribute to the architectural richness of the Basilica Cistern. These elements were vital components of Constantinople’s defensive capabilities.
While there may not be specific Byzantine historians of the Middle Ages who extensively covered the Basilica Cistern, historical information about this structure can be found in various primary and secondary sources that touch upon the history and engineering achievements of the Byzantine Empire.
In the 16th century, the cistern was mentioned by European travelers to Constantinople. The French scholar and traveler Petrus Gyllius, who visited Istanbul in the mid-16th century, wrote about the Basilica Cistern in his work “De Topographia Constantinopoleos.” He described the columns and the Medusa heads in detail. Despite this, it wasn’t until the 19th century that a Dutch traveler and archaeologist named Philbert Comte de Brigidi provided more detailed information and sketches of the cistern. The cistern became more widely known and attracted attention due to these accounts.
The cistern underwent restoration in the 1980s and has been opened to the public as a museum. Wooden walkways were added to facilitate access for visitors.
Bibliography
Procopius, «De Aedificiis», 6th century AD.
Charles William Chadwick Oman, «The Byzantine Empire», Putnam, 1908.
Timothy E. Gregory, «A History of Byzantium», prod. Wiley-Blackwell, 2009.
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