This cistern the size of a cathedral is an underground chamber of approximately 143 meters by 65 meters - around 9,800 m2 of surface - capable of holding 80,000 m3 of water (other sources point out approximately 100,000 m3). The ceiling is supported by a forest of 336 marble columns, about 9 meters high, arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns separated by 4.8 meters.

The capitals of the columns are mainly of Ionic and Corinthian styles (of this style there are 98 capitals), except for a few of the Doric style without engravings. The columns were brought to Constantinople from pagan temples of Anatolia, along with those that were used in the construction of the church of Hagia Sophia. It is accessed through a staircase of 52 steps. The cistern is surrounded by a wall of refractory bricks of a thickness of 4.8 meters and covered with waterproof mortar called "de Horasan" as well as the ground. The water from the cistern comes from the forests of Belgrade that are located 19 kilometers north of the city, through the aqueduct built by the Emperor Justinian.

 

basilica cisterna

CHARACTERISTICS