We enter with trepidation to dive into the mysterious freshness of Byzantium. The Basilica Cistern of Emperor Justinian in the historic Sultanhamet district, one of the gems of Istanbul, Turkey, has just reopened to the public. After five years of hard work with the aim of protecting against possible earthquakes that regularly occur in the city, this inexplicable stage of history on the shores of the Bosphorus has been transformed into a spectacular sound and light stage that reveals the infinity of places (138 m long by 65 m wide).
Justinian’s Basilica Cistern, built in 542, was part of a network of more than a hundred others created by the Romans, pursued by the Byzantines and then the Ottomans, to supply the city and their palaces with running water. In Istanbul, known by its Turkish name Yerebatan Sarnici (Underground Reservoir), the underground basilica hosted James Bond (Good kisses from Russia) threatened to collapse at the slightest strong shock, explains Aysen Kaya, Istanbul Municipality’s deputy director of heritage.
336 columns connected by steel bars
Hence, it was urgent to strengthen the infrastructure while clearing it. It has been partially closed since 2017 and then completely after the 2020 Covid outbreak. Steel rods were stretched to connect the capitals of the building’s 336 columns, 28 to twelve rows. The pink brick walls were. cleaned from the traces left by several untimely interventions.
“By scraping off layers of added cement, we upgraded the brickscontinues Aysen Kaya, who points to the two pipes revealed by the work and ignored until now. one brought water to the nearby Hagia Sophia, the other to a Byzantine palace that preceded the Sultans’ Topkapi. The reservoir could store about 80,000 liters of fresh water, reaching 19 km north of the mountains. A feat that insures Byzantium against summer droughts.
The renovation also made it possible to dismantle the former 1.60m visitor walkway to raise the walk to less than 50cm above the pavements, which became visible underwater for the first time.
Jellyfish heads and light projection
But beyond the technical arrangements necessary to preserve the building, the renovation sought to preserve the mysterious, almost spiritual nature of the place through a play of light that alters perspectives and reveals details. The famous Medusa heads adorning two of the corner pillars, which are carved upside down so as not to turn a visitor looking at them to stone, according to the legend of the Odyssey, appear more vivid and terrifying.
And at the base of this 1,500-year-old construction, which represented the art and techniques of the time, were placed modern works such as this hand emerging from the water, these translucent glass jellyfish, and these light projections dancing on columns. . “We wanted a light installation that doesn’t take anything away from the mystical atmosphere of the place“, justifies the representative of the municipality.
Seeing the success that surrounds this reopening and the long lines in the sun to enter this semi-darkness, the bet is successful. Witness Nick Alati, 40, from Birmingham, who struggles to find words to match his excitement.Absolutely amazing, truly unique. I’ve never seen anything like it and I’m not going to forget it“, he admits.
Source: Le Figaro
