Basilica cistern: Did you mean...?

Located across the Hagia Sophia Museum, Yerebatan Sarayi is also known as the Basilica Cistern because of a basilica that was once located nearby as a cultural centre. It is the largest surviving underground cistern of Istanbul. Fatih Cistern...

One of two monumental Medusa carvings which hold up columns in the Basilica Cistern of Istanbul (formerly Constantinople). The cistern was constructed in the 6th century BCE reusing the Medusa blocks from an earlier Roman building. One Medusa...

An upside-down Medusa head used as a column base in the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul, photograph by Sena Bolek, 2025. The stone structure is surrounded by dim lighting and shallow water.

Carsulae in Umbria, central Italy, was founded c. 300 BCE and only became a prosperous urban centre after it was connected by the Via Flaminia towards the end of the 3rd century BCE. It was granted the status of municipium and acquired a...

The interior of a three-aisled vaulted Roman cistern at the ancient town of Aptera, Crete. It had three barrel-vaulted aisles divided by two rows of four longitudinal arched piers. In the absence of water sources on the hill of Aptera, the...

A Hellenistic cistern at Empuries (Emporiae), Spain. 2nd century BCE.

Part of the Binbirderek cistern or Cistern of Philoxenos under Istanbul (formerly Constantinople) first built in 330 CE to hold the city's water reserves which were fed by conduits and aqueducts.

The cistern used to collect rainwater near the theatre, Delos, 3rd century BCE. The eight arches once held the roof and are made from granite blocks. The cistern is the largest on Delos, 8.3 m deep and capable of holding 270 cubic metres...

Part of the water supply system of the Acropolis building complex. Construction: 1st - 2nd Century CE Location: Athens, Greece

Dion is located at the foot of Mount Olympus in the north of Greece, in what would have been ancient Macedon. It takes its name from the most important Macedonian sanctuary dedicated to Zeus ("Dios” meaning "of Zeus”). Legend claims this...