June 6, 2011

Sunken Cistern

This is a view of the largest of many ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul. This one was built during the reign of Emperor Justinian during the 6th century. The ceiling is supported by 336 marble columns, each 30 feet high.  Currently there is only a few feet of water in the cistern and very small fish and coins can be seen in spots where the dim lights penetrate the water. Descending and exploring this damp space can feel very mysterious, despite the fact that it is a popular attraction for both tourists and locals.

I've added a texture by joes sistah.

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