Historical Peninsula Part 1 – Going Deep In The Aisles Of History: Basilica Cistern
Basilica Cistern is one of the greatest buildings in Historical Peninsula which located around Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. Constructed for Justinianus I, the Byzantium Emperor (527-565), the Cistern is 140 m long, and 70 m wide, and shelters 336 columns, each of which is 9 m high.
Since it is so huge and glorious, people call the building as “Yerebatan Sarayı” that can be translated “Submerged Palace” to English. At the northwest corner of the cistern, you can find two huge Medusa heads which are very popular tourist photo spot. They are located upside down and according to a myth if you look Medusa straight in the eye, it can petrify you. That’s why the Byzantines often put Medusa heads in great buildings and believed the head will protect them.
Based on a story, Medusa was a very attractive woman and in love with son of Zeus, Perseus. Athena was in love with Perseus as well and very jealous of Medusa. The strong goddess Athena, punished Medusa and turned her silky hair to snakes and her eyes into some kind of weapon which petrify the one who look in them.
After hundreds of years, the Medusa heads are standing still and keep attract people who wonder and follow history…
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