Yerebatan Cistern

Yerebatan Cistern, a large ancient water tunnel that no one would have thought would be hidden under Istanbul. We may see the entrance as just a small building, but as we walk down the stairs, the grandeur will gradually appear. Even though this water tunnel is no longer used as a water storage, its grandeur is still there for us to see. In the past, the Yerebatan Cistern was the main water storage until the Ottoman era, when it was still the main water source of the Topkapi Palace. The highlight of this water tunnel, aside from its large size and antiquity, is the two “Medusa Columns.” The columns on top look like normal columns, but at the bottom of the base, there are sculptures of women with snakes for hair, which is Medusa. The Medusa Columns are located to the northwest of the tunnel, and even though more than a thousand years have passed, the Medusa Columns are still in amazing condition. According to ancient Greek beliefs, Medusa was a demon living underground. According to legend, if anyone saw her face, it would immediately turn to stone. Even herself, to ward off bad luck, Medusa’s head was often seen upside down or sideways. Therefore, the installation of such sculptures is to let Madusa protect the tunnel. #Waiting for the day to depart