Cistern of Philoxenos, Ancient Roman cistern in Istanbul, Turkey
The Cistern of Philoxenos is an underground water storage chamber with 224 marble columns arranged in 16 rows beneath Istanbul's streets. The space spans across a large area and displays the refined column work typical of Byzantine construction.
This underground chamber was built in the 4th century at the order of the Roman senator Philoxenos during the reign of Constantine I. It served as a vital part of the water supply system that supported the growing Byzantine city.
Greek letters carved into the column shafts mark the work of stonemasons who built this underground chamber. These inscriptions reveal the hands and presence of ancient workers in this hidden space.
The site is walkable from central Istanbul and is located beneath the streets near other historical landmarks. Visitors should expect confined underground passages and should bring a flashlight or headlamp to explore the chambers comfortably.
Each of the thick columns is made from two separate marble sections joined together and topped with simple, pyramid-shaped capitals. This construction method shows how ancient builders solved the practical challenge of moving and installing heavy stone columns.
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