Basilica tank, or rather - Yebatan Sarnichi - I first learned in the release of the transfer "Eagle and Rusk" in June 2013. Just a friend and I were going to visit Istanbul. And, of course, we wanted to visit there without fail. They flew to the former capital of the Ottoman Empire on July 22 and left for a week in the historical center of Istanbul, full tourists Sultanachmete. There was the last day of our stay in Turkey, Sunday, hours of 11 days. It was 3 hours left before the transfer, and the girlfriend and I decided to take a walk along the central square of the area, where they sell fried chestnuts, bagels, nuts, very close to the Blue Mosque and Museum of Ayia Sophia.
Girlfriend saw a lot of people crowded at the entrance, we also decided to ask what was going on there. Seeing Yerebatan Sarnici inscription, I realized that we were here.
For a ticket, we paid 10 Turkish lira (5 dollars). I also drew attention to the fact that of all the museums that we visited, Yebatan was the cheapest (archaeological cost in 15 lir, Ayia Sofia - at 25, Topkapi Palace - 25 lire and harem - an additional 15 lire). Now, perhaps, prices and rose, but do not think that is essential. It works a museum from 9.00 hours to 17.30 or 18.30 (depending on the time of year). If you did not buy through a travel agency tickets and did not book a hotel in Sultanachmete, as we did, and go from another area, then you will need to sit on the metro tram and get to the Sultanahmet stop.
Another point: the entrance to the tank on the one hand, and the output is completely different. Do not wait on the way. And note that there is dark enough: the photo from the inside was not very good. Water - in lighting lights - can first seem first. A little gloomy, at the same time and mystical. It is not surprised that recently there were often moving movies. By the way, you can not take the camera - the photo with you will not work: it hurts dark. Is that you have some cool camera. We also go carefully: cold concrete floor, around - water and lights.
So, what is the noteworthy of the basil tank and why do so many tourists visit here?
Basil tank is a palace complex in the form of a warehouse of water, located underground at a depth of 10-12 m (or 52 steps). The reservoir (this is exactly what the word "tank" is translated from Greek, or Yebatan Sarai - from the Turkish "Underground Palace") is a huge water capacity used by the locals about the reserve in case of natural or political cataclysms. From the Greeks, located 19 km from Constantinople, the Greeks were obtained by means of aqueducts and water pipes. It is estimated that in the reservoir you can store up to 100 thousand tons of water. In the very Istanbul, such tanks are now numbered more than 40, and the yerebatan is the greatest of them.
The idea of the construction of an underground reservoir belongs to the Roman emperor Konstantin I (306-337). However, it was unable to finish this project: the construction was very grandiose. Finally, the Basilica was erected under the Byzantine ruler of Justinian (532). Nevertheless, the repository was used to be appointed until the beginning of the 16th century: the Turks captured in 1453. After that, it was not paid to this cultural object, no one was engaged in cleaning the reservoir. And only a century later, in 1987, repair work was made, and the tourist object of the museum type arose at the site of the Basilica. Concrete floor, original inner illumination and water level to half a meter - Yebatan looks like in the early Third Millennium.
The length of the museum structure is 145 m, the width is 65 m, the water capacity is 80,000 m3. The original is the interior of the repository. 1,336 marble columns (12 rows of 28 pieces in each) brought from Greek temples, 8 m height each located at the same distance of 4.8 m. Dense brick walls (thickness 4 m) coated with a solution for which neither fire is not terrible Neither water.
You should carefully look at the columns. In addition, that they are made of different marble grades, each characterized by the presence of one or two parts. For example, at the base of the two columns, the head of the famous jellyfish Gorgon is placed, and one is placed on his head down, and the second turned on the side: for sure it was made specifically to save tourists from the opportunity to pass, having a look with this mythical monster. So remains a mystery the origin of these fantastic sculptural structures.
Many believes are distributed among visitors to Basilica. For example, to perform the most intimate desire, it is necessary to approach the decorated curls "column of tears", insert a finger into one of them and make them a circle. For greater reliability, you should throw a couple of coins into a nearby "Swiss Pool" located nearby. So did almost everything. In the water you can see the fish, and sometimes hear the orchestra playing a classic. Nearby - restaurant. Unfortunately, during our visit, the orchestra was not. It's a pity.
The tank is extraordinary popularity not only among tourists, but also film crews. It was she who became a place of action of such paintings as "James Bond. From Russia with love, "Odyssey," Inferno ".
There is no special excursions: we went back and here and considered columns and water. Everything is quite monotonous. More than half an hour you are unlikely to hold out. But the first five minutes fascinate. I think, for the sake of interest it will be useful and kids, but be careful with them: it's still dark and run slippery. We, as historians, were interesting; Surely the older generation will probably be interested.
Come on the tour better in the summer: during the Istanbul heat in the reservoir just normal temperature.
I really liked it; He would have led here with the pleasure of their friends. The price is relatively small. Visit Yerebatan I advise everyone, especially after the success of the book "Inferno" Dan Brown and the artistic film of the same name. Not a gift Brown spun the plot so that the tank has gained even more symbolic meaning.