Istanbul's Hidden Waters: The City’s Secret Life

The Story of Turkey: From Byzantium to the Ottoman Empire to Today — Fexingo History · Oct 6, 2026 · 6m · transcript

This episode explores the subterranean world beneath Istanbul, focusing on the Yerebatan Sarnıcı, also known as the Basilica Cistern. We trace how Justinian I ordered its construction in the sixth century to secure Constantinople’s water supply during sieges, only for it to fall into obscurity until its rediscovery in 1545 by the French scholar Petrus Gyllius. Luna and Lucas discuss the engineering marvels of Mimar Sinan, who later renovated the cistern, and the haunting beauty of the Medusa heads used as column bases. The conversation delves into the daily life of Ottoman citizens who relied…