<< Previous Next >>

Yerebatan Sarayı


Yerebatan Sarayı
Photo Information
Copyright: Silvio Sorcini (Silvio1953) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2911 W: 136 N: 2490] (22712)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-20
Categories: Architecture
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/4 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-05-16 5:31
Viewed: 569
Points: 60
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Italian]
The Basilica Cistern (Turkish: 'Yerebatan Sarayı' or 'Yerebatan Sarnıcı'), is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that still lie beneath the city of Istanbul, former Constantinople, Turkey.
The cistern, located in the historical peninsula of Istanbul next to the Hagia Sophia, was built during the reign of emperor Justinian I in the 6th century, the age of glory of Eastern Rome, also called the Byzantine Empire.
This cathedral-sized cistern is an underground chamber of 143 by 65 metres, capable of holding 80,000 cubic metres of water. The large space is broken up by a forest of 336 marble columns each 9 metres high. The columns are arranged in 12 rows each consisting of 28 columns. The capitals of the columns are mainly Ionic and Corinthian styles, with the exception of a few Doric style with no engravings. According to ancient historians, emperor Constantine had already built a basilica and cistern on the same spot. As the demand for water grew, emperor Justinian enlarged the cisterns and incorporated the basilica.
The cistern is surrounded by a firebrick wall with a thickness of 4 meters and coated with a special mortar for waterproofing. The cistern's water was provided from the Belgrade Woods—which lie 19km north of the city—via aqueducts built by the emperor Justinian.
The cracks and the columns were repaired in 1968. Having been restored in 1985 by the Istanbul Metropolitan Museum, the cistern was once again opened to the public on 9 September, 1987.
The bases of two of the columns reuse earlier blocks carved with the head of a Medusa (SEE WS). They are located in the northwest corner of the cistern. The origin of the two heads is unknown, though it is rumoured that the heads were brought to the cistern after being removed from an antique building of the late Roman period. Another mystery is why one of the heads is upside down, while the other is tilted to one side. It is commonly accepted by scientists that they were placed that way deliberately.
The cistern was used as a location for the James Bond film From Russia with Love. It is a popular tourist attraction. In the film, it is referred to as being constructed by the Emperor Constatine, with no reference to Justinian. Its location is a considerable distance from the Soviet (now Russian) embassy, which is located in the newer "European" section of Istanbul, on the other side of the Golden Horn.

Paolo, cobra112, daddo, rozy975, gokanlam, dip, giorgimer, isabela_sor, degani, ChrisJ, Cricri, kaptan, AiresSantos, fabio_ts, vinicio, Silversnow has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekEarth members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekEarth members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To isabela_sor: TripodSilvio1953 1 05-18 03:04
To lousat: GrazieSilvio1953 1 05-16 13:26
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Paolo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4701 W: 146 N: 9010] (39613)
  • [2008-05-16 5:33]

Ciao Silvio, bella vista della Yerbatan, con buona esposizione e bei colori. Sei riuscito a catturare anche l'atmosfera che c'è là sotto.
ciao

Due colori sotto varie sfumatore e riflessi che donano una atmosfera "terribile"

Roberto

Hi Silvio,
First of all I wanna thank to you not take this capture from the classic place, from the rails at the entrance. I'm tired of that scenery. (Also I have one :)) Light management is very well, congr..

Selnur

Hello Silvio,
A nice and interesting capture of "Yerebatan",
Best regards,
Tulay

Ciao Silvio.
Ricordo bene le scene del film di Bond!
Bella immagine con tonalità fiammeggianti e nota, come sempre, magnifica.
Ciao, Bobo.

  • Great 
  • daddo Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1641 W: 29 N: 1668] (7689)
  • [2008-05-16 5:55]

Ciao Silvio. I have seen a number of photos of this place, but your version is much more complex with the darker columns in the foreground. It looks like a forest of stone trunks with a feeling of depth to it. Ciao. Klaudio.

Hİ SİLVİO ;

Süper renkler yansımalar harika elinize sağlık

Önder kahraman

Ciao Silvio,
una foto sicuramente non facile , ma con la tua maestria sei riuscito.
ottima gestione della luce mi piacciono queste colonne nere in primo piano e i bei riflessi sull'acqua.
ottimo lavoro
Giorgio

Ciao Silvio,
You captured this fantastic place with splendid colors .
Great composition & Great Job!
Have a nice weekend,
Zeynep

Hi Silvio,
İt's not easy to manage the unusual light conditions of this wonderfull place,but you've managed it perfectly. Very nice colors and very good notes as well.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

Excellent shot from my favourite place.
Greta PoV and colors.
Well done!

Hi Silvio, i always admire the atmosphere of "yerebatan". and you captured there with a great POV. perfect light management, and the the graphical effect is very strong.. thanks for sharing, i like it!
ReLa

Ciao Silvio,qui sei stato bravissimo,e' una foto estramemente difficile per la luce,le prospettive,le angolazioni,la messa a fuoco,insomma una foto da esame universitario,Promosso! Buon week end,Luciano

Helo Silvio
Intresthing shot from position who looks like that you was hiden but the effect is excellent
Nice shot
TFS
Cheers,Braca

Ciao Silvione,

che spettacolo! Bei colori e bel riflesso. Ottima nota.

Complimenti!

Gio

Without tripod too?
I love this place and you took one of the greatest images from there
I like the combination of shadows in foreground with red light in background
Hugs

  • Great 
  • degani Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 174 W: 0 N: 247] (2235)
  • [2008-05-16 22:32]

bella fotografia di un interno molto difficile da riprendere,
buon fine settimana Silvio
ciao
franco

  • Great 
  • ChrisJ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 8647 W: 911 N: 11403] (55282)
  • [2008-05-17 0:43]

Hi Silvio

Superb repetition of the evenly spaced vertical columns, with warm orange amber colours, & good sharpness & graphism. Tfs!

  • Great 
  • dip Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1720 W: 0 N: 829] (8117)
  • [2008-05-17 0:47]

Ciao Silvio,
very interesting and beautiful lighting and colors,
very well seen and captured,
Regards,
Dimitris.

  • Great 
  • Cricri Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4213 W: 226 N: 5691] (27606)
  • [2008-05-17 1:05]

Ciao Silvio,
Beau cadrage avec les colonnes et la prise intérieur qui donne une atmosphére particulier et belle ainsi que la note intéressante
Have a nice weekend for you too
cricri

Hello Silvio,

Different perspective of the palace's..
got in nearly all the columns on shot.. also good light managmen, a mystical atmosphere...

cheers
hasan

  • Great 
  • Nicou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2029 W: 0 N: 4719] (22954)
  • [2008-05-17 2:48]

Hello $Silvio,

quelle belle image, ces lumière douces et intime, ces colonne en ombre, mangigique.

Bravo et belle journée

Nicou

  • Great 
  • clio Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1237 W: 140 N: 1878] (8617)
  • [2008-05-17 8:13]

Ciao Silvio,
Hai perfettamente inquadrato la luce e i riflessi tra queste colonne. Una bella simmetria e molto un buono lavoro sulla luce. Il risultato è impressionante.
Bellisimo!
Bon WE à toi aussi.
Diane

Ciao Silvio.
Ottima foto d'interno, il rosso da un alone di mistero e il riflesso sprofonda verso l'infinito.
Ciao Renzo

Ciao Silvio
Wonderful capture
lights is amazing.Greetings.Nezih

Ciao Silvio
Very nice composition of the Basilica Cistern. I was there last year. It's statly architecture a very pleasant place to visit and enjoy
TFs and have a nice week
Aires

Ciao Silvio, una foto d'atmosfera con un gran uso del colore e della luce, complimenti, una composizione molto attraente.

buona settimana,
Fabio.

Oltre che bella ha dei fantastici riflessi sul pavimento a specchio, bella foto Silvio anche se apparentemente ha dei problemi con il bilanciamento del bianco, bell'uso delle colonne come cornice.
Ciao
Vinicio

I love what you've done with the light in this low-key picture, and the water reflections are so impeccable that we could easily overlook them.

  • Great 
  • toto Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2358 W: 107 N: 2483] (13348)
  • [2008-05-20 11:17]

Bonsoir,
belle photo de cet endroit superbe qui est illuminé de jolies lumières qui ont des couleurs exquise et les reflets sont de toutes beautés, vraiment magnifiques, ces colonnes élancées avec leurs reflets donnent une grande hauteur a votre photo.
Bien vu, bien cadré, bien pris.
Belle recherche

Amitiés Thomas
Je reviens

Ola Silvio ,
Muito bonita esta tua foto tirado dentro da cisterna da basilica os reflexos firaram fantásticos gostei muito das cores , o uso do Iso 3200 foi muito bom , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF