Physical description

Rectangular plan, 24 × 40 meters, with 32 columns (4 × 8 rows, 5th century corinthian style) and sail vaults. There are 16 windows openings on the upper parts of the walls, for ventilation and as escape for excessive water. The walls are made of 35 × 4 cm bricks and are plastered with horasan mortar (full technical description in Altuğ, 2013, p. 250-251).

This cistern probably enjoyed the supply of the Valens line that rang along the Mese (Altuğ, 2013, p. 31).

History

The cistern dates to the Theodosian emperors and is likely named after emperor Theodosius II (r. 402-450). In the late 18th-early 19th century, the Arif Paşa estate was built on top of the cistern. This building served as Istanbul Municipality building in 1912 and Municipal Services Building of Istanbul/Eminönü Municipal Building between 1930-1984 (Şerefiye Cistern, https://www.serefiyesarnici.istanbul/Eng/Hakkimizda, accessed 24/06/2025). The cistern's restoration commenced in 2004, which included the demolition of the building on top (2010) and the construction of a museum entrance (2016-2018). It has been a museum ever since.

Cistern concordance "Cistern (F7/3) beneath Eminönü Belediyesi" (Crow et al, 2008, p. 151): Andréossy 1828: 447-51, p. 3; Betsch 1977: no. 8 (pp. 50-9); Forccheimer and Strzygowski 1893: 60-1 no. 8; Gilles 1561a: 2.25; Janin 1964: 208 (text at n. 3); Kleiss 1965a: no. 73; Müller-Wiener 1977: 280-283; Schneider 1936: 87 F; Tonguç 1990: 28; Wulzinger 1913: 388-90.

See also Altuğ, 2013, p. 250-251 (Çizelge A.55); Bayülgen & Saner, 2024, p. 236-237 (Cistern F. and S. No. 8; M-W F7/3, Plan 2).

Also uncertainly identified as the Cistern of Philoxenus (Crow et al., 2008, p. 15) although others identify the Binbirdirek Cistern as the Philoxenos Cistern.