Mark and Gail's Excellent Adventure: Day Three in Istanbul

Uh, that's old right?

Under the city in the Cistern

We start our day with the Sunken Palace also known as the Basilica Cistern, all I can say is WOW, and WOW. What a step back in time and history. It is beyond my understanding how this amazing structure was build and still stands today. Built as a vast underground water storage system that once held 18 million gallons of water, and traveled some 12 miles via the aqueduct. Now holds only a small amount of water filled with Koi and Carp. The cathedral-like ceiling is supported by 336 marble and granite columns 30 feet high, arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns spaced 16 feet apart. Having been recycled from older ruins and reconstructed here. The two Medusa column bases are somewhat a mystery, I'll go with myth. According to popular myth, Medusa was one of the three Gorgons, the terrifying female creatures from Greek Mythology. Legend has it that Medusa, with her hair of snakes, could turn anyone who looked at her into stone, and therefore images of Gorgons were used to protect great buildings. Another version of the story claims that Medusa was the only mortal Gorgon, a beautiful girl with long hair and dark eyes who had long been in love with Perseus, the son of Zeus. Athene, also in love with Perseus, turned Medusa's hair into snakes in a jealous rage. From then on, every person Medusa looked at was petrified. After learning of Medusa's curse, Perseus beheaded her, taking her head to war with him and turning his enemies into stone. It is said that many Byzantium era sword handles and columns were engraved with her head upside down.^[8]

Breathtaking!

Medusa

Court Yard of the Blue Mosque

Court Yard at the Blue Mosque

I'm learning that you can not say, "if you've seen one mosque you've seen them all." They are all so different and beautiful, you can't help but be in awe of your surroundings. Build between 1609 and 1616 as a tribute to the superiority of Islam, as it faces the Haghia Sophia, originally the Church of Holy Wisdom, turned Mosque now museum.