Editing Basilica Cistern (section)

{{Short description|Ancient cistern beneath Istanbul, Turkey}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2009}}
{{Infobox ancient site
| name           = Basilica Cistern
| native_name    = ''{{langx|el|Βασιλική Κινστέρνα}}'' <br /> ''{{langx|tr|Yerebatan Sarnıcı}}''
| native_name_lang = Yerebatan Sarnıcı
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| image          = Cisterna Basílica, Estambul, Turquía, 2024-09-28, DD 58-60 HDR.jpg
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| alt            = 
| caption        = Basilica Cistern
| map            = {{Infobox mapframe|id=Q216511|zoom=12}}
| map_type       = Istanbul Fatih#Turkey
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| altitude_m     = <!-- Enter a number for altitude in meters (m) -->
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| relief         = 1
| coordinates    = {{coord|41|0|29|N|28|58|40|E|type:landmark_region:TR|display=title,inline}}
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| location       = [[Istanbul]]
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| public_access  = Yes 
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| website        = {{URL|https://www.yerebatan.com/}}
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}}

[[File:Constantinople imperial district.png|thumb|Cisterna Basilica is located to the west of [[Hagia Sophia]] and is of a similar size. The square on the left of the map marks the location of the [[Cistern of Philoxenos]].]]

The '''Basilica Cistern''', or '''Cisterna Basilica''' ({{langx|el|Βασιλική Κινστέρνα}}, {{langx|tr|Yerebatan Sarnıcı}} or {{langx|tr|Yerebatan Sarayı|label=none}}, "Subterranean Cistern" or "Subterranean Palace"), is the largest of several hundred ancient [[cistern]]s that lie beneath the city of [[Istanbul]], [[Turkey]]. The cistern, located {{convert|150|m}} southwest of the [[Hagia Sophia]] on the historical peninsula of [[Sarayburnu]], was built in the 6th century during the reign of [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] emperor [[Justinian I]].<ref name=yerebatan>{{cite web |url=http://yerebatan.com/homepage/basilica-cistern/about-us.aspx |title=YEREBATAN SARNICI |access-date=2016-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104193228/http://yerebatan.com/homepage/basilica-cistern/about-us.aspx |archive-date=2016-01-04 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Today it is kept with little water, for public access inside the space.