Aqueducts-an ancient method of replenishing water supplies
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Gül Demir - Niki Gamm
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 21, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL -Practically everybody in Istanbul at one time or another passes through the narrow arches of the aqueduct built over 1,600 years ago by the Byzantine Emperor Valens. Built in the latter half of the fourth century AD The Valens Aqueduct, or the Bozdoğan Aqueduct in Turkish was a main source of fresh water for the city
How graceful they look with their slender columns and graceful arches. Centuries later they are a testament to the engineering abilities of Roman architects and are to be found all around the Mediterranean area from Spain to Turkey. Over hills and valleys, from long distances to cities in need of water, aqueducts performed an important function Ğ bringing needed water to those who needed it.
Bringing water to cities has a long history that extends from far before the famed aqueducts of the Romans. The Egyptians and the Harrapans of India had elaborate water systems in order to provide fresh water to their cities. Among the Persians was developed a system of underground channels known as qanats that can still be used today in some instances. Because they were underground there was much less water loss and they relied on gravity to bring the water from a higher level to its lower intended target.
Among the Greeks, the only one referred to is that of the tunnel or aqueduct of Eupalinos on the island of Samos. Built in the sixth century B.C. and over a thousand meters long, it is only the second tunnel aqueduct known in history that was built from both sides.
The world really credits the Romans with the beautiful, sturdy aqueducts that their engineers built all over the Roman Empire and that includes those that were built to bring fresh water to Constantinople.
Today’s aqueducts in Istanbul
Practically everybody in Istanbul at one time or another passes through the narrow arches of the aqueduct built over 1,600 years ago by the Byzantine Emperor Valens. In Turkish it is known as the Bozdoğan Aqueduct while for others it is named after the emperor who had it built, the Valens Aqueduct. You have to credit succeeding the Ottomans and Turks with having preserved it so well after all these years. Of course today, the aqueduct is no longer in use and is subject to constant motor traffic in an area of small businesses. It also straddles one of the major boulevards that runs from the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn and funnels traffic from the shore up to through Unkapani to Taksim and places north toward the Black Sea.
The Emperor Valens had the aqueduct built in the last quarter of the fourth century A.D. although the use of channels and pipes to bring water to Istanbul started two centuries earlier during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. Theoretically the end point was a large cistern where Beyazıt Square is today, the entry point being around Eğrikapi.
All of the water was collected in a pool known as the Nymphaeum Maximum before being distributed elsewhere. Today there’s no trace of this water collection point and of course it would be unthinkable to start excavations in the area where it most likely is because of the many important buildings there. However after World War One, a French urban planner decided that the exit point was the Basilica Cistern that provided water for St. Sophia and other important buildings in the area. Another much more likely prospect is the cistern below the Grand Bazaar where the merchants to this day can lower pails and pull water up from below.
The Valens Aqueduct was a main source of fresh water for the city and supplied the imperial palace and the monumental buildings nearby such as St. Sophia. Over the centuries, edicts were issued protecting the water supply from potential thieves and the fines were stiff. It is also known that the Byzantines even planted trees along the aqueduct so one could perhaps consider them one of the world’s first environmentalists. Over time as the Byzantine Empire deteriorated, it became harder to maintain the water supply system and with the arrival of the Latin Crusaders who preferred to sack Constantinople than go on to conquer the Holy Land. The system basically collapsed.
The water system in the Byzantine capital was taken over by the Ottomans when the latter conquered Constantinople in 1453. The Ottomans were very practical and knew a good thing when they saw it. Tursun Bey who lived in the 15th century and took part in the conquest wrote that the old water courses were found and brought to Istanbul by means of aqueducts. While Fatih Sultan Mehmed repaired much of the old waterway system, it would be left to Kanuni Sultan Süleyman to restore and expand it.
The story goes that Sultan Süleyman had been hunting in the area north of the Golden Horn when he came across the ruins of an aqueduct and had the idea immediately of how to restore and expand the aqueduct system. He was also blessed with one of the great architects of the world, Mimar Sinan, to whom he entrusted the project.
Sultan Süleyman brought experienced people from Belgrade and put them in charge of the aqueducts, dams and reservoirs. The descendants of these original waterway managers worked on the system for three and a half centuries. The ultimate manager was the Ottoman religious authority because water in Islam is considered sacred. In order to purify oneself before entering a mosque to pray, ablutions have to be performed and it must be done with running water.
The later sultans made a point of ensuring that the water system was in good shape and even expanded it to ensure that the burgeoning population in the city had enough water. The reservoirs that the sultans built were of marble and often beautifully decorated and today are a pleasant way to spend a day although one is advised to drive there. Walking in to them can be a long trek.
Belgrade Forest
The Belgrade Forest for centuries supplied Istanbul with water via three lines. One came as far as Taksim Square from which it would be distributed to nearby areas. Indeed the square takes its name from the water distribution center in the square. [Today the main building has been turned into the Taksim Republic Art Gallery.] Later water began to be brought from Terkoz Lake.
The Valens Aqueduct that one frequently passes under was approximately one kilometer but over time weather and neglect has reduced the structure by about a tenth. Its highest part of the graceful double-level structure is 20 meters above the street. Unfortunately it’s a little worse for wear due to the need for repairs that were sometimes handled quite badly.
Then there is the Maglova Aqueduct constructed by Mimar Sinan Bey in the 16th century over the ruins of a previous aqueduct that supplies water from Alibeyköy. It is still in use today.
A much less well-known aqueduct is that of that once ran across the ridges of the hills that lead into the city from the Black Sea. It runs along an avenue lined with tall old plane trees that add to the effect of being a part of Istanbul’s history. It’s less well-known because the part of it that is still visible is on the highway to Kilyos on the Black Sea coast.
Another visible aspect of the Byzantine water system is the so-called water towers. There’s one just near Taksim in front of the Divan Hotel that is currently under renovation; another is near the Yerebatan cistern at Sultanahmet. They were used to maintain pressure inside the channels, especially since the pipes inside them were made of clay and therefore fragile.Aqueducts are something special and not everyone gets to live in a city that has one that enjoys a history of over 1,500 years. May Istanbul’s aqueducts remain for another 1,500 years!
Bringing water to cities has a long history that extends from far before the famed aqueducts of the Romans. The Egyptians and the Harrapans of India had elaborate water systems in order to provide fresh water to their cities. Among the Persians was developed a system of underground channels known as qanats that can still be used today in some instances. Because they were underground there was much less water loss and they relied on gravity to bring the water from a higher level to its lower intended target.
Among the Greeks, the only one referred to is that of the tunnel or aqueduct of Eupalinos on the island of Samos. Built in the sixth century B.C. and over a thousand meters long, it is only the second tunnel aqueduct known in history that was built from both sides.
The world really credits the Romans with the beautiful, sturdy aqueducts that their engineers built all over the Roman Empire and that includes those that were built to bring fresh water to Constantinople.
Today’s aqueducts in Istanbul
Practically everybody in Istanbul at one time or another passes through the narrow arches of the aqueduct built over 1,600 years ago by the Byzantine Emperor Valens. In Turkish it is known as the Bozdoğan Aqueduct while for others it is named after the emperor who had it built, the Valens Aqueduct. You have to credit succeeding the Ottomans and Turks with having preserved it so well after all these years. Of course today, the aqueduct is no longer in use and is subject to constant motor traffic in an area of small businesses. It also straddles one of the major boulevards that runs from the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn and funnels traffic from the shore up to through Unkapani to Taksim and places north toward the Black Sea.
The Emperor Valens had the aqueduct built in the last quarter of the fourth century A.D. although the use of channels and pipes to bring water to Istanbul started two centuries earlier during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. Theoretically the end point was a large cistern where Beyazıt Square is today, the entry point being around Eğrikapi.
All of the water was collected in a pool known as the Nymphaeum Maximum before being distributed elsewhere. Today there’s no trace of this water collection point and of course it would be unthinkable to start excavations in the area where it most likely is because of the many important buildings there. However after World War One, a French urban planner decided that the exit point was the Basilica Cistern that provided water for St. Sophia and other important buildings in the area. Another much more likely prospect is the cistern below the Grand Bazaar where the merchants to this day can lower pails and pull water up from below.
The Valens Aqueduct was a main source of fresh water for the city and supplied the imperial palace and the monumental buildings nearby such as St. Sophia. Over the centuries, edicts were issued protecting the water supply from potential thieves and the fines were stiff. It is also known that the Byzantines even planted trees along the aqueduct so one could perhaps consider them one of the world’s first environmentalists. Over time as the Byzantine Empire deteriorated, it became harder to maintain the water supply system and with the arrival of the Latin Crusaders who preferred to sack Constantinople than go on to conquer the Holy Land. The system basically collapsed.
The water system in the Byzantine capital was taken over by the Ottomans when the latter conquered Constantinople in 1453. The Ottomans were very practical and knew a good thing when they saw it. Tursun Bey who lived in the 15th century and took part in the conquest wrote that the old water courses were found and brought to Istanbul by means of aqueducts. While Fatih Sultan Mehmed repaired much of the old waterway system, it would be left to Kanuni Sultan Süleyman to restore and expand it.
The story goes that Sultan Süleyman had been hunting in the area north of the Golden Horn when he came across the ruins of an aqueduct and had the idea immediately of how to restore and expand the aqueduct system. He was also blessed with one of the great architects of the world, Mimar Sinan, to whom he entrusted the project.
Sultan Süleyman brought experienced people from Belgrade and put them in charge of the aqueducts, dams and reservoirs. The descendants of these original waterway managers worked on the system for three and a half centuries. The ultimate manager was the Ottoman religious authority because water in Islam is considered sacred. In order to purify oneself before entering a mosque to pray, ablutions have to be performed and it must be done with running water.
The later sultans made a point of ensuring that the water system was in good shape and even expanded it to ensure that the burgeoning population in the city had enough water. The reservoirs that the sultans built were of marble and often beautifully decorated and today are a pleasant way to spend a day although one is advised to drive there. Walking in to them can be a long trek.
Belgrade Forest
The Belgrade Forest for centuries supplied Istanbul with water via three lines. One came as far as Taksim Square from which it would be distributed to nearby areas. Indeed the square takes its name from the water distribution center in the square. [Today the main building has been turned into the Taksim Republic Art Gallery.] Later water began to be brought from Terkoz Lake.
The Valens Aqueduct that one frequently passes under was approximately one kilometer but over time weather and neglect has reduced the structure by about a tenth. Its highest part of the graceful double-level structure is 20 meters above the street. Unfortunately it’s a little worse for wear due to the need for repairs that were sometimes handled quite badly.
Then there is the Maglova Aqueduct constructed by Mimar Sinan Bey in the 16th century over the ruins of a previous aqueduct that supplies water from Alibeyköy. It is still in use today.
A much less well-known aqueduct is that of that once ran across the ridges of the hills that lead into the city from the Black Sea. It runs along an avenue lined with tall old plane trees that add to the effect of being a part of Istanbul’s history. It’s less well-known because the part of it that is still visible is on the highway to Kilyos on the Black Sea coast.
Another visible aspect of the Byzantine water system is the so-called water towers. There’s one just near Taksim in front of the Divan Hotel that is currently under renovation; another is near the Yerebatan cistern at Sultanahmet. They were used to maintain pressure inside the channels, especially since the pipes inside them were made of clay and therefore fragile.Aqueducts are something special and not everyone gets to live in a city that has one that enjoys a history of over 1,500 years. May Istanbul’s aqueducts remain for another 1,500 years!