Aqueducts in Istanbul

Aqueducts in Istanbul: Established in 658 B.C. in Sarayburnu and its surroundings, Istanbul is one of the most important settlement centers in terms of geopolitics. Istanbul has become a political, military and commercial center for centuries, with its Bosphorus connecting Asia and Europe, the Golden Horn, the seas surrounding the city from all sides, and the cultures and civilizations lived here. Istanbul, historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople, has a rich history of aqueducts that were built and used by both Byzantine and Ottoman civilizations. These aqueducts were essential for supplying the city with fresh water.

Here are some important aqueducts in Istanbul:

Byzantine Aqueducts in Istanbul:

Valens Aqueduct (Bozdoğan Kemeri):

Bozdoğan Aqueduct, also known as Valens Aqueduct, was completed by the Roman Emperor Valens at the end of the 4th century. Bozdogan aqueduct, which was restored and expanded by the Byzantines and the Ottoman Sultans in different periods, is one of the important historical monuments of the city. In the Middle Ages, it was one of the most important aqueducts that met the city’s water needs. It was used to transport water from the Belgrade Forest to Constantinople.

It is the oldest and most famous aqueduct in the interior of Istanbul. It was built by Constantine at the end of the 4th century AD. Only 50 meters of the aqueduct, of which more than 900 meters are standing, have disappeared. The Valens aqueducst in Istanbul was part of a massive water transport system that brought water from the Byzantine city center 75 miles away.

Mâzul kemer (mazlûm kemer) Aqueducts in Istanbul:

Mâzul Kemer (Mazlum Kemer) located on Uzuncaova Stream IV. It is dated to the 16th century, but some sources say that it was built during the reign of Valens (364-378). Mâzul Kemer was repaired during the reign of Constantine V (741-775). After the conquest of Istanbul, it was used for many years by making modifications during the reign of Fatih Sultan Mehmed. With the repairs made after the conquest, the pipes of the Fatih and Süleymaniye waterways were passed over this arch. The two-storey arch has a height of 19 meters and a length of 110 meters. Mâzul Kemer, which was built with two rows of arches from limestone blocks, is among our main aqueducts.

Mazulkemer Aqueduct is 15 kilometers from Valens Aqueducts in Istanbul, it is thought to be the first aqueduct built to carry water from the Halkalı region. Since the structure of the aqueducts built by the Ottomans in the Halkalı region is noticeably different, it is thought that the aqueduct was later repaired by the Ottomans and continued to be used in the water system during the Ottoman Empire years. The water brought to the city was stored in the Basilica Cistern and Filoksenos (Binbirdirek) Cistern.

Aetius Aqueduct (Binbirdirek Kemeri):

Also known as the “1001 Columns Aqueduct,” it was built in the 4th century CE during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius II. This aqueduct brought water from the Alibeyköy Dam to the city.

Ottoman Aqueducts in Istanbul:

Mağlova Aqueduct (Mağlova Kemeri):

Commissioned by Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent in the 16th century, this aqueduct was constructed to bring water from the Terkos Lake to Istanbul.

The Mağlova Aqueduct or Muallakkemer was built by Mimar Sinan on the Alibey Stream valley in Istanbul between 1555 and 1562, during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent. It is near Cebeci village, which is within the borders of Sultangazi district today. It was damaged by the flood in 1563 and was restored in the same year. It remained within the lake waters of the Alibeyköy dam.

The work is considered one of the masterpieces of world water architecture. The arch, which is 35 meters high and 257 meters long, has two floors. Kemer continues to carry water to Istanbul today.

Uzun Kemer Aqueducts in Istanbul:

The Uzun Kemer Aqueducts in Istanbul which is the work of Mimar Sinan and located in the Göktürk quarter of Eyüpsultan, was built on the remains of Byzantine waterways. Uzun Kemer Aqueduct, built between 1554 and 1564, is Turkey’s longest surviving arch today. Uzun Kemer Aqueduct is the longest aqueduct that has survived in one piece. It is a part of Kırkçeşme Water Facility, which was completed by Mimar Sinar in 1564. The aqueduct is 710 meters long and 26 meters high and has two floors.

Güzelce Kemer (Gözlüce) Aqueducts in Istanbul:

Kavuk (Eğri) Kemer Aqueducts in Istanbul is located in Kermerburgaz district of Eyüp district of Istanbul. The construction of the aqueduct, which was built by Mimar Sinan using Byzantine Period infrastructures, started in 1554 and was completed in 1564. The arch was named Egri Kemer (Kovuk) Aqueduct due to the 90-degree angle of the bridge opening to both sides. Although the belt is worn out today, it has not completely lost its originality. There are a total of 5 arches built by Mimar Sinan in Istanbul.

Egri Kemer (Kovuk) Aqueducts in Istanbul:

Güzelce Aqueduct, Gözlüce Aqueduct or Cebeciköy Aqueduct is a historical aqueduct within the borders of Cebeci neighborhood of Sultangazi district of Istanbul.[1] Height 29.5; 8 at the bottom of the arch with a length of 155 meters; the upper one has 11 eyes. Arch walls are 5.4 at the bottom; at the top it is 2.6 meters thick. Cut stone was used in the construction of the arch.[2] The building, which is a work of Mimar Sinan; today, it is in the basin of the Alibeyköy Dam. It can be closely examined during the summer season, when the waters of the dam lake recede. It has succeeded in preserving the architectural features of the 16th century in which it was built. Since there is no settlement in its immediate vicinity and it remains in the dam waters for almost half of the time, the danger of destruction is still at a minimum level.

These aqueducts in Istanbul ↗, both from the Byzantine and Ottoman eras, played a crucial role in supplying water to the city and its inhabitants. Many of them are still standing today, showcasing the impressive engineering feats of these civilizations.