Since 2005, Çiğdem Özkan Aygün has directed an interdisciplinary survey of the subterranean remains in the area of Hagia Sophia. Speleologists, professional photographers and divers have also supported the survey and documentation. Most finds have been new to scholarship and unexpectedly rich and informative about the history and construction techniques of the structures. They have opened a door into the monument’s unexplored relation with water management. This survey has proven that the area around Hagia Sophia was crucial for the water supply distribution over the first hill of the city, where the ancient water supply line ended. Further exploration beneath the Hippodrome and Topkapı Palace area revealed connections in the water supply. This talk will explain the relation of subterranean structures to the water supply system and present their 3D models and a short documentary.
Discussant: James Crow, University of Edinburgh
Medieval Art Research 