Bizans Aqueduct and Cistern

Bizans Aqueduct and Cistern

The Byzantine aqueducts, starting from the east of the St. Jean (Saint John) Tracking Gate and remaining intact in the district and especially around the station, continue in the Sirince Strait and turn towards the north. These were transporting the drinking water supplied from water sources to the east of Pranga locality between Belevi and Selçuk to the Byzantine period settlement on Selçuk Ayasuluk Hill and to the St. Jean Church, which was the pilgrimage center of the Middle Ages. At the feet of the aqueducts, which can remain intact at a height of 15 meters around the station, re-used marble blocks brought from Ephesus and Artemision were corrected and used. Among these, Ionic capitals belonging to the Archaic period are important (Selçuk Ephesus Museum, Büyük Courtyard). Brick was used in the upper arches. Where the aqueducts reach Ayasuluk Hill (east of the Tracking Gate), a large water tank or samıcı has been excavated and restored in recent years. In the water reservoir, which has an arched and vaulted superstructure, grooved columns brought from Ephesus and Composite order column capitals belonging to the middle of the 2nd century are used.