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Cistern Collection (#8)

The cistern, an architectural marvel found across various regions of the world, holds a rich history and significance

Background imageCistern Collection: Basilica Cistern. 6th century. Medusa column base. Istanbul

Basilica Cistern. 6th century. Medusa column base. Istanbul
Turkey. Istanbul. Basilica Cistern. 6th century. Erected during the reign of Justinian I. Medusa column base. Detail

Background imageCistern Collection: WATER CLOSET (1858)

WATER CLOSET (1858)
A diagram showing an early Water-closet and rainwater cistern system. Date: 1858

Background imageCistern Collection: Vitromant Coloured Water Closet (toilet)

Vitromant Coloured Water Closet (toilet)
Vitromant Coloured Water Closet Suite (toilet) - finished in fetching pink enamel with a polished mahogany seat. Date: circa 1920s

Background imageCistern Collection: Standard Sanitary Appliances suite in Claire de Lune Blue

Standard Sanitary Appliances suite in Claire de Lune Blue. Date: circa 1920s

Background imageCistern Collection: Armitage Coloured (Mottle) Ware - Staffordshire Blue Closet

Armitage Coloured (Mottle) Ware - Staffordshire Blue Closet
Armitage Coloured (Mottle) Ware - Staffordshire Blue Water Closet (toilet). Date: circa 1920s

Background imageCistern Collection: Cartoon, The King of Brobdingnag and Gulliver

Cartoon, The King of Brobdingnag and Gulliver. Scene: Gulliver manoeuvring with his little Boat in the Cistern. By James Gillray. A satire on King George III and Napoleon Bonaparte. Date: 1804

Background imageCistern Collection: Man at a cistern near Church of Nativity, Bethlehem

Man at a cistern near Church of Nativity, Bethlehem
Man drawing water from a cistern near the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem. Date: 1920s

Background imageCistern Collection: Men with camels at a cistern, Bethlehem

Men with camels at a cistern, Bethlehem
Men with camels, drawing water from a cistern near the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem. Date: 1920s

Background imageCistern Collection: Purifying river water for British troops, Western Front, WW1

Purifying river water for British troops, Western Front, WW1
Purifying river water for the consumption of British troops on the Western Front in France during World War One. Poisons are removed, the water is sterilised and is held in a canvas cistern

Background imageCistern Collection: Joseph is thrown into the pit, Robert de Baudous, Lucas van Leyden, 1591-1659

Joseph is thrown into the pit, Robert de Baudous, Lucas van Leyden, 1591-1659

Background imageCistern Collection: Donkey near a cistern, Jan de Visscher, Nicolaes Pietersz. Berchem, 1643 - 1692

Donkey near a cistern, Jan de Visscher, Nicolaes Pietersz. Berchem, 1643 - 1692

Background imageCistern Collection: Uma Acji, Year of the horse: iji. Yajima, Gogaku, active 19th century, artist, [between

Uma Acji, Year of the horse: iji. Yajima, Gogaku, active 19th century, artist, [between
Uma Acji, Year of the horse: AIji. Yajima, Gogaku, active 19th century, artist, [between 1818 and 1830], 1 print : woodcut, color; 21.2 x 18.9 cm

Background imageCistern Collection: Chinowa no fuji, Mount Fuji framed by a fire circle. Katsushika, Hokusai, 1760-1849

Chinowa no fuji, Mount Fuji framed by a fire circle. Katsushika, Hokusai, 1760-1849, artist, [ca. 1836], 1 print : woodcut; 21.3 x 14.2 cm

Background imageCistern Collection: Demons Dragging Tondal into the Infernal Cistern

Demons Dragging Tondal into the Infernal Cistern; Simon Marmion, Flemish, active 1450 - 1489; Ghent, Belgium, Europe; 1475; Tempera colors, gold leaf, gold paint

Background imageCistern Collection: Well crown of the cistern, Schlossberg, castle hill, Graz, Styria, Austria, Europe

Well crown of the cistern, Schlossberg, castle hill, Graz, Styria, Austria, Europe

Background imageCistern Collection: BETHLEHEM: DAVIDs WELL. Davids Well, a rock-cut cistern in Bethlehem. Photochrome

BETHLEHEM: DAVIDs WELL. Davids Well, a rock-cut cistern in Bethlehem. Photochrome, c1895

Background imageCistern Collection: Monkey sitting in abandoned cistern, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, Asia

Monkey sitting in abandoned cistern, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, Asia

Background imageCistern Collection: GEORGE III & NAPOLEON, 1804. The King of Brobdingnag and Gulliver

GEORGE III & NAPOLEON, 1804. The King of Brobdingnag and Gulliver. King George III of Great Britain and members of his family watching Napoleon, First Consul of France

Background imageCistern Collection: VICTORIAN TOILET. A Victorian toilet with siphonic cistern. Illustration, English

VICTORIAN TOILET. A Victorian toilet with siphonic cistern. Illustration, English, 19th century

Background imageCistern Collection: East Africa - Eritrea - Massawa - Underground Water Cistern

East Africa - Eritrea - Massawa - Underground Water Cistern at Taulud Date: circa 1910s

Background imageCistern Collection: Istanbul, Turkey - Edirnekapyrs Cemetery Istanbul, Turkey - Edirnekap�yr s

Istanbul, Turkey - Edirnekapyrs Cemetery Istanbul, Turkey - Edirnekap�yr s
Istanbul, Turkey - Edirnekapyrs Cemetery Date: circa 1922

Background imageCistern Collection: Interior of Basilica Cistern, Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Interior of Basilica Cistern, Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Background imageCistern Collection: Perpetual motion: Grinding mill driven by horizontal water wheel, which is itself

Perpetual motion: Grinding mill driven by horizontal water wheel, which is itself driven by water from a cistern. The wheel is supposed also to raise water to the cistern by an Archimedean screw

Background imageCistern Collection: Egypt, El Heiz Oasis, ruins of Roman farm with cisterns for wine

Egypt, El Heiz Oasis, ruins of Roman farm with cisterns for wine
Egypt - El Heiz Oasis - Ruins of a Roman farm with cisterns for wine, 1st-3rd century A.D

Background imageCistern Collection: TURKEY. THRACE. ISTANBUL. Istanbul. Yerebatan

TURKEY. THRACE. ISTANBUL. Istanbul. Yerebatan or Basilica Cistern (532). Architecture

Background imageCistern Collection: Water conservation - placing water hippo saveaflush bags, provided free by Severn Trent Water

Water conservation - placing water hippo saveaflush bags, provided free by Severn Trent Water
MAB-786 Water conservation - placing water hippo saveaflush bags, provided free by Severn Trent Water, in toilet cistern helps conserve water each time the toilet is flushed UK Mark Boulton contact

Background imageCistern Collection: Istanbul, Turkey. Underground Roman cistern

Istanbul, Turkey. Underground Roman cistern

Background imageCistern Collection: Middle East Turkey and city of Istanbul view of the Basilica Cistern or know as the

Middle East Turkey and city of Istanbul view of the Basilica Cistern or know as the Sunken Palace under the city itself

Background imageCistern Collection: Tunisia, Tunis, Carthage, Roman-era, La Marsa Cisterns

Tunisia, Tunis, Carthage, Roman-era, La Marsa Cisterns

Background imageCistern Collection: Cistern, El Jadida, Morocco

Cistern, El Jadida, Morocco

Background imageCistern Collection: MOROCCO, Atlantic Coast, EL, JADIDA: Cite Portugaise / Portuguese Fortress, Citerne Portugaise

MOROCCO, Atlantic Coast, EL, JADIDA: Cite Portugaise / Portuguese Fortress, Citerne Portugaise, Vaulted Water Cistern (b.1513) and used in the Orson Wells film Othello (1954)

Background imageCistern Collection: Rug Seller - Grand Bazaar, Constantinople

Rug Seller - Grand Bazaar, Constantinople
Rug shop in the Grand Bazaar, Constantinople, with the proprietor examining a rug

Background imageCistern Collection: American Drinks, showing a large cistern of soda water and t

American Drinks, showing a large cistern of soda water and t
An illustration of a typical American soda fountain with bottles of orange, lemon, raspberry and strawberry syrup to make flavoured soda drinks

Background imageCistern Collection: Yerebatan Saray, underground cistern, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Yerebatan Saray, underground cistern, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Background imageCistern Collection: Cascata del Marmore water cascading down moss covered steep cliffs into a cistern near Bolognano

Cascata del Marmore water cascading down moss covered steep cliffs into a cistern near Bolognano, Abruzzian Mountains
SAS-172 Cascata del Marmore - water cascading down moss covered steep cliffs into a cistern near Bolognano, Abruzzian Mountains

Background imageCistern Collection: Ancient Portuguese cistern

Ancient Portuguese cistern, El Jadida, Atlantic coast, Morocco, Africa

Background imageCistern Collection: Water cistern

Water cistern, the ancient Zapotec city of Monte Alban, UNESCO World Heritage Site, near Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, Mexico, North America

Background imageCistern Collection: Jebel al-Qal a (Citadel)

Jebel al-Qal a (Citadel). Cistern, dug 5m deep by 16m across to supply water to the Umayyad palace, Amman, Jordan, Middle East

Background imageCistern Collection: Subterranean Naples

Subterranean Naples, part of an ancient Greek underground water cistern system, now open to tourists, Campania, Italy, Europe

Background imageCistern Collection: PARIS TYPE FIRE-ENGINE

PARIS TYPE FIRE-ENGINE
Paris type manual fire- engine, with the pumps contained in the water cistern, with everything mounted on an oak base plate




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The cistern, an architectural marvel found across various regions of the world, holds a rich history and significance. In Asia, specifically in Turkey's vibrant city Istanbul, lies The Basilica Cistern - a mesmerizing Sunken Palace that dates back to ancient times. This underground wonder showcases the grandeur of Byzantine architecture and is truly a sight to behold. Not far from Istanbul, in San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy stands the well in Piazza Cisterna. This charming town square features a picturesque cistern that adds to its medieval charm. Traveling back in time to 19th century London takes us to the Royal Mint where gas lighting apparatuses were used for illumination. Friedrich Accum's artwork beautifully captures this historical moment. Returning to Istanbul once again brings us face-to-face with another remarkable cistern - the Basilica Cistern from the 6th century. Its intricate columns and mystical atmosphere transport visitors into a different era altogether. Even urinal advertisements have their place in history. An advert from 1889 reminds us of how even mundane objects like urinals can become fascinating relics when viewed through a historical lens. Moving on to Morocco's Atlantic Coast brings us to El Jadida and its Portuguese Fortress known as Cite Portugaise or Portuguese Citadel. Here we find the impressive Citerne Portugaise (Portuguese Cistern), showcasing both functional design and architectural beauty. Literature enthusiasts may recall Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift which featured illustrations depicting The King of Brobdingnag alongside Gulliver near an intriguing cistern dating back centuries. Constantinople (now Istanbul) never ceases to amaze with yet another stunning cistern - Philoxenos' masterpiece located within Turkey's capital city itself. Its historical importance cannot be understated as it represents Constantinople’s rich heritage.