1 6g CONSTANTINOPLE. 
off, the mosaic becomes again visible ; particu- 
larly when viewed from the galleries, whence 
we copied part of an Inscription, in the ceiling 
of the dome, before given'. 
After taking leave of St. Sophia, we visited 
one of the magTiificent cisterns which were con- 
cisierna structed for the antient city. It was the Cis- 
TERNA Maxima, upon the south-west side of St. 
Sophia; now used as a kind of rope-walk, or 
place to spin silk. The pillars and arches, sup- 
porting the roof, still remain ; and the area 
beneath them is very extensive. Le Chevalier, 
whom we afterwards met in Paris, told us of 
four others, and has published an account of 
them ; but that which he describes as the 
CiSTERNA Basilica, at a place now called 
Gere-Batan, to the north-east of St. Sophia, cannot 
Gyiiiui. be the same alluded to by Gyllius'^. The won- 
derful cistern, described by Gyllius, in all pro- 
bability, yet remains for the observation of 
some future traveller, unless it be that which 
we have now mentioned ; since it is impossible 
to believe that a subterraneous structure of 
brick-work, covered with terrace, containing 
(1) See Vol. III. p. 47. Octavo Edition. 
(2) Vide Gyllium, lib. ii. De Topog. Constant, cap. 20, apud Gronov. 
Thesaur. Crac Anliq. vol. VI, p. 3281. L. Bat. \6dd. 
