The Cistern of Bonus and Its Location

The conclusion regarding the course of the Constantinian Wall aligns with the information given by Zosimus and the Notitia. As mentioned earlier, these sources suggest that the wall passed close to this point. Now, let’s look at another important landmark: the Cistern of Bonus.

The Importance of the Cistern of Bonus

The Cistern of Bonus was built by the Patrician Bonus, a well-known figure in Byzantine history. He is most famous for his brave defense of Constantinople in 627. During that time, the Emperor Heraclius was away in Persia fighting the Persians and the Avars. Bonus’s efforts in protecting the city while the emperor was abroad earned him significant recognition.

Dispute Over the Cistern’s Location

There is a disagreement about where exactly the Cistern of Bonus was located. It is not easy to determine its exact position with the information we have today. Gyllius, a 16th-century traveler, believed that the cistern was a large one located on the Sixth Hill, near the Church of St. John in Petra. He described it as being 300 paces in length and robbed of its roof and columns, turned into a vegetable garden Private Sofia Tour.

However, Gyllius’s identification may not be entirely accurate. The Constantinian Wall never extended that far west, so his identification of the cistern in that location is questionable.

Dr. Mordtmann’s Theory

Dr. Mordtmann, a modern scholar, has a different theory regarding the location of the Cistern of Bonus. He suggests that it was the large open reservoir found to the south-west of the Mosque of Sultan Selim, on the Fifth Hill. This idea has strong support, and there are several reasons to believe that the Cistern of Bonus was located in this area.

In conclusion, the Cistern of Bonus plays an important role in the history of Constantinople and its defenses. Although there is still some uncertainty about its exact location, the two main theories—Gyllius’s theory and Dr. Mordtmann’s theory—offer valuable insights into the city’s infrastructure during the time of Constantine. Further studies and discoveries may eventually provide a clearer answer regarding its precise location.