One of the biggest tourist attractions in Turkey’s Istanbul is, believe it or not, a water reservoir from the 6th century.  The Basilica Cistern is a moody beautiful place with Byzantine pillars and modern Turkish sculptures.

In this Water New Zealand Tawara o te Wai podcast, we go back nearly 2,000 years – to the Byzantine world and a time when Rome moved its capital to Constantinople, now Istanbul.

Byzantine enthusiast, Chris Harrington goes on this journey with Jim Crow, the emeritus Professor of Roman  and Byzantine Archaeology at Edinburgh University.  Jim explains why the Byzantines needed one of the most sophisticated water infrastructure builds in the ancient world and what we can learn from this almost 2000 years later.

He also discusses the construction techniques, the cultural significance, and the ways in which these ancient structures continue to captivate  and inform us about the past.

Whether you're a history enthusiast or just curious about Istanbul’s underground world, Jim shares light on this past and water.