What Is Spolia and Why Was It Used?
In Byzantine Constantinople, the use of spolia—that is, recycled architectural elements from older buildings—became very common. This practice increased after the Proconnesian marble quarries (located on Proconnesos Island) were closed in the early 7th century. With fewer new building materials available, builders reused marble, columns, capitals, and other pieces from damaged or abandoned buildings Cistern Construction in the Middle and Late Byzantine Periods.
The materials were often taken from structures that had been ruined by fires, earthquakes, or age, especially from buildings along colonnaded streets, which were once common in the city.
Marble Water Pipes A Unique Example
One of the most fascinating archaeological discoveries related to spolia in Constantinople is the finding of large marble water pipes. These were discovered on Yenigeriler Caddesi in 1964 during construction near Karşikapı, following the old Mese road—one of the city’s main streets in Byzantine times Daily Istanbul Tours.
Later, another series of parallel marble pipes was uncovered in Tiyatro Aralığı Sokak. These pipes, placed under the Mese road between the Forum of Theodosius and the Forum of Constantine, were made by cutting and reshaping old marble blocks, columns, and capitals. The pieces were joined with a white waterproof paste, which helped to carry water without leaking.
The upper sections of the pipes show the most wear, which suggests they were buried only up to the level of the street pavement.
Spolia in Churches and Mosques
Spolia was also used in religious buildings. In churches like Kalenderhane and in the Vefa Kilise Mosque, many early Byzantine sculptures and carvings were reused in later periods. For example, the five-bay outer narthex with three domes added during the Palaiologan period reused earlier sculpted elements.
Cisterns The Most Intensive Use of Spolia
The underground cisterns of Constantinople, which played a major role in the city’s water system, used spolia more than any other structure. These large water storage systems needed many columns and capitals, which were often taken from older buildings and reassembled inside the cisterns.
Many of these cisterns are located within the Theodosian Walls, and they show how the city’s builders cleverly reused materials to create vital infrastructure with limited resources.
The use of spolia in Byzantine Constantinople was not just a matter of convenience—it was a creative and practical solution to the city’s material shortages. From religious architecture to water supply systems, the reuse of earlier architectural elements helped shape the look and function of the Byzantine capital.
This approach shows how resourcefulness and tradition worked together to build a city that still captures the imagination of historians and archaeologists today.
