The cistern was built in the 6th century under the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, on the site of a basilica of the 3rd to 4th century that gave it its name. It measures 453 by 213 feet (138 by 65 m), with a capacity of 2,800,000 cubic feet (80,000 m³), and a firebrick wall 13 feet (4 m) thick surrounds it. The stated area of 9,800 m² does not match those dimensions, which give about 8,970 m².
A total of 336 marble columns, each 30 feet (9 m) high, stand in 12 rows of 28. Most are recycled from older buildings, with mainly Ionic and Corinthian capitals. Two column bases in the northwest corner reuse blocks carved with Medusa faces whose origin is unknown.
Removal of 50,000 tons of silt in 1985 to 1987 allowed it to reopen on September 9, 1987. A restoration from 2020 to 2022 replaced iron tie-rods with stainless steel and added a modular steel walkway.
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