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ALL TURKEY TOURS |
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INFORMATION |
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HIPPODROME;
The original building of the Hippodrome was built by the
Roman Emperor Septimus Severus in 203 AD when he rebuilt
Byzantium. Constantine the Great reconstructed, enlarged and
adorned it with beautiful works which were brought from
different places of the Roman Empire when he chose Byzantium
as his new capital.
Although there is not much left from the original building
except the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine and Constantine
Columns, according to the excavations carried out, the
hippodrome was 117 m / 384 ft wide and 480 m / 1575 ft long
with a capacity of 100,000 spectators. It is said that one
quarter of the population could fit into the hippodrome at
one time.
During the Byzantine period, the Hagia Sophia was the
religious center, a place which belonged to God; the palace
belonged to the emperor; and the hippodrome was the civil
center for the people.
Chariots drawn by either 2 or 4 horses raced here
representing one of the four factions divided among the
people. Each faction was represented by a color. Later on
these four colors were united in two colors; the Blues and
the Greens. The Blues were the upper and middle classes,
orthodox in religion and conservative in politics. The
Greens were the lower class and radical both in religion and
politics. One of these political divisions ended with a
revolt which caused the death of 30,000 people. This revolt
was named after people's cries of "nika" which meant "win"
and this Nika Revolt took place in 531 AD.
The central axis of the hippodrome was called spina and the
races took place around the spina. The races used to start
by the order of the emperor and the contestants had to
complete seven laps around the spina. The winner was awarded
a wreath and some gold by the emperor.
The hippodrome was destroyed and plundered in 1204 by the
Crusaders. After the Turks it lost its popularity and
especially with the construction of the Blue Mosque, the
ancient hippodrome changed its name and became At Meydani
(Horse Square) a place where Ottomans trained their horses.
The only three remaining monuments from the original
building are the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column and
the Constantine Column.
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