SULTANAHMET SQUARE;
The area now overshadowed by Sultanahmet Mosque was,
during the Byzantine period, the scene of horse-racing in
the hippodrome. The hippodrome first built by Septimus
Severus, and enlarged by Constantinus, was flanked on three
sides by tiers of seats for spectators.
The Imperial stand was situated on the site of what is now
the “German Fountain”. Originally it was an arena for wild
beasts then a ditch was built around it to protect the
spectators from these animals. Later when such games were
abandoned a long terrace (called the Spina) was built in the
center, upon which were set up the Dikilitas (Obelisk),
Burmali Sütun (Spiral Column), and statues showing a man in
combat with a lion, a dying bull, a Hercules by the sculptor
Lisippos of Chios, an unruly horse, and an eagle grasping a
snake. The hippodrome, which was 118 m. wide and 370 m.
long, had high walls. It had a capacity of 100.000
spectators, and had entrances through both of the long walls
and also the Antiochus Portal, below the Emperor’s Loggia.
Forty rows of seats supported by arcades lined the arena.
The stairs to the tiers and the circular promenade above
them were decorated with statues. The Emperor Wilhelm
Fountain (Alman Çesmesi) now occupies the site of the what
was Emperor’s Lodge, from which the Emperor and his court
would watch the games. Here he rested, dined, and received
visitors. The gallery in front of this lodge was tower-like,
and decorated with four bronze statues by Lisippos of Chios.
The silken banners which adorned the Imperial Lodge as
protection against the sun were seemingly the augurs of the
games, and after preparations were completed, the spectators
would gather in the hippodrome at an early hour to watch the
combat between the greens and the blues, taking sides in
each combat, and fiercely supporting their champions, even
to the extent of fighting amongst themselves. It is said
that at this stage the emperor would retire to his place
along a raised traverse until the uproar had died down.
Eventually these games were forbidden, and the hippodrome was used only on
days of festival.
It is believed that during the Latin occupation of Istanbul,
the statues of the hippodrome were torn down, metal plaques
melted down for re-use, and the finest works removed to the
west. For example; four bronze horses now decorating the
façade of St. Marco in Venice. By the time of the Turkish
conquest of Constantinopolis (now Istanbul), the once
grandeous hippodrome was largely abandoned and now in ruins.
Two obelisks facing one another are still to be seen in
Sultanahmet square. One of these, which is inscribed with
Egyptian hieroglyphics was brought to Istanbul from Egypt by
the Emperor Theodosius, and set up in its present position
in the hippodrome. It was given the name the column of
Theodosius, and is 18.45 m. in height, 24.87 m. including
the base. It is constructed of Syenite porphyry, weighing
200 tons, which is supported on a marble plinth measuring
2.75 x 2.20 m.
The plinth is decorated with bas-reliefs showing the life of
Theodosius. The northern face shows the Byzantine emperor
Arcadius together with his wife, Eudocsia, seated in the
Catizma of the hippodrome. The western face shows the
Emperor Theodosius, enthroned, together with his wife and
his children, Arcadius and Honorius. Before them are the
defeated enemies of the empire. On the eastern face, the
Emperor Theodosius is shown watching the games together with
his two children, while on the southern face, the Emperor
Theodosius is shown with his two sons on one side and on his
left Valantinian II, watching a chariot race.
This column was transported by sea, then, brought to its
present site on a specially constructed road, and according
to an inscription was set up in 32 days with the help of
scaffolding. The
hieroglyphics are to the glory of the Pharoah Tutmosis II
who had the obelisk set up in lower Egypt in 1547 B.C., in
the city of Hierapolis. In brief, the content of these
hieroglyphics is as follows: on the eastern side, “Tutmosis
III, of the XVIII Dynasty, master of Upper and Lower Egypt,
on the thirtieth anniversary of his reign, as conqueror of
the seas and rivers, has set up this obelisk for countless
anniversaries to come”. On the southern face, it reads;
“With the strength and approval of the god Horus, Tutmosis”.
“Tutmosis, the all-powerful and all-just son of the Sun,
ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt, has penetrated as far as
Mesopotamia, at the head of his armies, has shown his might
on the Mediterranean, and has fought great battles”.
On the western face it is written, “Tutmosis, son of the
Sun, who bears the crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt on his
brow through the strength, might and wealth of Horos, after
paying tribute to the god Amon-ra built this work for his
father, the god Amon-ra, that it may spread light like the
rays of the sun to mankind”. On the northern face, it reads
“Tutmosis paid tribute to the god determined to enlarge the
borders of his country as far as Mesopotamia”.
The Walled Obelisk;
At the rear part of Sultanahmet Square is the column set
up by Constantine VII. The obelisk, of coarsely-hove blocks
is 32 m. in height, and formerly was reputedly decorated
with bronze plaques depicting the victories of Basil I, the
grandfather of Constantine (867-886) and was crowned with a
sphere. Unfortunately, however, these bronze artifacts were
said to have been melted down by the Latins for use in the
mint.
Constantine's Column;
The column of Çemberlitas, was situated in the old Forum
of Constantine the Great. This column, which is 57 m. in
height, was brought from the Apollo Temple in Rome and set
up here. It is believed that originally a statue of Apollo
greeting the dawn surmounted it, which was replaced by
Constantine the Great in 330 with a statue of himself.
The column was made of eight porphyry drums which were
wreathed with laurel. The statue of Constantine surmounting
it was later replaced with a statue of Theodosius, which was
dislodged by lightening in 1081.
The column was restored by Alexius I Comnenus and an
inscription engraved on the capital with a gilded cross in
place of the statue. Later, during the reign of Mustafa II
(1695-1704), after a severe fire damaged it, the sultan had
a layer of stone added to the base and iron hoops fixed
around it, taking its present name from this feature, -the
“hooped column”- Çemberlitas.
Serpentine Column;
This column, was brought to Istanbul by Constantine the
Great from the temple of Apollo at Delphi. It had been
presented to the temple of Apollo by the 31 Greek cities as
a token of gratitude for their defeat of the Persians in the
battle of Platte, during the Medic wars.
A golden vase was set on top of the column, and the column
was in the form of three snakes inter wound, and was 8 m. in
height including the three snake-heads which appear towards
the top of the column at a height of 6.5 m.
Records show us that these snake-heads were in place at the
beginning of the 16th century after which they were broken
off. One of the heads is to be found in the Archaeological
Museum, Istanbul.
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