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The Istanbul Hippodrome once kept the core beating of Byzantine public life, today turned into a bustling square of the historic Sultanahmet district in the city. As one of the places to visit in Turkey, it holds deep cultural and historical significance. Though no longer visible, what remains here evokes meaningful cultural and historical sentiments for this ancient racetrack. Let us delve a little more into what was and what it meant to Istanbul.
The Hippodrome of Istanbul was originally called the "Hippodromos" in the ancient Greek tongue, and it was built by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus in the year 203 AD. As part of the best Turkey tours, this site offers a glimpse into the heart of Byzantium (now Istanbul). It was built originally for chariot racing, athletic games, and public spectacles. It was, however, gradually adopted by the Byzantine Empire as one of its symbols of power, wealth, and social life in the city of Constantinople. It accommodated up to 100,000 people and was among the largest of its kind in the ancient world.
The Hippodrome stood at the heart of political and social life in the Byzantine Empire. A venue for sporting events, it also served as a place for political rallies, public celebrations, and even riots. Besides all these, the Emperor was also supposed to make his appearance at the Hippodrome if ever he wanted to maintain the people's loyalty. It was an essential part of Byzantine governance.
More than that, the Hippodrome was an integral aspect of the social, political, and religious lives of the Byzantines. Here, within the walls of the Hippodrome, an emperor met his subjects in a race with them, watching the event unfold. That hippodrome, as various factions represented support for the different chariot teams, such as Blues and Greens, who on occasion caused incidents of rivalry and clash among themed political division among members as such. Thus, here met the imperial pomp and the public passion, making it one of the must-see things to do in Istanbul.
Sports besides having triumphs, a religious procession, and dramatic performances would be played in the Hippodrome. The emperors would employ this arena to showcase their might or generosity, and often, place before the people types of food and gifts. Thus, the emperor could also keep a strong connection with people as the amphitheater disseminated imperial propaganda and equipped the emperor as protector-conqueror to the advancement against the Byzantine Empire.
Amongst the monuments of the Hippodrome long lost to time and history, a few monuments still stand near to them, memories of grandeur. Among the most significant of these are the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column, and the Walled Obelisk, all part of Turkey’s top attractions. Each of these was erected at a different time during the Byzantine Empire and tells a different story.
The Obelisk of Theodosius was originally set up by Pharaoh Thutmose III in Egypt and brought to Constantinople by Emperor Theodosius I in the 4th century. It is 25 meters tall and has become one of the most famous symbols of the Hippodrome. Another important monument, which originally came from the Temple in Delphi dedicated to Apollo, was raised in the Hippodrome in 324 AD after the Greeks subdued the Persian invaders. Finally, the Walled Obelisk was constructed, made of stone blocks, and created during the 10th century under the reign of Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos.
The Hippodrome started losing all its glory in 1453, when Constantinople fell, and the Ottomans conquered it. The area transformed after the Ottoman conquest, and much of what remained from the Hippodrome was demolished or repurposed. Europe trips were marked by a shift in historical landmarks, as every marble block from the Hippodrome became part of another edifice in the city. A once-proud racecourse became a mere public square over the years.
Though it could not keep up its abbeys, the former splendor of the Hippodrome was extended over Istanbul-the Blue Mosque was topped off by the Ottomans around the corner of the Hippodrome, forming a very active artistic and commercial area around the Hippodrome. The streets and monuments still are today, but the remaining traces of that past grandeur hang on like ghosts in the monuments and streets.
The Hippodrome now exists as a thriving open square known as Sultanahmet Square, a highly trafficked public area by both Turks and tourists. International trips often lead visitors to this historic site, where the monuments of the Hippodrome—the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column, and the Walled Obelisk, which have remained standing—are now found in this square. Their presence, combined with the other contributions of the nearby Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, brings Istanbul alive in a most enchanting dimension.
Of course, the racing course is long gone, but an atmosphere that is as rich as that of the Hippodrome still hangs around. Walking through Sultanahmet Square, you can almost feel the echoes of the thundering hooves of racing chariots coupled with the roar of the crowd. The Hippodrome sends one's memory back to the skews of the city, i.e. from the Romans to Byzantines and Ottomans to even beyond, making it a must-visit for all history buffs.
The Hippodrome of Istanbul still stands as a monument to the grandeur and complication of an ancient world changed by time and by alteration. It still ellipses the city with its memory, and it still offers an amazing insight into life in its myriad forms: at once into Byzantine Constantinople and more all the fantastic cultural crossroads that make Istanbul what it is.
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