Hippodrome The Sultan Ahmet Square
>> Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Hippodrome, today named Sultan Ahmet Square, is the heart of the Old Town. The ancient Works in the middle of this square and the structures arranged in a line around the square are the most spectacular historical remains of İstanbul. The Hippodrome’s construction was started in 203 during the reign of Septimus Severus just after the Roman conquest of the city. It was finally completed on May 11, 330 for the ceremonies of Byzantine Emperor Constantine the Great, who whished to make this city a second capital for the Roman Empire. The seating capacity was 30.000 spectators obtained in forty rows of seats around the ‘U’ shaped race track. Hippodrome with 400 M length and 120 M width was one of the biggest hippodromes of the antique world after Cicus Maximus in Rome.
Since the land was not flat, the west side of the hippodrome was elevated on a retaining wall. When you approach to the square from the coast of Marmara Sea, these walls called ‘sphendone’ can be seen with all their magnificence. Furthermore, in the middle of the ‘U’ shaped race track, there was bumper called ‘spina’ embellished with Works of art. The hippodrome, where the sportive activities took place was also the stage for riots, public entertainments, social appearaces of the royals, wedding ceremonies and bazaars. In the Byzantine Period, the place had three functions. First of these was the sportive activities and art events. Horse-races was an attractive sports event of those times. Other than these, gladiator fights used to be held here. The second function of the Hippodrome was that it was a political arena. In the Ottoman Period the Janissary Corps riots generally started here.
The third function of the square was the decorative purpose as an open – air museum by being embellished richly by the Byzantine Emperors. The spina in the middle displayed, columns, statues, sun clocks, obelisk and monuments brought to the Hippodrome from all over the world.
Since the land was not flat, the west side of the hippodrome was elevated on a retaining wall. When you approach to the square from the coast of Marmara Sea, these walls called ‘sphendone’ can be seen with all their magnificence. Furthermore, in the middle of the ‘U’ shaped race track, there was bumper called ‘spina’ embellished with Works of art. The hippodrome, where the sportive activities took place was also the stage for riots, public entertainments, social appearaces of the royals, wedding ceremonies and bazaars. In the Byzantine Period, the place had three functions. First of these was the sportive activities and art events. Horse-races was an attractive sports event of those times. Other than these, gladiator fights used to be held here. The second function of the Hippodrome was that it was a political arena. In the Ottoman Period the Janissary Corps riots generally started here.
The third function of the square was the decorative purpose as an open – air museum by being embellished richly by the Byzantine Emperors. The spina in the middle displayed, columns, statues, sun clocks, obelisk and monuments brought to the Hippodrome from all over the world.
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