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Duration - 15 Minutes Check Time table to see starting times
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Guide - English
Highlights
Discover Byzantine Hippodrome with a local guide
Learn More About Byzantine Hippodrome stories and legends!
Includes
An amazing guided tour of Byzantine Hippodrome
Professional English-speaking tour guide
The Byzantine Hippodrome
The Byzantine Hippodrome has had a fruitful history throughout the centuries. With its delicate and sensational historical riches, the Hippodrome has become one of the most well-known attractions in Istanbul. Thanks to its mysterious multicultural background, most people from different cultures are excited to travel through time in the Hippodrome.
Roman and Byzantine Periods
The Hippodrome takes place in the heart of Istanbul and welcomes its visitors accompanied by several architectural artifacts. The name of the hippodrome comes from Greek; hippo (horse) and dromos (path or way). This ancient site in Sultanahmet Square was for chariot and horse races in the Byzantine era. However, this open-air circus also became a home to celebrations, gladiatorial games, torture stages for the inmates, and protests. Hippodromes were common structures in the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine eras.
Once the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus conquered Constantinopolis, he built many featured structures. One of them was the Hippodrome, and this beautifully designed area became the most significant gathering point on many occasions. At first, the Byzantine Hippodrome was very small, but then Constantine the Great enlarged and renovated this arena. He also declared the city the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Hippodrome Byzantine, Hippodrome Byzantine Empire, Byzantine Hippodrome Istanbul, Byzantine Empire Hippodrome of Constantinople, Byzantium Hippodrome, Roman Hippodrome Istanbul, the Roman Hippodrome, Western Roman Empire.
The Hippodrome was the symbol of power for the Byzantine Empire. Several featured objects were brought in to show the empire's strength to the world. Luckily, two of these monuments have successfully survived, the Serpent Column from Delfi and the Egyptian obelisk named Obelisk of Thutmosis III.
Ottoman Period
The Hippodrome was also important in the Ottoman era. In the Ottoman period, the hippodrome was not used for its intended purposes. It was mainly used as a square, and they named this historically enriched area "At Meydanı" (Horse Square).
During the Ottoman era, the Hippodrome was also a gathering point for civilians. The Ottoman sultans paid attention to the crowd gathering whenever it happened. The crowd could have signaled the disturbances or riots.
The Byzantine Hippodrome experienced a bit of destruction in the Ottoman period. The construction of the Blue Mosque and İbrahim Paşa Palace caused damage to the place.
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Even if its purposes have changed in time, this ancient arena has successfully stood still. As being located in the heart of Istanbul, it has been the host to several unique monuments and different civilizations throughout the years.