Unfortunately only a few original works have survived. Located in the center of the Roman and Byzantine Constantinople, it was embellished with obelisks and statues specially brought from the four corners of the empire. It was an architectural structure over 450 meters long and 120 wide, the terraces had a capacity up to 100,000 spectators. The construction of the Hippodrome was begun by Septimius Severus and completed by Constantine in 330 AD. There are plenty of attractions for tourists and one can get a wide variety of eatables around the Hippodrome. Now it is a meeting place and promenade for both locals and tourists. During the Ottoman period, the Hippodrome was used for state ceremonies and it was known as “Al Meydani” (square of the horses). The German Fountain is located within the boundaries of the Hippodrome, near the starting point for the chariot races which were once held there. A massive statue of Hercules had also been installed there, which no longer exists.

Over the centuries, the Hippodrome became a sort of open-air museum where monumental artefacts from different parts of the world were brought and displayed, including the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpent Column and the Column of Constantine.

It is these fans who were responsible for the Nika riots in 532 CE. The fans of two prominent teams –known as the Blues and the Greens – were organised into highly competitive sports clubs. The chariot racing teams were extremely popular. At its zenith, the Hippodrome was about 480 metres long and 118 metres wide, enough to accommodate 100,000 spectators! The Hippodrome was not only an arena for chariot racing and other sports, but also a meeting place for the citizens - who could even interact with the emperor. Later, Emperor Constantine I, the founder of the city of Constantinople, extended and levelled it. It was initially laid out as a racecourse with decorative fountains along its spine, as visualized by the Roman emperor Septimius Severus in 198 CE. The Hippodrome lies in the very heart of Sultanahmet, adjacent to the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.

Chariot races