Hippodrome; It is a stadium and jogging track where equestrian sports are performed, which emerged in the Ancient Greek and Roman periods in history. The Hippodrome, which was built centuries ago in the area known as Sultanahmet Square today, is one of the most interesting ancient mega-structures in history. After the construction of the Great Racecourse, Istanbul was shaped around the building. Thus, the glorious history of Istanbul, which was the capital of three empires, began. However, during the Byzantine Empire period, the important structures built in and around the Hippodrome were destroyed, and very few of their remains have survived to the present day.
The historical Sultanahmet Square, located in the Fatih district of Istanbul, was named Hippodrome during the Byzantine Empire and Atmeydanı during the Ottoman Empire. The square, which is one of the important places in Istanbul, stretches in the northeast-southwest direction. To the east is the Blue Mosque, and to the west is the Ibrahim Pasha Palace, which is the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts. In the middle of the square, which is closed to traffic, there are structures such as the Knitted Obelisk, Serpent Column, Theodosius Obelisk and the German Fountain. Today, the square is one of the most important touristic centers of Istanbul and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
History of Hippodrome and Organized Events
The Great Hippodrome was first built in the early 3rd century during the reign of Septimius Severus. It was made more magnificent by Emperor Constantine I in the 4th century. During the war, Severus destroyed Istanbul. For this reason, he had to both repair the city and make the people of Byzantium happy. If the new capital of the novel is to be Constantinople, it must be an eye-catching work of the city. For this reason, while rebuilding his new Rome, Italy had the Hippodrome built, an arena similar to the Circus Maximus Hippodrome in Rome. Hippodrome; It was used for different events such as public events, parades, executions, and condemnation of the Emperor’s enemies. However, after the fourth Crusades at the beginning of the 13th century, the important structures and works of art of the Hippodrome were plundered and lost their function.
During the Roman and Byzantine Empires, the Hippodrome maintained its importance as the city’s meeting, entertainment, excitement and sports center until the 10th century. In addition to the horse-drawn carriage races, shows and meetings were held with musicians, belly dancers, acrobats, and wild animals. Plenty of vacation days were arranged for these activities in Roman times. During the Byzantine period, the Hippodrome was used as the center of the uprisings against the state. The Nika Revolt during the reign of Justianus is one of them, and the rebellion was suppressed by Commander Belisarios. The Nika uprising is one of the bloodiest rebellions in the history of Istanbul. As a result of the uprising in 532, between 30 thousand and 40 thousand people were put to the sword in the hippodrome. The lynching of Emperor Andronikos I in 1185 also took place in the Hippodrome.
During the Ottoman period, Janissary revolts took place in this region. In addition, circumcision weddings of the princes and festivities, which lasted forty days and forty nights, were held here. The Sultanahmet Meeting, where Halide Edip gave a speech against the occupation, was also held here in 1920. This square has remained an important place where many historical events and activities took place.
Characteristics of the Hippodrome and the Structures Around it
Hippodrome; It is located in the very center of the historical peninsula. It is a U-shaped structure measuring 440 meters by 130 meters. It was established in today’s Sultanahmet Square, on a large area stretching from the German fountain to the historical high school. There is a wide tribune area surrounding the sand track and race track surrounded by 20-meter-high walls from 3 directions. On the east long side was an emperor’s lodge with four bronze horses on its roof. In the middle was a low wall dividing the sand-covered field of the Hippodrome in two. On this wall, there were monuments brought from various parts of the empire and statues of famous horse racers and their horses. The racers were divided into teams with political powers such as green-blue-white-red, and politics would interfere with the races from time to time. Struggles between opposing forces could sometimes turn into horrific massacres.
Among the important structures and monuments built around the Hippodrome, the Imperial Palace, known as the Great Palace, started from the Hippodrome and extended to the seaside. From this palace, only one floor mosaic panel of a great hall has survived to the present day. Next to the Agusteion square, one of the most important squares of Istanbul, was the Milerium Triumphal Arch. The street represents the beginning of the road going back to Roman times, and the first milestone was also located here.
Baths, temples and other religious, cultural, administrative and social centers were settled around the Hippodrome during the Byzantine and Turkish periods. Some of the most important monuments of Istanbul, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, Basilica Cistern are around the Hippodrome. The main streets in the city started from the Hippodrome and followed the slopes. The roadsides were surrounded by commercial businesses and residences. The side roads were narrow and some ran downhill with steps. The sidewalks of the main roads are sometimes built with two floors and galleries. Other important structures in the Hippodrome; The Knitted Obelisk is the Obelisk brought from Egypt and the Serpent Column brought from the Temple of Apollo in Delphi.
During the Ottoman period, various festivals and shows were held in this square, just like the rich shows in the old days. Located to the west of the Hippodrome, opposite the Blue Mosque, Ibrahim Pasha Palace, the grand vizier of Kanuni, is the only example of the rich and typical private palaces of the 16th century. This beautiful building can be visited as the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts. The surviving round south end of the Hippodrome is a brick structure with large arches. In later periods, all of the stone blocks and columns of the Hippodrome were used in other structures. In the park to the right of the hippodrome entrance, there are the remains of a private palace belonging to the 4th and 5th centuries, and the remains of the Byzantine Church of Aya Öfemiya just ahead.
