Byzantine Hippodrome, Istanbul

Column was originally from Ancient Greece (478 BC), a structure to commemorate Greek victory against Persians. Few hundred years later (in 330) Constantine the Great bought it and placed in its present location.

Spiral column is not a full structure – higher part of it presented heads of three snakes (until 18th century).

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The Hippodrome was a main center of life in Byzantine times. A stadium capable of holding some 100,000 spectators once stood here where now open parks give Istanbul an open living room amidst historical splendor. I was here during Ramazan and most of the western side of the park was taken up by a vast crafts fair. There are several ancient columns which used to stand in the middle of the Hippodrome chariot tracks. The Egyptian Obelisk dates to the 16th century BC and was brought here in 390 AD by Theodosius. The Serpentine Column commemorates the Greek victory over the Persians at Plataea in 479 BC. It was sent north from Delphi by Constantine. Another column dating from the 10th century used to be covered with metal tablets which have been stripped off with time.

At the northern end of the former Hippodrome is a more modern monument given to the city in commemoration of a visit by German Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1900.

Hippodrome of Constantinople is very ancient place. Today it isn't more than place for walking but some time ago there was chariot racing.
There are various monuments from Roman empire: Serpent Column, Obelisk of Thutmose III, Walled Obelisk, Statues of Porphyrios.
I would like to see Serpent Column renewed, but otherwise this is good place before entering to Blue Mosque.

After a really long day of running around sites and buildings, it's just great to end up there. An excellent reward for the kids for being so patient, is letting them feed the pigeons. A great photographic spot,too.

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It's interesting to know that... once... there was a byzantine hippodrome in that place.

Nowadays we have a modern garden, with a few old columns: an obelisk brought from Egypt, a spiral column from Delphi, and the biggest and ugliest one that, it seems, was originally covered with bronze. It occupies the area adjacent to Saint Sophie and Blue Mosque but only reading the guides you will find out that... once...

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The Dikilitas (Egyptian Obelisk) a.k.a. Theodosius obelisk was erected in the 16th century B.C. by Pharaoh Thutmosis III in honor of the God of Sun Amon Ra in the city of Teb, Egypt in front of the temple of Luxor. The hieroglyphic pictograms tell stories of many battle victories of the Pharaoh.

In 390 A.D it was brought to Istanbul by emperor Theodosius I for the decoration of the ancient Hippodrome or Meydani, constructed by emperor Septimus Severus at the start of third century.

The 19 meter high obelisk is covered on all four sides with hieroglyphic pictograms and stands on a marble base with many friezes depicting the Emperor and his family. It has been discovered that the last five meters of the Obelisk is missing from the bottom, probably broken during the transportation.

A very tricky bit of cast bronze....

The Hippodrome is a thought-provoking monument to the millenia-old custom of looting

At the Southern end is the Rough Column. Used to be covered in plates of gold. Naturally, they are long gone. Believed to be those crusaders in 1204.

Next along is this, the 'Twisted column' which originally supported a sacrificial basin in Ephesus. Dates from the fifth century BC. Looted by Constantine himself. Originally the intertwined seerpent's bodies culminated in a bronze head: these went missing in 1700. (part of one is on display in the archeological museum.) As with it's companions. its base is considerably below present-day street level.

And thirdly, a looted Egyptian obelisk. Most interesting for the Byzantine plinth upon which it is placed: one face of this shows the erection of the obelisk and is so one of the rare bits of firm evidence we have concerning Classica/medaeval technology.

Incidentally, the archaeological museum should have Helen of Troy's headdress in it. But Schliemann nicked it and took it to Berlin, from whence it was looted in 1945. Probably lost forever.

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Now a part of Sultanahmet Square, the Hippodrome was once one of the largest tracks in the ancient world - second only to the Circus Maximus in Rome. It is now a landscaped park following the road from Sultanahmet Mosque to Hagia Sophia. Its construction started in 203 AD.

The Hippodrome is now an open-air museum displaying relics of ancient and not so ancient times. The oldest is the Egyptian Obelisk from the 15th century BC and brought from Egypt by the then Emperor Theodosius I. I is made from pink granite and was originally 32.5 metres high. It was reduced to 20 metres for transportation and now sits on a marble plinth. The plinth was constructed in 389 AD and depicts scenes of the activities of the Hippodrome.

The column of Constatntine dates from the 10th century and its 32 metre height was covered with decorated copper and brass. This was removed during the invasion of the 13th century and used to make coins.

The latest structure in the Hippodrome is the Kaiser Wilhelm or German Fountain. It ws a gift from the Kaiser in 1898 as he was impressed by the hospitality he received upon his second visit to Turkey.