The
hippodrome was an immense
construction 480 meters length and
117.5 meters wide; it could seat,
according to estimations one hundred
thousand spectators. It was build in
203 by the Emperor Septimus Severus
and later on Constantine the Great
extended and remodeled it.
As Haghia Sophia was the center of
religious life, the hippodrome was
the center of the civil activities.
The
interests and passions of the
population was divided between
theological controversy and chariots
races on the hippodrome.
Today you can only see some
monuments where the hippodrome was.
If you are curios and want to see
how was the old Constantinople city
center click here ! The central line,
or spina of the hippodrome was
marked by obelisks and columns,
three of which are still outstanding
monuments at Sultan Ahmet square (see
picture bellow: the red line is
where the hippodrome was located,
behind it you can see the Blue
Mosque and Saint Sophia).
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