Hippodrome

However, all details of the monument, charged with multiple ornaments it may be, simultaneously contribute to a general effect that is always simple and always unique. In 324 AD, Emperor Constantine moved the seats from Rome to Byzantium. He renamed the city Nova Roma (the New Rome), but the public said the city of Constantine as ” CONSTANTINOPOLIS,” ordered to built Hippodrome, which means Hippos; horse, Drome; Square, with 456 meters long and 128 meters wide.

It is ”U” shaped, with 100.000 spectators capacity and Kathisma ( the Empire’s lodge). Decorated with Egyptian Obelisk, commissioned by the Pharaoh Thutmose III 15C BC in the name of his campaigns in Syria and his crossing of the Euphrates River. As can be seen, the top of Obelisk, 20 m, has been broken off and originally 30 m and 800 tons. Probably, it was brought to Istanbul by Constantine the Great, but it could not be raised and lay for some years in the harbor. Finally, it was erected by Theodosius in 390, in its present spot. The Obelisk is standing on a marble block with some reliefs, representing the royal family watching the races in the Hippodrome, receiving homage from his enemies, honoring the winner of the races, and assisting the erection of the Obelisk.

De Serpentine Column; de drie met elkaar verbonden bronzen slangen die de kolom vormen, waren de basis van een trofee die ooit in de Tempel van Apollo in Griekenland stond. Het werd aan Apollo gewijd door de Grieken, die het Perzische leger in de Slag bij Plataea in 479 voor Christus versloegen. Volgens de traditie gooiden ze de kolom van de schilden van de Perzische soldaten. De naam van de 31 Griekse steden is geschilderd op de sporen van de kolom aan de onderkant.