The Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square) — Ancient Chariot Racing Arena
Stand where 100,000 spectators watched chariot races in Byzantine Constantinople, now an open square with ancient monuments.
History
The Hippodrome was the center of public life in Byzantine Constantinople for over 1,000 years. Built in 203 AD by Emperor Septimius Severus and enlarged by Constantine the Great, it could seat 100,000 spectators for chariot races, public ceremonies, and political events. The Nika Riots of 532 AD — w
Ancient Monuments
Three ancient monuments survive on the site: the Egyptian Obelisk (Dikilitaş, 3,500 years old from Pharaoh Thutmose III), the Serpent Column (from the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, 479 BC), and the Walled Obelisk (Constantine VII). The German Fountain, a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1901, stands at
Visiting Info
Open 24/7, free access. Located in Sultanahmet between the Blue Mosque and the Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum. The ancient monuments are right in the middle of the square. Best visited while exploring the Sultanahmet area.