Everyone loves a good race. The excitement of the moment, the anticipation before the winner is declared… But no one enjoyed races quite as much as the Byzantine Empire. They enjoyed chariot races so much in fact that they built the Hippodrome of Constantinople; a massive, enchanting structure that was a social and cultural center for Constatinopolis. But what is the Hippodrome of Constantinople, exactly? Today the Hippodrome is one of the most important historic sights you can visit in Istanbul. In the past however it was a massive arena where chariot races were held. It also served as a protest sight in times of turmoil during the Byzantine Era.

History of the Hippodrome of Constantinople

If we’re going to delve into the history of the Hippodrome of Constantinople, we should start with the most basic of questions: When was the hippodrome of Constantinople built? The original Hippodrome was built in the 3rd Century BC. However, it was expanded and beautified in the 4th Century BC. In its heyday, the Hippodrome of Constantinople’s capacity was 40.000 people, thanks to the 2 levels of galleries that were built for the people. Sadly, only parts of the galleries have survived to this day. As for the Hippodrome of Constantinople’s size; the entire structure 450 square meters, including the galleries and the semi-circular southern section of the hippodrome, called the Spinode and its U-shaped track. This alone should give you some idea of how impressive the Hippodrome of Constantinople’s architecture was.

The Ottoman Empire

The history of the Hippodrome of Constantinople is a rather complicated one, as evidenced by the fact that many parts of it are no longer standing. The hippodrome has seen a fair bit of destruction in its time. During the 4th Crusade in the year 1204, the hippodrome was raided by Christian forces. Many of the priceless statues in the Hippodrome were carried off, some never to be seen again. Because there was a rumor that the Hippodrome was made of pure gold, a rumor that turned out to be false, many soldiers ripped chu...

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