Hippodrome Sultanahmet

Hippodrome was a significant social center of Constantinople where was build at…. that rebuilt and expanded during the time of Septimus Severus but because of his death it was unfinished. Then Constantine started to finish this important place in 324. Contrary to expectation, it was not only used for chariot races and other entertainment, but also it was also used for such as riots. In this research five fundamental articles will be accessory document. Firstly, article which is titled “The Antiquities in the Hippodrome of Constantinople” by Sarah Guberti Bassett argued the purpose of hippodrome and its crucial monuments. Second article which titled as “Prolegomena to the Study of the Hippodrome at Caesarea Maritima” by John H. Humphrey that construction of Hippodrome, its monuments with its purpose aimed. Thirdly, the article which titled as “The Base of the Obelisk of Theodosius” by Ramsay Traquair and A. J. B. Wace explains obelisk and its relief and inscriptions. The fourth article which is titled as “History As Hippodrome: The Apocalyptic Horse and Rider in The Master and Margarita” by David M. Bethea clues horses, riders and horsemans. Lastly “The article which titled “The Monument of Porphyrius in the Hippodrome at Constantinople” by A. A. Vasiliev, aimed to argue religious actions on the effect of the races and riots. In this respect the aim of Hippodrome, structures which were transported or damaged during the Crusade IV and including structures: Obelisk of Thutmose III (obelisk of Theodosius), Serpent Column, and Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus Walled Obelisk will be analyzed in the following bodies. 

One key point about Hippodrome is that can be analyzed with its purpose in this subject. Significantly, In the article which titled with “Prolegomena to the Study of the Hippodrome at Caesarea Maritima” by John H. Humphrey argued that first purpose of “...hippodrome was in use and the nature of the chariot racing… (2). In addition to this, Bassett argued that “…the ancient festival of the Lupercalia was celebrated in the Hippodrome” (93). It can be solve that there were some purpose for use of Hippodrome. Basset again supports that “Antiquity the hippodrome became increasingly important as a locus for imperial ceremony” (95) that can be understand, Hippodrome hosted some fundamental imperial ceremonies. The question of what was their content is not clear. However, it can be said that horse races were arranged after wars. Moreover, races were regular game which in byzantine life because, the Vasiliev argued that “In the life of Constantinople and even of the Empire as a whole, the Hippodrome played a very important part” (29). Likewise, games were it their all life with bath. Significantly, Vasiliev again poited out that “If the baths were shut and the Hippodrome closed, life for the Byzantine had lost its savor and become stale, flat and unprofitable” (29) which means that byzantine lost their nearly all special time for both Hippodrome and Bath. There is no doubt that, horses, chariots, and racers very important army figures in Byzantine life that Hippodrome activities and struggles affected military operations directly. This role argued by David M. Bethea in this fundamental article which titled “History As Hippodrome: The Apocalyptic Horse and Rider in The Master and Margarita” with those words “…horses had been an important element of strategic warfare for centuries.” (378). It is seen that competitors were rewarded with a big prizes after winning competition. The horses - chariots had to be very fast and turned around Central Barrier where named Euripos, 7 times that competitions started with the emperor gesture. According to the article which titled “The Monument of Porphyrius in the Hippodrome at Constantinople” by A. A. Vasiliev, competitions were discriminated according to “religious tendencies: the Blues (Venetoi) stood for the Chalcedonian Council, and the Greens (Prasinoi) for Monophysitism” (42) that can be analyssed that supporter were also discriminate with two part. 

Second key point will be about the structural analysis of Hippodrome and it’s moved monuments from place. Primarily it can be clarified that Hippodrome has very unusual shape that named U-shape that were placed on the one of seven hills of Constantinople. Besides, Hippodrome approximately length of Euripos was 230m, total length of arena was 429m, and capacity of hippodrome was 30000 people. It has importantly Sphendone: wall structure, Kathisma: Imperial Boks, and Euripos: monumental place or platform at the middle of its Usahape, carried or destroyed monuments. Firstly, Spendone is a part of wall of Hippodrome that was a semicircle shape and 117, 5 m diameter and its length was 480 m. it was the scene of puplic executions that was prized by populace in account of the political theater it offered. Secondly, Kathisma was the most important part of Hippodrome that was used for Imperial purposes. Emrperetor watches races from this important modify place that argued in the article which is titled with “Prolegomena to the Study of the Hippodrome at Caesarea Maritima” by John H. Humphrey it is argued that “The Constantinople hippodrome dated originally from the time of Severus but received extensive modification and additions under Constantine, when it was linked very closely with the imperial palace and when the kathisma was built.” (33). Kathisma was very visible place that Emperor could be seen nearly everywhere of the Hippodrome. Third point will be about Euripos that ground was at the middle of the Hippodrome that placed to monuments of Hippodrome. It was very important place where had some monuments and sculptures which were belonged to popular horseman, imperators and mythological figures. The idea is that during the Fourth Crusade Constantinople were invaded and most of fundamental monument and scaltures of Hippodrome were moved to another place or damaged by Crusade army during the time of Pope Innocent III in 1204. ) . In the article which is titled with “The Antiquities in the Hippodrome of Constantinople” the author Sarah Guberti Bassett argued that “It was only in 1204, in the city's sack by the army of the Fourth Crusade, that the Hippodrome collection was destroyed.” (88). It seems that nowadays there are just three important monuments: Serpent Column, the Theodosian Obelisk, and the Built Obelisk. However, as again Sarah Guberti Bassett argued that “In this setting, famous works such as a Herakles by Lysippos, the Roman wolf with Romulus and Remus, and the Serpent Column of the Plataean tripod stood side by side with lesser-known representations of gods, emperors, and heroes.” (87). Likewise, it can be analyses that “Apart from the two obelisks, the Serpent Column, and a set of votive tripods, this statuary depicted athletes, gods, and animals” (Sarah Guberti Bassett argued, 88).

 Third key point will be about Obelisk of Tuthmosis III, Column of Constantine VII - Porphyrogenitus, and Serpent Column. Firstly, Obelisk of Tuthmosis III will identify that it is from Karnak and ist is made of Granite that dated with early 15 th c BC. “The location of the Hippodrome has never been lost, and three of its fourth-century monuments, two of which are examples of re-use, remain in situ: the Serpent Column, the Theodosian Obelisk, and the Built Obelisk” (Basset 88). In this intellectual quotation there is no doubt that those monuments ne4ver moved from Hippodrome. Actually there is a substantial history about obelisk that could be explained with this article that “It was originally one of a pair from the Temple of Amon in Thebes. During the reign of Constantine, this pair was removed from the temple and transported to Alexandria. Eventually, one obelisk was sent to Rome where it was erected on the central barrier of the Circus Maximus in 357 by Constantius. 57 The other was taken to Constantinople where it was raised in the Hippodrome by Theodosius I.” (Basset 94) It is undeniable fact that “…obelisk was erected during the reign of Theodosius…” (Traquair , Wace 65) that can be explained by those academic words: “The granite obelisk was originally longer, and has been cut before being erected” (Traquair, Wace 62). Moreover “The obelisk was cut short, either to make it easier to erect, or because it had got broken at the end” (Traquair, Wace 62). It can be analysis that both it was longer and it was too hard to erected. In addition to this, Base of Theodosius I is one of the important element of the cultural heritage in the Hippodrome that were made of Limestone in 390s. There were very important representations of race culture in hippodrome. “The base of the obelisk is in three parts, which may be described from the ground upwards” (Humphrey 60) that “Upon the top of the pedestal are set the four bronze legs which support the obelisk” (Humphrey 62). Bronze those cubic based were damaged due to the water filled on the grounds of the obelisk. “Upon the platform is placed a large block of white marble bearing the inscription, and the reliefs describing the transport of the obelisk” (Humphrey 62). Platform has very fundamental presentation of Ruler and other fundamental scenes. In the one side the emperor is represented with may be three of officials and both sides have soldiers and their war elements. The second side Persian offered to the Emperor. Both sides presents that people have dressed with different styles. Emperor watches the games. Another part of this place is a represe4ntation of the Emperor that is standing and he will gesture for starting games. The bottom side of this side is represents some musicians and dancing peoples that point out the entertainments in the Hippodrome. The lower part of this section is represents about the erected scene of the obelisk, other side also shows the chariots and lastly the inscriptions were defined of the story of how obelisk transported and erected. 

Secondly other important monument in the area is Serpent Column that is made of bronze that dated after 479 and from Delphi. The author argued that”...Serpent Column of the Plataean tripod stood side by side with lesser-known representations of gods, emperors, and heroes” (Bassett 87) and head of column is visible in İstanbul Arkeoloji Müzesi. “Originally part of the support for a large tripod that stood in the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, the Serpent Column was dedicated by the Greek allies to commemorate their victory over the Persians in the 479 B.C. battle of Plataea” (Bassett 90). It is clarified that there were a widespread believe that Serpent column would be a new protector of the city. The author explains it with that sentence “In the Hippodrome this memory lingers, for by its presence the Serpent Column described Constantinople as the new protector of these ancient values” (Basset 94). In this respect it can be analysis that is a symbol of the Persian war and its 3 bodies are representation of gods, emperors, and heroes. Thirdly, Constantine VII, Porphyrogenitus can be defined that remodeled in the 10th c and it is made of masonry. “The history of the second obelisk, the Built Obelisk, is more obscure. 58 Unlike the Theodosian monument, it is not a true monolith, but an imitation obelisk built of ashlar. Presumably it would have been installed after the erection of the second obelisk in the Circus Maximus, without which precedent a second monument, much less an imitation, would have made little sense in the Hippodrome” (Bassett 94). 

Column has very important bronze elements that were destroyed during the time and Crusader IV. “The visual framework provided by the obelisks would have lent added pungency to the Roman images” (Bassett 94). Those entire monuments shortly were for prestige and image of their Huge Empires. It is a result of inspiration of the obelisk that can be said that it is an imitation of the real one. In the final solve, those huge monuments were for the prestige and image of the Empires. At that time the great empires were shown with their fundamental monuments and sculptures. There is no doubt that Hippodrome was very important place during the time that with its arrangement and it’s both sculptures and monuments. To sum up, there were many important and useful places which were used for many different goals in Constantinople that only a few structures and monuments were survived in the present days. Hippodrome is one of this virtual and fundamental survived complexes which combined very important structures and monuments that give us historical database about both roman and Byzantines life. With this database, social, political, economic, religious and, administrative many conditions of Byzantine life specifically can be analyzed. In this respect Hippodrome and its structures and monuments have very different Artistic and Architectural styles. It undeniable fact that, “The site which served for these occasional races was later transformed into a monumental hippodrome” (Humphrey 32). Plus with races “Here monuments stood on bases and honorific columns at the circus entrance, along the euripus, in the cavea, and above the carceres” (Bassett 87). Hippodrume were designed a Great Satadium that argued in that words: “It is frequently assumed that the hippodrome at Caesarea dates from the time of the foundation of the city by Herod the Great. 65 The few ancient sources which mention chariot racing at Caesarea were discussed by Jeremias who stated categorically that the hippodrome was built by Herod, arguing that Josephus confused his terms and wrote "amphitheatre" when he meant "hippodrome."66 The discovery of an amphitheatre67 proves that Josephus did, as we would expect, know the topography of Caesarea very well. Josephus says nothing about a hippodrome in his detailed description of the building program of Herod or anywhere else in his writings. He mentions only the "great stadium," under the year 26 or slightly later” (Humphrey 31). Lastly I wanted to argue that may be there were some important bet activities because “Hippodrome was a place for all sorts of entertainments which could amuse the people.” (Vasiliev 29).