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in forty rows of seats around the 'LP shaped
race track. Hippodrome with 400 m. length and 120 m. width was
one of the biggest hippodromes of the antique world after Cicus
Maximus in Rome.
Since the land was not flat, the west side of
the hippodrome was elevated on a retaining wall. When you
approach to the square from the coast of Marmara Sea, these
walls called 'sphendone' can be seen with all their magnificence.
Furthermore, in the middle of the 'U' shaped race track, there
was bumper called 'spina' embellished with works of art. The
Hippodrome, where the sportive activities took place was also
the stage for riots, public entertainments, social appearances
of the royals, wedding ceramonies and bazaars.
In the Byzantine Period, the place had three
functions. First of these was the sportive activities and art
events. Horse¬races was an attractive sports event of those
times. Other than these, gladiator fights used to be held here.
The second function of the Hippodrome was
that it was a political arena. In the Ottoman Period the
Janissary Corps riots generally started here.
The third function of the square was the
decorative purpose as an open - air museum by being embellished
richly by the Byzantine Emperors. The spina in the middle
displayed, columns, statues, sun clocks, obelisks and monuments
brought to the Hippodrome from all over the world. |
