THE HIPPODROME
The Hippodrome is the most celebrated square of Byzantine times. Horse races, chariot rallies, sorting events, wrestling matches and all sorts of competitive athletics took place here. Its design was inspired by that of the Circus Maximus in Rome built by the Emperor Septimus Severus in 203.
Constantine the Great enlarged the Hippodrome and determined its final dimensions. Excavations conducted on the site reveal that the Hippodrome was 117 metres wide and approximately 500 metres long. It was surrounded by high walls pierced by a number of entrance gates.
Going towards the northern end of the square, past the Fountain of Wilhelm II, which was formerly the site of the "Kathisma", the entrance to the race track, we see an obelisk covered with hieroglyphics; to the east of this was the Imperial Box, where the Emperor, surrounded by notables of the court and dignitaries of the state, came to preside over the games, which used to last all day and sometimes even longer. The pavillion therefore was like a miniature palace, containing a reception room, dining-room and rest-room. It communicated directly with the Imperial Palace but admitted no access either from public tiers or the arena itself. When it is remembered how many riots and revolts originated in this Hippodrome, and the bloody civil wars, it will be well understood that these precautionary measures were more than justified, enabling the Emperor easily to retire into the interior of his palace and take refuge there, well out of reach of the mob.
A little below the Imperial Box there was a place reserved for the Emperor's guards and musicians. The race chariots entered the Hippodrome by passing below the Kathisma. At the onset of the race they launched themselves forward on the "Spina" a track which divided the arena up the middle throughout its whole length.
In speaking of the Hippodrome of Byzantium we cannot help thinking of the clique, sand, seditions, factions which exerted such an influence on the fate of the Empire, and the bloody vicissitudes of their fortunes, which we summarise here:
There were four rival groups, the Greens, the Blues, the Reds and the Whites, symbolising respectively Earth, Sea, Fire and Atmosphere, concepts derived from mythological sources. In time the Reds and Whites merged together, leaving three groups in all. The people in their turn supported one or other of these factions, as their own divided themselves into two parties; and the Emperors supported one or other of these factions, as their own interests dictated. Thus Michael III showed himself in the arena dressed in the colours of the group he patronised, and took part personally in the chariot races. No competition could begin in the absence of one these groups. The Blues occupied the right side of the Stadium and the Greens the left. Innumerable revolts and uprisings began under cover of these demonstrations. The rebellion of 532, which shook Justinian's throne, originated in this arena; in the course of it 40,000 people were put to the sword by Belisarius, who had surrounded the place. The corpses were gathered and heaped up near one of the gates of the Hippodrome which was known thereafter as the "Gate of the Dead".
In the period before the stadium became the scene of such holocausts and bloody dramas, the fire arts also showed themselves from time to time, seeming to smile at hate-torn humanity.
Like other ancient stadiums, the Hippodrome had its two columns or Idols, which were worshipped under the titles of Sun and Moon. It is not known what has become of them.
Constantine the Great, Emperor of Rome, in the course of enlarging the Hippodrome, endowed it with various works of art. Statues were brought here from Syracuse and Alexandria, the provinces previously attached to the Roman Empire sent the finest specimens of antiquity, together with great work of art produced by the Christian culture that had recently became widely diffused in their territories. The Roman Emperors, Augustus, Diocletianus, Valentinus, Theodosius sent statues of Romulus and Romus, legendary founders of Rome, and Hercules, and Adam and Eve as god and goddess, sculpted in marble and bronze and overlaid with gold, giving them an imposing appearance and enhancing the effect. Four statues of horses in copper, plated with gold and silver, were the most spectacular works on display.
The Crusaders had taken Constantinople in 1204 and did not leave one stone standing on another. The Latins had the horses transported to Venice where they were installed the Church of Saint Mark. Napoleon in his turn, during his invasion of Italy in 1797, took possession of the statues and had them sent back to Paris as spoils of war, and placed above the Triumphal Arch of Carousel; in 1815 the statues regained their former place in Venice.
With the collapse of the Latins, the power of Byzantium and the wealth and magnificence of its Hippodrome came to an end. The statues ornamenting the square were melted down and converted into bullion.
When the Turks captured the city in 1453 they found it virtually in ruins.
The site of the stadium was converted into a shady pleasure garden. Under Suleyman the Law-Giver, the Grand Vizir of the time, Ibrahim Pasa, had a palace built there, the foundations of which can still be seen. A part of the Hippodrome overlooking the sea was allotted to the Blue Mosque; on the southern side was built the School of Advanced Economic Studies, and the building reserved for the Administration of Titles.
