Hippodrome Of Constantinople - Sultanahmet Square

Overview

Hippodrome Square was built by Septimius Severus to entertain the final public at the beginning of A.D 2 th century, In 196. But it's rebuilt by Konstantin I. it's located within the Square of Blue Mosque. Hippodrome has witnessed many awesome events just like the famous gladiator fights, chariot/car races, many riots and bloody events within the past. Under the Hippodrome’s location the horses, the elephants and also the camels were kept by the Byzantines, while the wild animals were kept by the Romans within the cages. The deep hollows were dug to protect the people from attacks of these wild animals sooner than the sitting sets. during this regard Hippodrome comes from hippos and dromos; It means ”running”.

The people can get more detailed information about Hippodrome’s architecture within the photographs of the priest O. Panvinion (Above). it is also refered lenght and width of Hippodrome with 370 m long and 120 m wide measurements. Hippodrome is originally surrounded by the sitting sets from three sides. So, this sitting sets were composed of 30 to 40 steps and also it's said to possess 100 thousand people capacity.

Thedosius – Obelisk

Pretty attractive Obelisk is that the merchandise of Egypt. it's 20 m high. Upon this stone erected for the sake of Tutmosis III in B.C 1500 was filled with hieroglyph. These hieroglyphical words that cannot be solved by Byzantines haven't been revealed until 1823. Therefore it had been seen as a talisman by them.

Serpent /Spiral Column

As the name suggests, once upon a time this snake-shaped column comprised of three headed serpent . They carried a fume caldron (the product of the normal era) upon their heads before. This column was dropped at İstanbul from Delphi, Greece. The spiral column was fabricated from melted weapons belonging to the losers as a victory of the war that Greeks won against Persians. at the instant war, it absolutely was given by Greeks as a present to Delphi Apollo Temple so on denote their thankfulness. excluding the mythologic three footed cauldron carried by the serpents disappeared. Today nobody knows where they're, how and when three headed serpents were taken .But one altogether them are kept within the Archaeological Museum in Istanbul.

Hippodrome In Ottoman Period

After the conquest of Istanbul, nearly nothing remain behind other than several monuments and a few relics and Kathisma. These relics were used the building construction so on be rebuilt that historical place. Once upon a time Hippodrome was used as chariot/car races, nevertheless it had been a neighborhood that was played javelin(national Turkish game) by the final public. because of that was also named as Horse Square. After that ,Horse Square or Hippodrome was surrounded by new building in Ottoman period like Ibrahim Pasha Palace (slayed Sadrazamn of Suleiman the Magnificent),famous Blue Mosque built by Ahmet I, fascinating Hagia Sophia bath(the product of the good architecture Sinan) and Fıruz Aga Mosque(the treasurer of Sultan Bayezid II).

That fascinating Hippodrome has also witnessed many feasts, marriage ceremonies a bit like the proverbial marriage of Sultan Hatice and Ibrahim Pasha and also the circumcision feasts of sultan’s son. Today it is a crowded place that several tourists visit and plenty of programmes are showed.

Kathisma

A type of small Palace called Kathisma was located at the north a component of Hippodrome (Location of Today’s German Fountain) with construction built on 24 columns. This small palace had the final public room, the dining hall and also the special compartment belonging to the guardians. Whenever Emperors were exposed to the stone rain or face public strikes, they were escaping to the foremost palace through private tunnel.

Konstantin Obelisk

Firstly, Konstantin obelisk had been tried to be erected by Konstantin II but he failed because he died. Secondly, after 30 years the story was repeated; following emperor Thedosius i could not built due to die. Finally, after years Arkadyus (395-408) was successful. This fascinating obelisk erected by him gives fairly information about Byzantine creation. it's located in two tablets written in Greek and Latin upon the obelisk.

Except for that famous obelisk, there's found another monument named as ’’Kathisma’’. Thedosius I,his wife and his sons Arcadyus, Honarius within the course of statemen, guardians and so the audience were portrayed in Kathisma (Emperor lodge).In addition, the nations defeated by Byzantines, the erection of Obelisk event, chariot/car races, exotic dancer, musicians were displayed on this stone.

German Fountain

Near the northern end of the Hippodrome, the insufficient gazebo styled fountain is found with beautiful stonework.German fountain also noted as Kaiser Wilhelm’s Fountain.Once German emperor paid a state visit to Sultan Abdül Hamit II in 1901 and presented this fountain to the sultan and his people as a token of friendship.

Fountain was originally inbuilt Germany, then transported piece by piece and assembled in its current site in 1900.

German fountain’s octagonal dome has eight marble columns, and dome’s interior is roofed with golden mosaics.The monograms within the stonework represents the political union of Abdul Hamit II and Wilhelm II.

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