Hippodrome

The hippodrome was an immense construction 480 meters length and 117.5 meters wide; it could seat, according to estimations one hundred thousand spectators. It was build in 203 by the Emperor Septimus Severus and later on Constantine the Great extended and remodeled it.

As Haghia Sophia was the center of religious life, the hippodrome was the center of the civil activities.

The interests and passions of the population was divided between theological controversy and chariots races on the hippodrome.
Today you can only see some monuments where the hippodrome was. If you are curios and want to see how was the old Constantinople city center click here ! The central line, or spina of the hippodrome was marked by obelisks and columns, three of which are still outstanding monuments at Sultan Ahmet square (see picture bellow: the red line is where the hippodrome was located, behind it you can see the Blue Mosque and Saint Sophia).
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