Hippodrome of Constantinople

Lore & Background

The Hippodrome was the centre of the city's social life throughout the Byzantine period. Huge amounts were bet on chariot races, initially contested by four teams—the Blues, Greens, Reds, and Whites—each sponsored by a political party within the Byzantine Senate. The Reds and Whites gradually weakened and were absorbed by the Blues and Greens. Up to eight chariots, each powered by four horses, competed on the U-shaped track. The emperor could access the Kathisma (emperor's lodge) directly from the Great Palace through a private passage.

Reader's Guide

The Hippodrome was not merely a sports venue; it was a rare space where the emperor and common citizens could gather together, and political discussions often took place there. Today the surviving monuments—the Serpent Column, the Obelisk of Thutmose III, and the Walled Obelisk—sit in a landscaped garden in Sultanahmet Square, with the course of the old racetrack indicated by paving.

Did You Know?

• The word 'hippodrome' comes from Greek hippos (horse) and dromos (path).
• The Hippodrome's carceres (starting gates) were topped with four gilded copper horses, later looted during the Fourth Crusade and installed on St Mark's Basilica in Venice.
• The Serpent Column was originally a sacrificial tripod from Delphi, celebrating the Greek victory over the Persians in the 5th century BC.