Hippodrome of Constantinople

Photo

by Ank Kumar

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

The Hippodrome of Constantinople, located in modern-day Istanbul, Turkey, was a grand sporting and social center in the Byzantine Empire. Initially constructed under Emperor Septimius Severus in the early 3rd century and significantly expanded by Constantine the Great in 324 AD, the Hippodrome served as the epicenter for chariot races, public events, and political gatherings. The elongated U-shaped stadium could accommodate thousands of spectators and was adorned with various monuments, including the Serpent Column, the Obelisk of Thutmose III, and the Walled Obelisk.

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