Overview

Overview

The Hippodrome, an actual chariot race track, was one of the most popular sites in Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, for hundreds of years. In the 500's, people flocked to events at the Hippodrome to see and be seen. By the 1000's, however, the Hippodrome was used mostly for imperial ceremoniesósome of which still included chariot races.

Today, Constantinople is known as Istanbul, Turkey, and the Hippodrome lies under at least 6 feet (1.2 meters) of accumulated soil. The bases of two columns that once stood in the spina that divided the two stretches of the race course are visible today, in holes in a landscaped garden area. A portion of the structure under the seats at the current end is visible. The rest of the structure is gone, or still buried. The four bronze horses that topped the starting gates were seized by the Venetians in the Fourth Crusade (1202-1204). They are now on display at St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice.