HIPPODROME - THE SULTANAHMET SQUARE

THE WORLD STARTS HERE
The Hippodrome of the Byzantine Era, later called the Horse Square in the Ottoman Era, was the center of social life in both empires. To illustrate this, the Million Stone representing all beginning points of the world was erected here.

The Sultanahmet Square, called "the Hippodrome" by the Romans and Byzantines and "the Horse Square" by the Ottomans, is today a tranquil park square surrounded by many historical monuments, mosques, and palaces.
All civilizations that ruled istanbul saw this square as the heart of the city, the reason why the most magnificent and important monuments of the city are displayed around Sultanahmet Square.
The racecourse that gladiators raced on with their chariots in front of a hundred thousand people during the Byzantine period encircles the historical basin known as "Spina" housing three great monuments, the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column, and the Walled Obelisk. During the Byzantine period, coronation ceremonies of emperors and victory celebrations of the army also took place in the square. The Ibrahim Pasha Palace was built in Sultanahmet Square during the 16th century. In addition to Sokullu Mehmet Pasha and Ayse Sultan palaces, Haseki Hurrem Hamam (Turkish bath) was constructed
by Sinan the Architect in 1555 upon the order of Hurrem Sultan, who was the wife of Suleyman the Magnificent, and is also located in the square as well.

The German Fountain This domed, octagon-shaped fountain standing at the entrance of the Hippodrome was a gift from German Emperor Wllhelm II
to Abdiilhamid II and the city of istanbul. The fountain, which was brought to istanbul in pieces after having been built in a neo-Byzantine style in Germany in 1898, has been criticized because architecturally it doesn 't match with the historical monuments which surround it.

In the next picture you see A Hippodrome gravure by an Italian histori¬an, Onoirio ranvmio (1630-1668)

Aplan of Hippodrome square

The most damaged column of the hippodrome is the Walled Obelisk (known as the Knitted Column} which is assumed to have been left by Pophirogennetos VII (9th century).

It is believed that the Serpent Column, which is a bronze monument, was made by melting the shields of Persian soldiers who died during the Palatea War.

The Egyptian Obelisk is believed to be the oldest historical monument in the city of Istanbul. The monument, which was built by the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutmosis in 1550 BC, was erected in the square by Theodosius in 390 AD.