Page 11 - Turkey Tour 2018 27th February (compiled)_Classical

Throughout the Byzantine period, the Hippodrome was the centre of the city's social life. Huge amounts were bet on
chariot races, and initially four teams took part in these races, each one financially sponsored and supported by a
different political party (Deme) within the Roman/Byzantine Senate: The Blues (Venetoi), the Greens (Prasinoi), the
Reds (Rousioi) and the Whites (Leukoi). The Reds (Rousioi) and the Whites (Leukoi) gradually weakened and were
absorbed by the other two major factions (the Blues and Greens).
A total of up to eight chariots (two chariots per team), powered by four horses each, competed on the racing track of
the Hippodrome. These races were not simple sporting events, but also provided some of the rare occasions in which
the Emperor and the common citizens could come together in a single venue. Political discussions were often made
at the Hippodrome, which could be directly accessed by the Emperor through a passage that connected the
Kathisma (Emperor's Loge at the eastern tribune) with the Great Palace of Constantinople.
The rivalry between the Blues and Greens often became mingled with
political or religious rivalries, and sometimes riots, which amounted to
civil wars that broke out in the city between them. The most severe of
these was the Nika riots of 532, in which an estimated 30,000 people
were killed and many important buildings, such as the second Hagia
[3]
Sophia Church, were destroyed. The current (third) Hagia Sophia was
built by Justinian following the Nika Revolt.
Constantinople never really recovered from its sack during the Fourth
Crusade and even though the Byzantine Empire survived until 1453, by
that time, the Hippodrome had fallen into ruin. The Ottoman Turks, who
captured the city in 1453 and made it the capital of the Ottoman Empire,
were not interested in racing and the Hippodrome was gradually
forgotten, although the site was never actually built over.

The Hippodrome was used for various occasions such as the lavish and
days-long circumcision ceremony of the sons of Sultan Ahmed III. In
Ottoman miniature paintings, the Hippodrome is shown with the seats
and monuments still intact. Although the structures do not exist anymore,
today's Sultanahmet Square largely follows the ground plan and
dimensions of the now vanished Hippodrome.
Photo -The Serpent Column (front) with the Obelisk of Thutmose III (back)

Sources:

Wikipedia

Basilica Cistern

The Basilica Cistern (Turkish: Yerebatan Sarnıcı – "Cistern Sinking Into Ground"), is the largest of several hundred
ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul (formerly Constantinople), Turkey. The cistern, located 150
metres (490 ft) southwest of the Hagia Sophia on the historical peninsula of Sarayburnu, was built in the 6th century
during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.

History[edit]

This subterranean cistern, in Greek
kinsterne (κινστέρνη), was called
Basilica because it was located under
a large public square on the First Hill
of Constantinople, the Stoa
Basilica. At this location, and prior to
[2]
constructing the cistern, a
great Basilica stood in its place, built
between the 3rd and 4th centuries
during the Early Roman Age as a
commercial, legal and artistic
centre. The basilica was
[1]
reconstructed by Illus after a fire in
476.
Ancient texts indicated that the
basilica contained gardens,
surrounded by a colonnade and facing
the Hagia Sophia. According to
[1]
ancient historians,