The Hippodrome was first built by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus in 203 A.D. It was expanded by Constantine the Great much later. Today, it lies close to the Haghia Sophia and the Blue Mosque both of which were built later. Many activities have been held here, some for sport like chariot races; some for blood sport like gladitorial contests and then there were the riots and slaughters. In 532 two rival political groups, the blues and the greens began rioting in this area. Justinian’s reign was in jeopardy so his general Belisarius slaughtered 40,000 rebels in the Hippodrome to quell the disturbance. The second slaughter was much more recent. Sultan Mahmut II order the execution of 30,000 rebellious Janissaries in the same place.
The Hippodrome is 400 meter is length and 120 meters wide. It seated 40,000 at its height in popularity. Down the center were a row of columns and obelisks of which only three survive today. They are the Serpent Column, the Egyptian Obelisk, and the Colossus. The Serpent Column is the oldest Greek monument in Istanbul dating to 479 B.C. It was erected by the cities who defeated the Persians in the battle of Plataea. The tradition states that the bronze serpents were cast from the metal in theshields of the fallen Persian warriors. The top is missing, but one of the serpents head is on display in the Archeological Museum in Istanbul.
The Egyptian Obelisk was first erected in Egypt by Thutmose III in the 15 cent. B.C. About 2000 years later Emperor Theodosius I brought it to Istanbul in about the year 390 A.D. It is 20 meters high and is mounted on four blocks which in turn rest on a marble base.
The Colossus was erected by Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus in 940 A.D. It is made of limestone. It was once covered by bronze gilt panels but they were torn off by the 4th Crusaders who thought it was gold. The holes where those plates had been attached can still be seen.