Sultanahmet Square

The hippodrome was built in 203 AD when the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus took over this city which was then known as Byzantine and renamed it Augusta Antonina. He built several other structures along with the hippodrome, and the place served as a centre for various sporting events. In 324 AD, Constantine I shifted the headquarters from Rome to Byzantium, further glorified the hippodrome and renamed the city Constantinople. The hippodrome was the location of all public events - from festivals or live performances to public executions and shaming of enemies. Constantine used the hippodrome as an arena where he could show his authority, wealth and luxury, inviting several rich nobles and aristocrats. 

The U shaped hippodrome and the Great Palace were very well directly connected to the Kathisma where the Emperor acknowledged matters of his kingdom through a well-defined passage that only the Emperor and his family could use. The hippodrome was 400m long and 200m wide having a seating capacity of about 70,000 people, with separate areas for VIPs and the general public. There were four teams - the Blues, the Greens, the Reds and the Whites. The major rivalry between the Blues and the Greens caused many riots to break out in the city. When the Ottoman Turks took over the city and made it the capital of the Ottoman Empire in 1453, they had no interest in chariot racing and the legacy of the hippodrome was eventually forgotten and the major part of the monuments was destroyed.