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  • Maps

HIPPODROME SQUARE

Hippodrome Square was built by Septimius Severus to entertain the public at the beginning of A.D 2 th century, In 196. But it has rebuilt by Konstantin I. It is located in the Square of Blue Mosque. Hippodrome has witnessed many awesome events such as the famous gladiator fights, chariot/car races, many riots and bloody events in the past. Under the Hippodrome's location the horses, the elephants and the camels were kept by the Byzantines, while the wild animals were kept by the Romans in the cages. The deep hollows were dug to protect the people from attacks of these wild animals in front of the sitting sets. In this regard Hippodrome is derived from hippos and dromos; It means ''running''
The people can get more detailed information about Hippodrome's architecture in the pictures of the priest O. Panvinion (Above). It is also refered lenght and width of Hippodrome with 370 m long and 120 m wide measurements. Hippodrome is originally surrounded by the sitting sets from three sides. So, this sitting sets were composed of 30 to 40 steps and also it is said to have a hundred thousand people capacity. 

THEDOSIUS I OBELISK
Pretty attractive Thedosius I Obelisk is the product of Egypt. It is 20 m high. Upon this stone erected for the sake of Tutmosis III in B.C1500 was filled with hieroglyph. These hieroglyphical words that cannot be solved by Byzantines have not been found out until 1823. Therefore it was seen as a talisman by them.
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SERPENT /SPIRAL COLUMN
As the name suggests, once upon a time this snake-shaped column comprised of three headed serpent . They carried a fume caldron (the product of the ancient era) upon their heads before. This column was brought to İstanbul from Delphi, Greece. The spiral column was made from melted weapons belonging to the losers as a victory of the war that Greeks won against Persians. After that war, it was given by Greeks as a present to Delphi Apollo Temple in order to show their thankfulness. But then the mythologic three footed cauldron carried by the serpents disappeared. Today nobody knows where they are, how and when three headed serpents were taken .But one of them are kept in the Archaeological Museum in Istanbul.
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HIPPODROME IN OTTOMAN PERIOD
After the conquest of Istanbul, nearly nothing remain behind except for several monuments and a few relics and Kathisma. These relics were used the building construction in order to be rebuilt that historical place. Once upon a time Hippodrome was used as chariot/car races, but then it was a place that was played javelin(national Turkish game) by the public. Because of that was also named as Horse Square. After that ,Horse Square or Hippodrome  was surrounded by new building in Ottoman period such as Ibrahim Pasha Palace (slayed Sadrazamn of Suleiman the Magnificent),famous Blue Mosque built by Ahmet I,  fascinating Hagia Sophia  bath(the product of the great architecture Sinan) and Fıruz Aga Mosque(the treasurer of Sultan Bayezid II).

That fascinating Hippodrome has also witnessed many feasts, marriage ceremonies like the proverbial marriage of Sultan Hatice and Ibrahim Pasha and the circumcision feasts of sultan’s son. Today it is a crowded place that many tourists visit and many programmes are showed.
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KATHISMA
A type of small Palace called Kathisma was located at the north part of Hippodrome (Location of Today's German Fountain) with construction built on 24 columns. This small palace had the public room, the dining hall and the special compartment belonging to the guardians. Whenever Emperors were exposed to the stone rain or face public strikes, they were escaping to the main palace through private tunnel. 
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Every emperor has contributed to be adorned Hippodrome with marble, bronze and copper statues brought from Rome, Greece, the Aegean Islands. Besides this magnificent statues, the portraits belonging to Perikles(a successful statesman) ,Augustus (the first emperor of Rome), Lusimahos (one of the Alexander the Great's governors) had been found here. But many monuments were destroyed during ‘’1204 Latin Invasion ‘’and ‘’The Crusades’’. In the rest of that, there was no anything else except for bronze horse statues and several other statues.

KONSTANTIN II OBELISK
Firstly, Konstantin obelisk had been tried to be erected by Konstantin II but he failed because he died. Secondly, after 30 years the story was repeated; following emperor Thedosius I could not built due to die. Finally, after years Arkadyus (395-408) was successful. This fascinating obelisk erected by him gives fairly information about Byzantine Plastic Art. It is located in two tablets written in Greek and Latin upon the obelisk.  

Except for that famous obelisk, there is found another monument named as ’’Kathisma’’. Thedosius I,his wife and his sons Arcadyus, Honarius  accompanied by  statemen, guardians and the audience were portrayed in Kathisma (Emperor lodge).In addition, the nations defeated by Byzantines, the erection of Obelisk event, chariot/car races, belly dancer, musicians were displayed on this stone.
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GERMAN FOUNTAIN
Near the northern end of the Hippodrome, the little gazebo styled fountain  can be found with beautiful stonework.German fountain also known as Kaiser Wilhelm’s Fountain.Once German emperor paid a state visit to Sultan Abdül Hamit II in 1901 and presented this fountain to the sultan and his people as a token of friendship.

Fountain was originally built in Germany, then transported piece by piece and assembled in its current site in 1900.

German fountain's octagonal dome has eight marble columns, and dome's interior is covered with golden mosaics.The monograms in the stonework represents the political union of Abdul Hamit II and Wilhelm II.
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Content Author   : Ebrar OKÇU
Page Editor           : Mustafa Gökhan BULUT
Published              : 30 June 2014 
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  • ISTANBUL

    About Istanbul

    Blue Mosque

    Hippodrome

    Topkapi Palace

    Hagia Sophia

    Sogukcesme Street

    Little Hagia Sophia

    Basilica Cistern

    Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum

    Arasta Bazaar

    Gulhane Park

    Archaeology Museum

    Old City Walls

    Suleymaniye Mosque

    Eyup Sultan

    Kalenderhane Mosque

    Pierre Loti Hill

    Miniaturk Museum

    Panorama 1453

    Chora Museum

    Seven Tower Dungeons

    Grand Bazaar

    Sahaflar Bazaar

    Mahmut Pasha Bazaar

    Spice Bazaar

    New Mosque

    Rustem Pasha Mosque

    Tekfur Palace

    Galata Tower

    Galata Dervish Lodge

    Emirgan Park

    Yildiz Royal Garden

    Maiden’s Tower

    Dolmabahce Palace

    Beylerbeyi Palace

    Ciragan Palace

    Rumeli Fortress

    Anatolian Fortress

    Khedive Pavilion

    Ihlamur Pavilion

    Yusha Mosque

    Kadikoy Bazaar

    Camlica Hill

  • BURSA

    About Bursa

    Silk Market

    Grand Mosque

    Green Mosque & Tomb

    Uludag Mountain

    Cumalikizik Village

    Emir Sultan Mosque

    Iskender Kebab

  • EDIRNE

    About Edirne

    Selimiye Mosque

    Sultan Bayezid Complex

    Edirne Palace

    Uc Serefeli Mosque

  • CANAKKALE

    About Canakkale

    Troy

    Assos

    Mirror Mall

    Ida Mountains

    Gallipoli National Park

  • BERGAMA

    About Bergama

    Acropolis

    Asclepion

    Red Court

    Bergama Museum

  • IZMIR

    About Izmir

    Kordon

    Velvet Castle

    Clock Tower

    Greek Agora

    The Lift

    Kemeralti Mall

  • Kusadasi

    About Kusadasi

    Ephesus

    Isa Bey Mosque

    Temple of Artemis

    House of Virgin Mary

    Basilica of St.John

    Sirince Village

  • Pamukkale

    About Pamukkale

    Hierapolis & Cotton Castle

    Laodicea

    Colossea

    Karahayit

    Painted Mosques

    Buldan

  • Antalya

    About Antalya

    Alanya

    Aspendos

    Demre

    Santa Claus

    Kale Ici

    Kas

    Manavgat Waterfalls

    Finike

    Patara

    Perge

  • Konya

    About Konya

    Mevlana

    Mevlana Museum

    Aladdin Mosque

    Kilistra Ancient City

    Aya Elena Church

    Sultanhani Caravanserai

  • Cappadocia

    About Cappadocia

    Kaymakli Underground City

    Goreme Open Air Museum

    Pigeon Valley

    Uchisar Castle

    Saratli Underground City

    Pasabagi

    Zelve

    Three Graces

    Avanos

    Ihlara Valley

    Ozkonak Underground City

    Wish Hill

    Hot Air Balloon

  • Ankara

    About Ankara

    Ankara Castle

    Ataturk Mausoleum

    Hittite Museum

    Augustus Temple

  • Safranbolu

    About Safranbolu

    Kaymakam House

    Safranbolu Bazaar

    Watchtower

    Cinci Inn

  • Amasya

    About Amasya

    Yalibolu Houses

    King Rock Tombs

    Amasya Castle

    Sultan Bayezid II Complex

  • Samsun

    About Samsun

    Amazon Village

    Amisos Hill

    Gazi Museum

    Hamamyagi Thermal

    Honorary Monument

    Mater Dolorasa Church

    Samsun Archaelogy Museum

    Tekkekoy Inns

  • Ordu

    About Ordu

    Golkoy Castle

    Osman Pasha Fountain

    Pashaoglu Mansion

    Tasbasi Church

Tour Maker Turkey is the source of information that introduce destinations in Turkey with detailed explanation of Sight Seeing points. You can plan your trip with soft explanation of tourist attractions with clear images.
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