Sultanahmet Square, A historic epicenter with timeless relics

38 Mimar Mehmet Age Street, Sultanamet

Many tourists come to Turkey to visit places that are not for leisure or entertainment

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Introduction

The opposite of the Blue Mosque is Sultan Ahmet Square, which used to be a racetrack during the ancient Byzantine period that could accommodate 100,000 spectators and was the center of urban life. There are multiple artifacts in the racetrack, including the bronze snake column, the Theodosius Obelisk, and the Constantine Obelisk. The bronze snake column was originally from the Plataean Tripod in the Delphi Apollo Temple and was moved to the middle of the racetrack by Emperor Constantine. It was once stolen or damaged, but some of the snake heads have now been restored. The Theodosius Obelisk was purchased from Egypt by Emperor Theodosius and was originally built by Egyptian pharaohs to commemorate their victories. It has existed for nearly 3,500 years and is now well-preserved. The Constantine Obelisk was built by Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus to commemorate his grandfather. It is 32 meters high and originally had bronze reliefs on its body, but they were looted and melted down during the Crusades. Only the stone core remains, now known as the Wall Column. Emperor Septimius Severus rebuilt the city in 203 AD and constructed the racetrack for chariot racing and other entertainment events. In 324 AD, Emperor Constantine expanded the city and rebuilt the racetrack, making it the center of urban life during the Byzantine period.