Hippodrome of Constantinople

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The Hippodrome of Constantinople was a circus and the sporting and social center of Constantinople. It contained an obelisk relocated from Egypt by the Roman Emperor Theodosius I and a viewpoint on one of its columns. Its remains survive to this day.

History

Origins

The Hippodrome once stood as one of the purest examples of Constantinople's classical Greek origins. Though the original structure dates back to pre-Roman times when the city was still called Byzantium, the Hippodrome was enlarged and improved by Constantine the Great, and remained in use for nearly 800 years.

Basil's Hippodrome Race

In 867, during the reign of Emperor Basil I, he orchestrated a race at the Hippodrome to draw attention away from a recent attack on his palace and even offered to race for the green team. Meanwhile, the Hidden Ones Basim Ibn Ishaq and Hytham and the Varangian guard Thyra planned a trap for the Order of the Ancients to strike at Leo in order to finally kill them and their leader Isaac.

During the emperor's race, Basim threw a spike in front of Basil's carriage and the emperor was subsequently injured. Instantly, an Order member loosed an arrow into the emperor's box and a crowd panic ensued. Within the chaos, the Order attacked the Varangian guards while two Order members abducted the emperor's son Leo. However, the Hidden Ones, Thyra, and the Varangian guard Justin killed the attackers and chased after them. Initially cornered, the Order kidnappers jumped two levels down outside the Hippodrome. The four allies managed to keep following them into an alley, where they all managed to save Leo and kill all of the Order members, including Isaac.

Disrepairs

After 1200, the Hippodrome began to fall apart around the time of the Fourth Crusade, when marauding Christian armies from the West, sent forth by Pope Innocent III, sacked the city on their way to the Holy Land.

By the time Byzantine Emperor Michael Palaiologos had recaptured the city in 1261, the Hippodrome was in poor state and he made no effort to restore it to its former glory. When the Ottomans took over in 1453, all hope that it would ever be repaired dwindled to nothing, as chariot-racing was not a Turkish hobby.

Renaissance

In 1511, Ezio Auditore da Firenze met with Yusuf Tazim at the Hippodrome to discuss foiling an attack on Prince Suleiman. Later that year, Ezio and another Assassin tailed the murderous actress Lysistrata to the Hippodrome and found the bodies of her victims. Ezio also returned to the Hippodrome to find a book, The Travels of Marco Polo, which he later donated to Sofia Sartor's book shop.

Modern times

During modern times, it became a square named Sultanahmet Meydanı, or "Sultan Ahmet Square", which was sometimes referred to by Turkish residents as the Atmeydanı, or "Horse Square". By the 21st century, only a few fragments of the original structure remained. ^{[citation needed]}

Gallery

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  The Hippodrome during the day
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  The Hippodrome during dusk
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  Concept art of the Hippodrome's interior
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  Concept art of the Hippodrome from afar

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Revelations (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: The Golden City