The first Hippodrome was built when the city was called Byzantium in 203 AD. It hosted many chariot and horseraces, as well as other forms of entertainment. In 324 AD, Constantine the Great moved the seat of government to Byzantium, and the Hippodrome saw its busiest days during this period. It is believed it could seat over 100,000 spectators. Monuments from all over the Empire were erected in the centre of the Hippodrome including the Serpent Column, which represents the victory of the Greeks over the Persians, the Obelisk of Thutmose III that was brought back from Luxor in Egypt as well as the Walled Obelisk and Statues of Porphyrios.
