Istanbul’s Top Sights - Istanbul - page 122

the villains responsible for such thefts were the soldiers of the Fourth Crusade, who in-
vaded Constantinople, a Christian-ally city, in 1204. After sacking Aya Sofya, they tore all
the plates from the Rough-Stone Obelisk OFFLINE MAP at the Hippodrome's southern end
in the mistaken belief that they were solid gold (in fact, they were gold-covered bronze).
The crusaders also stole the famous quadriga, or team of four horses cast in bronze, a
copy of which now sits atop the main door of the Basilica di San Marco in Venice (the ori-
ginal is inside the basilica).

Near the northern end of the Hippodrome, the little gazebo with beautiful stonework is
known as Kaiser Wilhelm's Fountain OFFLINE MAP . The 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. The monograms in the stonework are those of Abdül
Hamit II and Wilhelm II, and represent their political union.

The immaculately preserved pink granite Obelisk of Theodosius OFFLINE MAP in the
centre was carved in Egypt during the reign of Thutmose III (r 1549-1503 BC) and erec-
ted in the Amon-Re temple at Karnak. Theodosius the Great (r 379-95) had it brought
from Egypt to Constantinople in AD 390. On the marble billboards below the obelisk,
look for the carvings of Theodosius, his wife, sons, state officials and bodyguards watch-
ing the chariot-race action from the kathisma (imperial box).

South of the obelisk is a strange column coming up out of a hole in the ground. Known
as the Spiral Column OFFLINE MAP , it was once much taller and was topped by three ser-
pents' heads. Originally cast to commemorate a victory of the Hellenic confederation over
the Persians in the battle of Plataea, it stood in front of the temple of Apollo at Delphi
from 478 BC until Constantine the Great had it brought to his new capital city around AD
330. Though badly damaged in Byzantine times, the serpents' heads survived until the
early 18th century. Now all that remains of them is one upper jaw, housed in the İstanbul
Archaeology Museums ( CLICK HERE ).

MARMARA UNIVERSITY

REPUBLICAN MUSEUM
OFFLINE MAP

| MUSEUM

( 10am-6pm Tue-Sun; Sultanahmet) Located at the southern end of the Hippodrome, this
museum is housed in a handsome example of Ottoman Revivalism, a homegrown archi-
tectural style popular in the late 19th century. The university's collection of original prints
by Turkish artists is displayed here.

MUSEUM OF