Thesis: We will argue that chariot racing in the hippodrome was an important social behaviour during the Byzantine period.
The Byzantine era was well known for many things, but perhaps one of the most impressive marks of the Byzantine era was the Chariot races at the Hippodrome in Constantinople. The Chariot races took place sixty days of the year, and for each race, there was a capacity crowd. Approximately 30,000 people attended each event, so it is very evident that the Chariot races were an extremely important social gathering. The common people who went to the chariot races felt that they were a part of the imperial state. These rituals gave them the feeling of belonging and the illusion that they possessed liberty. (Giatsis p.54)
——— Read Full Text Below ———
