Hippodrome

Etymology

The word "hippodrome" is derived from Ancient Greek hippódromos (), a stadium for horse racing and chariot racing. The name itself is a compound of the words híppos (), meaning "horse", and drómos (), meaning "course". The ancient Roman counterpart was the circus.

Description

One end of the hippodromos of the Ancient Greeks was semicircular, while the other was a quadrilateral with an extensive portico. At the front thereof, at a lower level, were the stalls for the horses and chariots. On either end of the hippodromos were posts (Greek termata) around which the chariots turned. This was the most dangerous part of the track and the Greeks put an altar to Taraxippus (disturber of horses) there to show the spot where many chariots were wrecked. Where possible, it was built on the slope of a hill and the ground excavated from one side was transferred to the other to form an embankment thereat.

List of Greek hippodromes

• Delos
• Delphi
• Isthmia
• Lageion
• Mount Lykaion
• Nemea
• Olympia

List of Roman circuses

• Aphrodisias
• Caesarea Maritima
• Circus Maximus
• Gerasa
• Hippodrome of Berytus
• Hippodrome of Constantinople
• Tyre Hippodrome
• Miróbriga (Mirobriga Celticorum)
• Roman circus of Mérida
• Roman Stadium of Philippopolis

References

References

1. "The London Hippodrome, Hippodrome Corner, Cranbourn Street, City of Westminster".
2. "hippodrome, v.".
3. "Sanctuary Plan". [[University of Pennsylvania]].
4. "Horse Racecourse In Ancient Olympia Discovered After 1600 Years".