Hippodrome

Hippodrome is a term sometimes used for public entertainment venues of various types. A modern example is the Hippodrome which opened in London in 1900 "combining circus, hippodrome, and stage performances".^[1]

It is derived from the ancient Greek hippodromos (Greek: ἱππόδρομος), a stadium for horse racing and chariot racing. The name is derived from the Greek words hippos (ἵππος; "horse") and dromos (δρόμος; "course"). The ancient Roman version, the circus, was similar to the Greek hippodrome.

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.^{[citation needed]}

List of Greek hippodromes

List of Roman circuses

References

^ "The London Hippodrome, Hippodrome Corner, Cranbourn Street, City of Westminster". www.arthurlloyd.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
^ [1] Archived 2006-12-07 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Horse Racecourse In Ancient Olympia Discovered After 1600 Years". ScienceDaily.

[:0-1] "The London Hippodrome, Hippodrome Corner, Cranbourn Street, City of Westminster". www.arthurlloyd.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-18.

[2] [1] Archived 2006-12-07 at the Wayback Machine

[3] "Horse Racecourse In Ancient Olympia Discovered After 1600 Years". ScienceDaily.

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[2]

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Description

List of Greek hippodromes

List of Roman circuses

See also

References