They passed the Cistern of Philoxenos, which Alexios explained was a large reservoir, and the entrance to the church of St. Euphemia, and finally the small palaces of Antiochos and Lausos. Then they were in front of the massive construction of the Hippodrome, which dominated the south side of the avenue. Talon had been amazed at its size from a distance; now he had to crane his neck to see the edge of the rooftop. They joined the throng of people preparing to enter at front of the Hippodrome, but Joseph and the escorting guards pushed through the people standing about and lead them them through to another entrance. This, Alexios explained, led to the private balcony of the family.
Some turned and watched curiously as Sir Guy and his entourage went by. Realizing that they were Franks a few of them called out insults, but not too loudly as they noticed the escort of ten tough-looking guards who came with them. Others, noticing their badge of the Order, remained quiet. Several called a blessing, because even here in this great city so far from Palestine people knew of the Order of Templars. Talon smiled at an old woman nearby who blessed them.
“Bless you, soldiers of God,” she called out.
The low murmur from the crowd both inside and waiting to enter the Hippodrome was unlike anything he had heard before. It was a living, seething thing and Talon was not sure that he felt comfortable with it all.
They were led through the milling groups of people to other guarded entrances that were placed along the north wall. Here an officer asked for identification, whereupon the eunuch presented a lead token. The officer then ordered the soldiers to open the doors. They walked along a dark tunnel approximately fifty feet long before coming to another opening that was barred. Soldiers stood guard at several doorways in the tunnel from which stone steps led upwards into the gloom.
Joseph indicated that they should follow him up one set of stairs. It was quiet in this vertical corridor other than the scraping of their boots on the stone steps until they neared the top of the echoing stairs, then the noise from the crowd inside the Hippodrome increased. Eventually the eunuch stopped and pulled aside a leather curtain, whereupon they found themselves on a balcony overlooking the arena. Talon was stunned at what he saw. All four Franks stared around them in awe at the sight laid out below them.
The Hippodrome was shaped in the form of an immense oval with tiers of seats that rose from the sand to a height of at least forty feet. The upper tiers were protected from the sun and rain by a tiled roof that went all the way around the top. The tiers were separated from the newly raked sand of the actual arena by what what seemed to be a narrow moat of water some six feet wide.
Down the center of the arena was a low, thick wall. It went for about two hundred and fifty feet and stood about five feet high. Perched all along its length were statues and obelisks of many different shapes and sizes. Some of them were immense.
Alexios noticed the direction of Talon’s gaze and said, “That wall is the Spina, and as you can see it is decorated with many monuments placed there by past emperors. Look at the statue over there, it is one of Hercules; and over there is an obelisk from Egypt that was brought here when Egypt was part of our empire.”
Talon could only stare. The statue of Hercules was enormous. Talon thought that if he stood next to the lower leg his head might just be as high as the knee. Further along was a massive representation of a woman holding a life sized horse and rider in her hand. He saw a bronze eagle with outstretched wings, which had holes in them to allow sunlight to pour through onto a sundial.
Nearer to hand was a magnificent lifelike bronze of four horses pulling a chariot that commanded the end of the Spina. He pointed it out to the others and asked Alexios, “Is that what we will be seeing today?”
“Exactly so. Although these competitors will not be made of bronze,” Alexios smiled. “It is known as a quadriga. It is four horses, just like those you see, and has been part of Roman legend for generations. These represent the chariots of the ancient gods. Do you see those dolphins?” He pointed to the end of the Spina where Talon noticed a row of what looked like gleaming bronze fish with huge heads, each exactly the same size, their large open mouths gaping up at the sky, set along a bar suspended from a gilt frame.
“There is a rope attached to each one, and as the chariots complete one round a dolphin is pulled so that its mouth is facing the ground. That way the crowd knows how many rounds there are to go.” Alexios stated.
Talon glanced to his left and noticed that above them and over to the east side of the Hippodrome, almost midway along the straight part of the arena, was another, much larger balcony. It was wide and deep and already there were many important people standing or seated in its large space, many dressed in the garb of Senators. Alexios informed him that it was the kathisma where the emperor would be seated.
“The races cannot start until the emperor arrives, and he is still to come,” Alexios stated. “You might be able to see my father in that crowd over there.” He pointed.
The fact that the Senator was one of the emperor’s invited guests was not lost on Sir Guy de Veres.
“I am impressed at how well connected your family is with the emperor, Alexios,” he remarked.
“Ours is an ancient family and my father is a senator, as was his father. I too will become one some day.”
“How long is the arena? It looks enormous!” Talon asked.
“The circus, as we call it, is about twelve hundred feet long, and the arena itself is nearly one thousand feet,” Alexios stated.
From their lofty position on the balcony Talon could see other balconies on either side and above, but none so high as that of the emperor, which had to be about forty feet or more off the sandy ground it overlooked. The stands were filling up rapidly with people and he noted that there were four main colors on display in the form of banners: Red and White and Green and Blue.
“What do these colors represent?” he asked, pointing to the banners.
“Ah! Those are the colors of the various factions within the city. They are ancient and used to be more important than they are today. The Greens and the Blues are still quite important, but not so the Red and White banners, although people still support them for sentimental reasons. I have no idea why though. The Greens and the Blues are paid by the government to attend various ceremonies and to attend the emperor whenever he moves about the city, as he has done today.”
Talon noted that soldiers were posted at regular intervals along the aisles between the seating and wondered why out loud.
“They are there to keep order, Talon. People become excited during the races and sometimes misbehave.” Alexios told him.
Alexios talked briefly with Joseph before he took a seat next to Talon. Sir Guy was already seated and gazing about him in wonder. He and Talon looked at one another.
“I wonder what Brother Jonathan would have made of this,” Sir Guy murmured.
Talon grinned.
Max and Claude, as befitted their station, stood at the back of the balcony, although they could see well enough.
“I have never in my life seen anything like this before,” Sir Guy admitted with some awe in his voice. “This…Hippodrome as you call it, Alexios, is larger than the Coliseum in Rome, I am sure of it. And that ancient building is a ruin now.”
Talon looked around. The Hippodrome was built in a rough east-west direction with the flat section of the arena to the eastern end. The western end was curved to follow the shape of the internal sandy area. Anyone anywhere had a clear view of the rest of the arena except those at ground level, as the Spina obstructed the view of its other side. Their balcony was one of many on either of the straight sides.
“It feels like it is almost a living thing,” Talon said, indicating the mass of people beginning to crowd the stands.
“It is like an animal. Wait a while and you’ll see it come to life,” Alexios said, his tone dry.
Joseph reappeared with wine and fruit for them to enjoy while they waited. But Talon could not sto
p looking around. This was not the first major construction he had visited during his brief time in the city, but it left him astonished and humbled at its sheer size and magnificence.
Every inch of the sides of the Spina was covered in either frescoes or cut stone imagery. People dressed much as the Greeks around him were depicted in battle as spearmen or cavalry. Most of the imagery was devoted to the glorification of the emperors of the past. Defeated enemies were kneeling and offering homage to the emperors of Constantinople, laying gifts of slaves and gold at their feet.
He could see clearly to the other side of the arena where slaves were making last minute preparations for the races. Some were still raking the area while others were collecting rubbish tossed onto the sand by the spectators. He noted pillars at all the four corners of the Spina and asked Alexios about them.
“Those are to tell the charioteers that there is a corner coming, and to protect the statues of the Spina. You will see that they come very close.”
The crowds in the stands were beginning to settle down now. The smell of cooked meat wafted up from the stands below as vendors walked about hawking meats and fruits on trays, shouting their wares and doing a roaring trade.
“Here I see no women, Alexios. Where have the Lady Kalothesos and your sister gone?” Talon asked.
“It is tradition. My mother and sister are above the kathisma with the empress and ladies in waiting. Do you see the grilled windows up there?” He pointed above the emperor’s balcony. “You cannot see them, but they can see very well from there without being noticed, and they remain protected from the vulgar masses. If the crowd becomes too noisy the ladies can easily retreat to the Great Palace without any danger from the rabble.” Alexios sniffed.
Talon was always amused by Alexios when he started to be haughty and displayed some arrogance. It did not suit him at all.
They were interrupted by the blare of trumpets and the crowd slowly hushed. Then Talon realized that all eyes were on the Imperial Box.
Emperor Manuel I walked slowly up to the rail of the royal balcony; he raised his arms and made the sign of the cross. The crowd roared its approval. He was dressed in magnificent silken robes that glittered in the watery sunlight, the tall wide hat of office, and he wore a bejeweled sword on a belt studded with precious stones and gold that gleamed. He was escorted by several of his closest officers of the administration.
“He is signaling the start of the games,” Alexios explained. There was a distant rumble of thunder. He glanced up at the sky overhead, which was still clear of rain clouds. “I hope it does not rain.”
The emperor stood for several minutes at the front of the royal balcony and the crowd cheered and roared its greeting. He appeared to be enjoying the approbation of the crowd. Whenever they seemed to be flagging, one or other of the colored banners would be waved and the crowd would start cheering again. Talon thought they must be hoarse before the event had even begun.
Eventually the emperor dropped his arms and signaled to someone, then he took his seat in front of the large group of guests on the balcony so that his view would be uninterrupted. To Talon’s astonishment a strange sound began to emanate from the top of the walls behind their balcony. He realized that it was music, but of a kind he had never heard before. It sounded as though a number of huge pipes were being played. Some of the notes were so deep that no person could have made them on any instrument he knew. Others were so high that again he could not even imagine how they came about.
He looked his puzzlement to Alexios who laughed. “Have you never heard an ‘organ’ playing before, Talon?” He pointed towards the far end of the stadium. “There are two in the Hippodrome and they work with the help of water. Do not ask me to explain; only an engineer might. They are wonderful, are they not?”
“I have not heard anything of the kind. It is indeed a strange and wonderful sound,” Sir Guy said.
Talon nodded agreement. The sound filled the air all about them, and because the walls of the Hippodrome were high the notes were captured and resonated around the stands, creating an incredible sound that stilled all voices for several minutes. The music continued even when, upon an unseen signal, gates were opened below their balcony and the first of the charioteers drove his quartet of horses into the arena.
He was greeted with a roar from the crowd and much waving of colored banners. Talon looking down upon the chariot could see that the horses were of the finest and were pulling as a team in one line, shoulder to shoulder. The man who held them looked strong and lithe; he held them well in place with a firm hand, the muscles on his back rippling through the thin material of his tunic as he controlled them. He talked to them all the while, not permitting them too much freedom, just enough to allow them to strut and look magnificent as they pulled the light vehicle behind them. The chariot had been pared back to the most basic of frames, open at the back to make it lighter; even so, it was elaborately decorated with the color of its patrons, the Blues. The driver wore a long tunic of light blue material, with a thin gold belt at the waist and fine leather sandals on his feet, but little else. His short black hair was oiled and curled.
He allowed his team to cavort and prance their way to the front of the emperor’s balcony, and then with a shout he hauled them to a stop. He bowed to the emperor from his chariot and called up praises; after an acknowledgement from the emperor he drove his team round to stand at a place indicated by some slaves, who held the horses to keep them in position and to quiet them. The arrival of three other teams of horses was repeated in a similar manner. As each driver saluted the emperor his color in the stands roared their support and waved their banners and flags in the air.
By the time the last man, representing the White team, had driven his horses out and performed his salutes, Talon could feel an almost palpable tension in the entire arena. Even Alexios was leaning forward in anticipation of the starting trumpets, his eyes intent upon the Blue driver. He had declared for the Blue team, explaining that his father and his father’s father had supported them for generations. “It is tradition, but today the driver is a friend of mine,” he explained with a shrug.
The strange music had stopped and there was a dense silence in the arena. The highly restless teams of horses were being held in place by both their drivers and nervous slaves who were hanging onto their bits; horses were plunging and fighting for their heads, tossing flecks of foam from their mouths into the air. At one time the Red team appeared to be almost out of control: the horses were so excited they made sharp, nasal whinnies; one tried to rear and was coaxed down by the tense driver and a slave hanging onto its bit.
The waiting stretched out interminably, but although the crowd was silent their palpable impatience and excitement reached the spectators in the balconies, adding to their own anticipation as they waited.
Then the moment arrived. The emperor gave a small hand signal and a trumpet blared. The drivers all at the exact same moment slapped their horses’ rumps with the reins, shouted and cracked their whips. The horses plunged forward with a jerk that would have thrown anyone less experienced off the back of the chariots, and in a spray of sand they were off. The crowd as one gave a great roar of excitement. Spectators howled and shouted and prayed for their team to win, waving the tokens of their bets as the four teams of racing horses bowled down the first straight run of the course in a spray of sand, straining horses and the blur of galloping legs. The lightweight chariots were hauled along at a great speed, the thud of many hooves on the sand all but obliterating the whir of their lightweight wheels and the slap of the traces. The slaves who had been holding the horses scuttled off for the doorways; their lives depended upon getting out of the way before the teams came back around.
“They must circle the arena seven times!” Alexios shouted over the din. “You can see the dolphins at the eastern end of the Spina being hauled down as they go by to indicate a lap.”
Talon barely heard him; he was so intent upon the horses and their chariots
racing away from them in a pack. It was very hard to see who was in the lead as they hurtled along the sandy track, and for a while he could not tell which color was which as they rounded the end of the spina. The crowd howled as the chariots raced by each section, the noise grew louder coming straight towards them. As the chariots swept by the screaming spectators stood up in a strange kind of human wave that surged alongside them. The screams of encouragement from the crowd drowned out the sounds of the chariots and their pounding horses as they raced by.
He could just make out the tense faces of the charioteers as they leaned over the edge of their light chariot frames, eyes intent upon the way forward. They shouted at their horses, alternatively encouraging and cursing. It was as though the horses understood what was needed, for the drivers did not use the whips at this time; it was clear the animals were giving their all. They were bunched and Talon wondered how they could control the four animals and the bouncing fragile vehicle and at the same time not run into one another and become destroyed in the process.
Their skill was extraordinary and he marveled that the innermost chariot could negotiate the turns without striking the pillars or running into another chariot. The teams raced around the corners in a flurry of sand and then were off again down the straightway.
“How do they do it?” he yelled at Alexios, who was on the edge of his seat shouting at the teams as they went by. Gone was the stiff and haughty man Talon had first met in Acre.
He turned an excited look upon Talon. “They train from boyhood! They know what they are about, but just wait, it has only just begun. Curses on the Green team, they are in the lead! Get going, Pantoleon! You call yourself a charioteer?” he shouted at the Blue driver. “What are you doing?”
Talon grinned at Sir Guy, who was clearly amused at this unusual display of emotion.
Indeed the green flags were being raised in the areas where the Green supporters were standing, and shouts and insults were being flung at the other supporters, followed by laughter and obscene gestures from all quarters. Talon was struck by how uninhibited the people of Constantinople behaved when in the stadium. The reserve he had seen from many a Greek he had encountered outside was certainly not on display here.
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