Image: Porphyrios Hippodrome Istanbul (3)

Description: Charioteer Porphyrios was the most renowned name in the quadriga races held in the Hippodrome of Constantinople. Porphyrios, who lived at the end of the 5th century and the first half of the 6th century CE, was the only charioteer who was honoured at a very young age and while still racing by the time of the erection of his statue. Seven statues were erected on the Spina of the Hippodrome in honour of Porphyrios, who raced for two parties which were called "Greens" and "Blues", according to the outfit of the charioteers. None of these statues have survived. Five of them are lost completely without any trace, only the bases of two of them have survived and are displayed in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. The bases are adorned with reliefs depicting the races and also epigrams. Erected by the Greens and the Blues, one about a year after the other, these monuments have similar depictions on them: Porphyrios has been shown in his quadriage, wearing a special outfit of charioteers, holding a wreath in his right hand, his whip or the reins in his left, or holding a palm branch if the chariot came to a halt. Among the depictions we see the emperor watching the races from the Kathisma (imperial loggia), the party members dancing and playing the flute in celebration (?) of the victory of the charioteer. Nike (Goddess of Victory) and Tyche (Goddess symbolising fortune and success), the Goddess of the city, holding a cornucopia in her hand. Apart from the epigrams taking place in the upper part there are also inscriptions praising the victories of Porphyrios and giving the names of the horses in the lower part: Nicopolemos (victorious in battle), Radiatos (that with the swift horseshoes), Pyrrhos (fire coloured), Euthynicos (that which is victorious speedily), Halieus (fisher, seaman), Antyhpatos (proconsul), Cynagos (hunter), Pelorios (terrific), Aristides (the best), Palaestiniarches (the foremost of the Philistines), also words like "the fortune of the Greens, you can win" used for cheering during the races.
Title: Porphyrios Hippodrome Istanbul (3)
Credit: Own work
Author: Gryffindor
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0
License: CC BY-SA 4.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
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