Which ancient Egyptian obelisk stands in the Hippodrome of Constantinople?

The ancient Egyptian obelisk standing in the Hippodrome of Constantinople is the Obelisk of Theodosius. Today it remains in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet Square, the site of the former Byzantine racing arena.

The monument was originally carved during Egypt’s Eighteenth Dynasty for Pharaoh Thutmose III and erected at the Temple of Karnak. The Roman emperor Constantius II later had it transported to Alexandria in 357 to mark the twentieth anniversary of his reign. It remained there until Emperor Theodosius I moved it to Constantinople in 390.

The obelisk was placed on the Hippodrome’s central barrier, or spina, where it stood among monuments celebrating Roman imperial power. Its marble pedestal is decorated with reliefs showing Theodosius, his court, spectators, musicians, and chariot-racing imagery. The ancient granite shaft is only the surviving upper portion of the original monument.

The other monuments listed can also be found in the Hippodrome area. The Serpent Column came from Delphi, while the Walled Obelisk is a separate late antique monument. Their proximity is the main reason they are sometimes confused.