The same obelisk base shown in detail. The obelisk stands today in the area known as the Hippodrome which exactly corresponds to the infield of the ancient Hippodrome. The Hippodrome was an arena with a race track for chariot races. It was the cultural, political and social center of old Constantinople. There were two racings teams known as the Blues and the Greens; one represented the landed aristocracy and the second represented the cities craftsman and blue collar workers. The competition was so fierce that lives were lost. One riot after a race was so serious, the rioters sought to overthrow the Emporer Justinian. The emporer was able to send in an army loyal to him and slaughter some 15,000 people. The Nike riot as it became known destroyed much of the city including the ancient Haghia Sofia church (Holy Wisdom) built in the 4th century. Justinian was determined to rebuild the church and make it the greatest in Christiandom. He succeeded in 567. It stands today.