HIPPODROME (Gr. irrbSpo,uos, from irros,

See also:

• HORSE (a word common to Teutonic languages in such forms as hors, hros, ros; cf. the Ger. ross)

horse, and Spoµos, racecourse)  , the course provided by the Greeks for horse and chariot racing; it corresponded to the Roman circus, except that in the latter only four chariots ran at a time, whereas ten or more contended in the Greek games, so that the width was far greater, being about 400 ft., the cource being 600 to 700 ft. long . The Greek hippodrome was usually set out on the slope of a hill, and the ground taken from one side served to form the embankment on the other side . One end of the hippodrome was semicircular, and the other end square with an extensive portico, in front of which, at a lower level, were the stalls for the horses and chariots . The modern hippodrome is more for equestrian and other displays than for horse racing . The Hippodrome in Paris somewhat resembles the Roman amphitheatre, being open in the centre to the sky, with seats round on rising levels .