THE LOST SQUARE UNDER ISTANBUL, 1633 YEARS OLD
The area where the square is located today, surrounded by Istanbul University, Beyazıt Mosque and historical bazaars, was transformed into a magnificent imperial square in 393 during the reign of Roman Emperor Theodosius I. The area, also known as Forum Tauri, was one of the most important political, commercial and ceremonial centers of the city of Constantinople at the time. Imperial monuments were rising in the square, which was thought to be inspired by the famous Trajan’s Forum in Rome. However, after more than 1600 years, only limited ruins of this magnificent complex have survived to the present day.
GIANT TRIUMPHIC ARCH EMERGING FROM THE EARTH: 21 METER MONUMENT
One of the most striking historical traces of Beyazıt is the ruins of the Triumphal Arch of Theodosius, unearthed near Ordu Street. Pieces found during road works in 1957-1958 revealed the existence of a huge monument estimated to reach a height of approximately 21 meters. The trunks of the approximately 10.5-meter columns used in the three-arched structure were processed to resemble tree trunks. The marble pieces that can be seen on the roadside today once formed one of the magnificent entrances to the imperial capital.
WHERE DID THE GIANT STATUE OF THE EMPEROR DISAPPEAR?
According to ancient sources, there was a huge column in the center of the square decorated with reliefs depicting the military victories of Emperor Theodosius. The silver-plated bronze emperor statue on top of it collapsed in the earthquake in 480. It is also thought that there was a spiral staircase inside the column that allowed climbing to the top. Some relief parts of the monument, which disappeared over time, can be seen in the foundations of the Beyazıt Bath, and some can be seen in the collection of the Istanbul Archaeological Museums. The entire monument that once towered over the square is no longer in place.
80 METER LOST STRUCTURE: LOCATION STILL UNKNOWN
One of Beyazıt’s biggest archaeological unknowns is the Basilica Theodosiana, mentioned in ancient sources. The monumental building, which is said to be approximately 80 meters long and 28 meters wide, is considered to be located in the southern part of the forum. The ruins of the basilica, which is thought to have been destroyed in a fire around AD 462, have not yet been definitively identified. Researchers have not been able to determine the eastern entrance and exact boundaries of the forum. For this reason, the question of which areas the historical construction of Beyazıt spreads over has still not been fully answered.
