Örme Dikilitaş

This is one of several interesting Byzantine era monuments situated at Sultanahmet Square. It is in the southwest corner of the square nearest to the ancient Serpent Column. It is an Egyptian style obelisk built by the Byzantines in the 4th century. Today what you see are the rough cut stones stones used to create the 32 metre tall monument. It is thought that it was originally covered with gilded bronze plaques that are believed to have been taken during Crusade of the early 13th-century. Worth a quick-look see if sightseeing in the area and interested in ancient Byzantine era monuments around Istanbul.

Once you reach Sultanahmet Square, you’ll notice an impressive stone monument known as the Walled Obelisk, standing in the area that once was the ancient Byzantine Hippodrome, the heart of public life and celebrations in Constantinople. The Walled Obelisk was built in the 10th century by Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. It was originally covered in gilded bronze plates that shimmered in the sunlight, giving it a magnificent appearance. Unfortunately, these plates were later removed or stolen during the Fourth Crusade in 1204, leaving behind the bare stone structure we see today. Even without its original decoration, the Walled Obelisk remains a powerful symbol of Byzantine craftsmanship and endurance, and it’s remarkable that it survived through both Byzantine and Ottoman times, allowing us to admire it today!

Standing at the southern end of the Hippodrome, the Walled Obelisk (Örme Dikilitaş) offers a stark, rugged contrast to the polished perfection of the Egyptian obelisk nearby. While it may look less refined at first glance, its history is perhaps more tragic and evocative of Istanbul’s turbulent timeline. Today, the monument rises as a 32-meter pillar of rough-cut limestone blocks, appearing almost skeletal against the sky. To truly appreciate it, however, you must use your imagination. In the 10th century, Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus restored this structure, covering it entirely in gilded bronze plates that depicted the victories of his grandfather, Basil I. An inscription at the base once boasted that it rivaled the Colossus of Rhodes, glittering like a second sun in the center of the city. The heartbreak of this monument lies in what is missing. During the Fourth Crusade in 1204, Latin troops looted Constantinople and stripped the bronze plates to melt them down for coinage. What remains today is the naked masonry core, pockmarked with hundreds of holes where the anchors once held the gold. It is a hauntingly beautiful sight—a silent, weathered witness to the looting of an empire. Don’t just walk past it; look closely at the scarred stones to feel the weight of a lost era.

Cool experience sit right outside the blue mosque at the top of the hill in the center of what was the hippo dome great experience best wishes on your travel and get out there and see the world

Looks great. It’s crazy how it’s built and standing. It is just in front of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, and seeing it in person is much more than it looks in the picture. There are more obelisks in the same lane; you should explore all of them.

One of the less famous monuments in the Hippodrome, this stone obelisk stands as a humble but interesting piece of Constantinople's history. Unlike its more famous neighbor, the Egyptian Obelisk, this one was actually built by the Byzantines themselves rather than being brought from elsewhere. Originally covered in bronze plates that would have made it quite impressive, today it's a rather plain-looking stone tower. What you see now is essentially the rough core of what was once a more decorative monument - all those bronze plates were stripped away during the Fourth Crusade. While not particularly spectacular to look at now, its weathered stones tell a story of Constantinople's past. Standing in what was once the grand Hippodrome, it helps you imagine how this space would have looked in Byzantine times. Worth a quick glance while you're checking out the other monuments in the area, but don't expect anything remarkable. It's more interesting for what it represents historically than for what you can actually see today. Consider it a quick stop while exploring the other Hippodrome monuments.

an interesting piece of Constantinople's history. Unlike its more famous neighbor, the Egyptian Obelisk, this one was actually built by the Byzantines themselves rather than being brought from elsewhere. It was Originally covered with bronze plates that would have made it quite impressive, today it's a rather plain-looking stone tower. What you see now is essentially the rough core of what was once a more decorative monument - all those bronze plates were stripped away during the Fourth Crusade.

The masonry obelisk is not technically and obelisk as it was not made in Egypt or made from Aswan granite. Built by the Romans, this would originally have been plated with bronze, which was sometime later taken from the facade. The construction date is thought to have been the fourth century, and when the Hippodrome was excavated, lead pipes were found running under both this column and the serpintine column, which lead some experts to think they may have been part of fountains in the past.