The Roman Hippodrome
The name of the site reflects its original use for horse racing during the Roman era.
Located in the heart of Nablus, the Hippodrome is bordered to the west by Sufian Street, to the north by Haifa Street, to the east by the Nablus municipality commercial complex and the road leading to Martyrs Square, and to the south by a row of souqs and residential buildings. In Roman times, it was situated just outside the northwestern city walls.
Dating back to the second century AD, the Hippodrome was uncovered in part in 1941, with full excavation completed in 1980. It features a long rectangular shape with curved ends, typical of Roman hippodromes. The Hippodrome was designed with several entrances for chariots, allowing horses and riders to enter and race. The Hippodrome itself was divided longitudinally into a home stretch and a return stretch, with U-shaped ends to facilitate turns. The surface was covered with a layer of kurkar to ease the passage of chariots.
High stone staircases surrounded three sides of the Hoppodrome , providing seating for spectators. Cabinets built along the sides housed animals, storage, and multi-use rooms, with access to the seating via slanted stairs. The front of the place was adorned with arches and stone friezes.
The Hippodrome measured approximately 400 by 91 meters and had seven entrances for chariots. It could accommodate around eight thousand spectators. By the end of the second century AD, the place was abandoned, and a circular theater was constructed on its eastern side. This shift was likely due to the decline in horse racing's popularity and the rise of wrestling as a new sport. During the Byzantine era, the space was repurposed for various uses, including dwellings and livestock facilities.