Salonica - Hippodrome

To the east of the Palace of Galerius extended the Roman Hippodrome (Circus), which was some 500m/550yd long. Although it has been located by archeological investigation, it has not been excavated because of the modern buildings which cover the site. Here in A.D. 391 the Emperor Theodosius the Great ordered the massacre of 7,000 citizens of Thessalonica, for which he was taken to task by St Ambrose, bishop of Milan.