Modern Historians, as _Zonaras_ and others, write, that the _Hippodrom_ was built by _Severus_ upon his Reconciliation with the _Byzantians_. _Zosimus_, a more ancient Writer tells us, that it was built, and curiously beautified by _Constantine the Great_, part of which he made the Temple of _Castor_ and _Pollux_, whose Images remain’d in the _Portico’s_ of the _Hippodrom_ down to his Time; that is, ’till the Reign of _Theodosius_ the _Less_. In the middle of the _Circo_, which the _Greeks_ call the _Hippodrom_, there stood an _Obelisk_ made of _Thebaick_ Stone; but as the _ancient Description of the Wards_ takes no Notice of it, tho’ it does of the Square _Thebaick Obelisk_ in the fifth _Ward_, I should be inclin’d to believe, that the _Obelisk_, I am speaking of, was overturn’d by an Earth-quake, and remov’d by _Theodosius_ into the _Hippodrom_, after that Treatise was wrote, if the Author had not taken notice of many of _Theodosius_’s Works, and omitted some Things in the _Wards_, which he afterwards mention’d in his _General View of the City_. ’Tis very probable, that _Constantinople_ had more _Obelisks_ than one. As to that taken notice of in the fifth _Ward_, it is not now remaining. When first I arriv’d at _Constantinople_ I saw two of them, one in the _Circus Maximus_, another in the Imperial Precinct, standing on the North-side of the first Hill. This last was of a square Figure, and was erected near the Houses of the _Grand Seignor_’s Glaziers. A little time after I saw it lying prostrate without the Precinct, and found it to be thirty five Foot in Length. Each of its Sides, if I mistake not, was six Foot broad, and the whole was eight Yards in Compass. It was purchased by _Antonius Priolus_, a Nobleman of _Venice_, who sent it thither, and placed it in St. _Stephen_’s Market. The other is standing in the _Hippodrom_ to this Day. ’Tis supported by four square broad Pieces of Brass, each a Foot and a half high, with a Base and a Pedestal of the same Height. From the Ground there rise two Steps against the Pedestal, the lowermost of which is a Foot high, and of the same Breadth: The upper Step is two Foot high, and projects four Foot and four Fingers Breadth beyond the Pedestal. The Steps are not laid within the Pedestal, but are join’d to it withoutside, as appears by the Cement. Upon the Steps stands the Pedestal, which is every way twelve Foot broad, four Foot eight Digits in Height and projects beyond the Base a Foot and a half: Somewhat above a Foot higher it is more contracted, and does not project beyond its Base; for from the Top of the Pedestal there’s a Fluting on the four Sides of the _Obelisk_ which is cut out of the same Stone of which the Pedestal is made, and is a Foot and thirteen Digits high. The Corners of the Top of the Pedestal are worn, and defac’d, but are repair’d by four Stones of _Thebaick Porphyry_ Marble, each of them a Foot and a half high; for all the fluted Part