Justinian and the Hippodrome

By 519, Justinian had been promoted to counter the domestics. A year later he was master of one of the Praycental armies. He went from bodyguard to general in two years. Soon afterwards he gained the rank of patrician which paved the way for him to become a Senator. In 521 he was made consul. One of his few responsibilities was to host and pay for the consular games. The games were intended to be the most lavish public spectacles that Constantinople had ever seen. It suggests Justinian splashed out about 4,000 pounds of gold on decorations,. 20 lions, 30 panthers, and other exotic beasts who were to be fought