DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.749#0119
THE GYMNASIUM
PAGE 183
Plan of the Gymnasium
THE GYMNASIUM AT ASSOS
THE large building near the principal Western gate-
way on the main street leading to the Agora was identi-
fied as a Gymnasium. It consisted of a large paved
court surrounded by porticos. It had been transformed by the
Byzantine Christians who had built a church on one corner of
the court, utilizing the Northeast portico for one aisle and build-
ing a polygonal apse at the Southeast. The rooms and outlying
dependencies of the building were probably destroyed at this
time. Rough mediaeval walls covered the site, showing that it
had been occupied down to Turkish times. Very few stones of
the Greek superstructure were found, most of those on the sur-
face having been carried off by the Turks in 1864. The main
entrance led up circular steps into a vestibule, and through
a passageway 3.68 m. wide. The paved floor sloped gradually
upwards with low steps at intervals. Note the wider intercol-
umniation of the Southwest portico opposite the passage. The
ornamented cornice and a piece of the epistyle of the main en-
trance were found lying on the pavement directly in front, show-
ing that the doorway had remained intact down to modern
times. Only the restoration of the Southwest and Northwest
porticos was possible. The columns were of acropolis stone and
without entasis. The Doric capitals were of white marble and
of late form, the echinoi being straight in profile. Beneath the
pavement of the court was a cistern about 9 m. by 4 m. cut
into the ledge rock and covered with a barrel vault.
The rain water from the porticos was carried by gutters be-
neath the paving of the court to the cistern. Opposite the en-
trance to the court was a small stylobate slightly raised above
PAGE 183
Plan of the Gymnasium
THE GYMNASIUM AT ASSOS
THE large building near the principal Western gate-
way on the main street leading to the Agora was identi-
fied as a Gymnasium. It consisted of a large paved
court surrounded by porticos. It had been transformed by the
Byzantine Christians who had built a church on one corner of
the court, utilizing the Northeast portico for one aisle and build-
ing a polygonal apse at the Southeast. The rooms and outlying
dependencies of the building were probably destroyed at this
time. Rough mediaeval walls covered the site, showing that it
had been occupied down to Turkish times. Very few stones of
the Greek superstructure were found, most of those on the sur-
face having been carried off by the Turks in 1864. The main
entrance led up circular steps into a vestibule, and through
a passageway 3.68 m. wide. The paved floor sloped gradually
upwards with low steps at intervals. Note the wider intercol-
umniation of the Southwest portico opposite the passage. The
ornamented cornice and a piece of the epistyle of the main en-
trance were found lying on the pavement directly in front, show-
ing that the doorway had remained intact down to modern
times. Only the restoration of the Southwest and Northwest
porticos was possible. The columns were of acropolis stone and
without entasis. The Doric capitals were of white marble and
of late form, the echinoi being straight in profile. Beneath the
pavement of the court was a cistern about 9 m. by 4 m. cut
into the ledge rock and covered with a barrel vault.
The rain water from the porticos was carried by gutters be-
neath the paving of the court to the cistern. Opposite the en-
trance to the court was a small stylobate slightly raised above