DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.46296#0161
160
I DAS BAUWERK AN DER KURETENSTRASSE
considered the built manifestation for processions and festivities, which can otherwise only be
assessed through inscriptions1125.
1.10.2 The >Temple of Hadrian< after the End of the Roman Imperial Period
1.10.2.1 Late Antiquity and Destruction1126
Probably during the course of the 4th Century the Western part of the pronaos collapsed and was
repaired, partly using replacement pieces (pl. 329). Only the anta wall on the west side was
altered and received a doorway to the adjacent area. In front of the building statues of the Tet-
rarchs were set up between 293 and 303 (0011-0101 pls. 220-225). During the reconstruction
or shortly afterwards - between 379 and 387 - the statue and base for Maxentius were replaced
by one of Flavius Theodosius. Both the statues and the reconstruction of the building indicate
the continuous significance of the temple and the Street for processions and parades. In contrast
to other monuments in Ephesos no traces of any attempt to >christianize< the building, such as
engraved crosses, can be discerned. This might be seen in the light of protective tendencies that
aimed to conserve the architectural heritage of the Imperial period and its symbolic value. Par-
ticularly the relief frieze from the pronaos with its depictions of historical myths brought about
a sense of identity to the citizens in a changing environment. Only at the very end of its use, the
erection of some dry walls indicates the end of representative functions.
The destruction of the temple and the use of its architectural blocks for the so-called Schutt-
sperre on Curetes Street (pls. 5, 2; 6, 1), a dry wall that prevented landslide, unfortunately cannot
be dated. This constitutes the last phase of the temple’s >life< in antiquity.
1.10.2.2 After the End of Antiquity
Immediately after its excavation, the temple was rebuilt between 1956 and 1958 (pls. 13-20)1127.
Even though scholarly research and publication could not follow this pace - also due to the pre-
mature death of the excavator Franz Miltner - the temple became one of the most well known
ancient monuments of modern Turkey1128.
Due to a shifted focus of research, this remained the Status quo until our new research project
was begun in 2009. The Overall concept of the modern rebuilding by Karl Heinz Göschl still
should be seen in a positive light. Nevertheless Martin Pliessnig’s analysis according to modern
criteria of Conservation and restoration1129 has shown serious flaws. Damage in the ancient, as
well as the modern building fabric, are partly founded in the material of the limited amount and
quality that was available in the 1950s. At the same time, it has become clear that continuous
maintenance is one of the main factors to prevent the building from future damage and ensure
the security of visitors to the site. Therefore Conservation and restoration was carried out in the
years 2013-20141130 in order to safeguard the temple on Curetes Street as part of the rieh cultural
heritage of Ephesos.
Translation: Ursula Quatember
1125 Cf. e.g. the inscription of Demosthenes from Oinoanda, see Wörrle 1988, or the new year’s procession from Mile-
tos to Didyma, see Herda 2006.
1126 See chap. 1.4.5 and chap. 1.4.6.
1127 See chap. 1.3 and chap. 1.4.
1128 The temple was also prominently displayed on a series of 20 Lira banknotes issued by the Turkish National Bank.
1129 See chap. II.2.
1130 See Wissenschaftlicher Jahresbericht des Österreichischen Archäologischen Instituts 2013, 30; Wissenschaftlicher
Jahresbericht des Österreichischen Archäologischen Instituts 2014, 37-41 <https://www.oeaw.ac.at/oeai/kommu-
nikation/jahresberichte> (22. 9. 2017).
I DAS BAUWERK AN DER KURETENSTRASSE
considered the built manifestation for processions and festivities, which can otherwise only be
assessed through inscriptions1125.
1.10.2 The >Temple of Hadrian< after the End of the Roman Imperial Period
1.10.2.1 Late Antiquity and Destruction1126
Probably during the course of the 4th Century the Western part of the pronaos collapsed and was
repaired, partly using replacement pieces (pl. 329). Only the anta wall on the west side was
altered and received a doorway to the adjacent area. In front of the building statues of the Tet-
rarchs were set up between 293 and 303 (0011-0101 pls. 220-225). During the reconstruction
or shortly afterwards - between 379 and 387 - the statue and base for Maxentius were replaced
by one of Flavius Theodosius. Both the statues and the reconstruction of the building indicate
the continuous significance of the temple and the Street for processions and parades. In contrast
to other monuments in Ephesos no traces of any attempt to >christianize< the building, such as
engraved crosses, can be discerned. This might be seen in the light of protective tendencies that
aimed to conserve the architectural heritage of the Imperial period and its symbolic value. Par-
ticularly the relief frieze from the pronaos with its depictions of historical myths brought about
a sense of identity to the citizens in a changing environment. Only at the very end of its use, the
erection of some dry walls indicates the end of representative functions.
The destruction of the temple and the use of its architectural blocks for the so-called Schutt-
sperre on Curetes Street (pls. 5, 2; 6, 1), a dry wall that prevented landslide, unfortunately cannot
be dated. This constitutes the last phase of the temple’s >life< in antiquity.
1.10.2.2 After the End of Antiquity
Immediately after its excavation, the temple was rebuilt between 1956 and 1958 (pls. 13-20)1127.
Even though scholarly research and publication could not follow this pace - also due to the pre-
mature death of the excavator Franz Miltner - the temple became one of the most well known
ancient monuments of modern Turkey1128.
Due to a shifted focus of research, this remained the Status quo until our new research project
was begun in 2009. The Overall concept of the modern rebuilding by Karl Heinz Göschl still
should be seen in a positive light. Nevertheless Martin Pliessnig’s analysis according to modern
criteria of Conservation and restoration1129 has shown serious flaws. Damage in the ancient, as
well as the modern building fabric, are partly founded in the material of the limited amount and
quality that was available in the 1950s. At the same time, it has become clear that continuous
maintenance is one of the main factors to prevent the building from future damage and ensure
the security of visitors to the site. Therefore Conservation and restoration was carried out in the
years 2013-20141130 in order to safeguard the temple on Curetes Street as part of the rieh cultural
heritage of Ephesos.
Translation: Ursula Quatember
1125 Cf. e.g. the inscription of Demosthenes from Oinoanda, see Wörrle 1988, or the new year’s procession from Mile-
tos to Didyma, see Herda 2006.
1126 See chap. 1.4.5 and chap. 1.4.6.
1127 See chap. 1.3 and chap. 1.4.
1128 The temple was also prominently displayed on a series of 20 Lira banknotes issued by the Turkish National Bank.
1129 See chap. II.2.
1130 See Wissenschaftlicher Jahresbericht des Österreichischen Archäologischen Instituts 2013, 30; Wissenschaftlicher
Jahresbericht des Österreichischen Archäologischen Instituts 2014, 37-41 <https://www.oeaw.ac.at/oeai/kommu-
nikation/jahresberichte> (22. 9. 2017).
