DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45927#0067
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5. ARCHITECTURAL DECORATION
Unlike many other buildings without an inscription, the Bouleuterion does not require an analysis of the archi-
tectural ornamentation of the scaenae frons to establish its dating. On the contrary, the dedicatory inscription
of the renovated structure by P. Vedius Antoninus and his wife Fl. Papiane provides a reliable date that could
never be superseded by means of stylistic analyses. Furthermore, the inscription provides an opportunity to
ask questions that go beyond dating the scaenae frons and to assess the relationship between this building and
other structures commissioned by the Vedii. The first part of this chapter will summarize the ornamentation of
the preserved architectural fragments of the Bouleuterion’s scaenae frons according to the compilation in ap-
pendix 1 (catalog of the architectural fragments). The second part will discuss the methodological basis for a
comparison with other buildings commissioned by the Vedius family. Their dates, assignment and architectural
ornamentation suggest suppositions about the relationship among benefactor, ornamentation and craftsmen or
workshops.
5.1. Architectural Decoration of the Bouleuterion Scaenae Frons
5.1.1 Bases and Moldings
The pedestals forming the substructure for the scaenae frons display elaborate moldings (pl. 36, 2). The base
consists of two vertical bands, the upper one set back slightly, a chamfer, an inverted cyma recta and two fur-
ther chamfers. On the crown molding a cavetto is followed by an astragal, an ovolo and another cavetto con-
cluded by a taenia. This kind of complex succession of different moldings is known from other contemporary
buildings in Ephesos, including the Monopteros along the road to Magnesia (pl. 53), where the combination of
forms is identical to the top of the pedestal.163 Also the crown molding of the pedestals in the so-called “Marble
Hall” in the Vedius Gymnasium displays an identical sequence. The base molding there nevertheless is differ-
ent: instead of the chamfered zones, the Vedius Gymnasium shows an inverted cyma recta.164
Only one column base has been attributed to the scaenae frons by L. Bier (cat. 1-1). It displays two scotiae
over the lower torus (pl. 72). The upper torus according to L. Bier’s reconstruction protrudes well over the up-
per scotia. Therefore, this specimen clearly belongs to a kind known as the Roman version of the Ionic base.
In this type, the top of the scotia is always set back from the greatest projection of the upper torus. Usually,
there is only one scotia, but already from the Late Republican period onward we know examples where the
scotia is doubled, sometimes with an astragal in between.165 In and around Rome, bases with two scotiae are
known both in ornate forms with elaborate decoration166 and with simple moldings167, similar to the Ephesian
piece. Curiously, the Roman Ionic base is usually limited to the western half of the Roman Empire with a few
exceptions where it has spread over from Italy into Greek territory.168 In Corinth, the use of Roman Ionic bases
during the early Imperial period goes back to the refounding of the city in 44 B.C. and the Italian origin of the
colonists who rebuilt the city.169 This is clearly an exception; normally, the Attic-Ionic base is preferred in Asia
Minor.170 For example, in the well-studied city of Sagalassos in Pisidia exclusively this type was found.171 We
163 See below chap. 5.2.2.3 and Koenigs - Radt 1979, insert 2.
164 Steskal - La Torre 2008, pl. 69, 1. 3.
165 Meritt 1969,191-195 fig. 3 f.
166 For instance in the peristyle of Domitian’s palace on the Palatine, now in the antiquarium, Wegner 1965, pl. 8 b. Other examples
can be found in Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli, Wegner 1965, pl. 19 b.
167 For example in the hippodrome of Domitian’s palace on the Palatine, Meritt 1969, pl. 52 d.
168 Meritt 1969, 197-198.
169 Shoe 1964, 300-303.
170 Meritt 1969, 195-196.
171 Vandeput 1997, 175.
5. ARCHITECTURAL DECORATION
Unlike many other buildings without an inscription, the Bouleuterion does not require an analysis of the archi-
tectural ornamentation of the scaenae frons to establish its dating. On the contrary, the dedicatory inscription
of the renovated structure by P. Vedius Antoninus and his wife Fl. Papiane provides a reliable date that could
never be superseded by means of stylistic analyses. Furthermore, the inscription provides an opportunity to
ask questions that go beyond dating the scaenae frons and to assess the relationship between this building and
other structures commissioned by the Vedii. The first part of this chapter will summarize the ornamentation of
the preserved architectural fragments of the Bouleuterion’s scaenae frons according to the compilation in ap-
pendix 1 (catalog of the architectural fragments). The second part will discuss the methodological basis for a
comparison with other buildings commissioned by the Vedius family. Their dates, assignment and architectural
ornamentation suggest suppositions about the relationship among benefactor, ornamentation and craftsmen or
workshops.
5.1. Architectural Decoration of the Bouleuterion Scaenae Frons
5.1.1 Bases and Moldings
The pedestals forming the substructure for the scaenae frons display elaborate moldings (pl. 36, 2). The base
consists of two vertical bands, the upper one set back slightly, a chamfer, an inverted cyma recta and two fur-
ther chamfers. On the crown molding a cavetto is followed by an astragal, an ovolo and another cavetto con-
cluded by a taenia. This kind of complex succession of different moldings is known from other contemporary
buildings in Ephesos, including the Monopteros along the road to Magnesia (pl. 53), where the combination of
forms is identical to the top of the pedestal.163 Also the crown molding of the pedestals in the so-called “Marble
Hall” in the Vedius Gymnasium displays an identical sequence. The base molding there nevertheless is differ-
ent: instead of the chamfered zones, the Vedius Gymnasium shows an inverted cyma recta.164
Only one column base has been attributed to the scaenae frons by L. Bier (cat. 1-1). It displays two scotiae
over the lower torus (pl. 72). The upper torus according to L. Bier’s reconstruction protrudes well over the up-
per scotia. Therefore, this specimen clearly belongs to a kind known as the Roman version of the Ionic base.
In this type, the top of the scotia is always set back from the greatest projection of the upper torus. Usually,
there is only one scotia, but already from the Late Republican period onward we know examples where the
scotia is doubled, sometimes with an astragal in between.165 In and around Rome, bases with two scotiae are
known both in ornate forms with elaborate decoration166 and with simple moldings167, similar to the Ephesian
piece. Curiously, the Roman Ionic base is usually limited to the western half of the Roman Empire with a few
exceptions where it has spread over from Italy into Greek territory.168 In Corinth, the use of Roman Ionic bases
during the early Imperial period goes back to the refounding of the city in 44 B.C. and the Italian origin of the
colonists who rebuilt the city.169 This is clearly an exception; normally, the Attic-Ionic base is preferred in Asia
Minor.170 For example, in the well-studied city of Sagalassos in Pisidia exclusively this type was found.171 We
163 See below chap. 5.2.2.3 and Koenigs - Radt 1979, insert 2.
164 Steskal - La Torre 2008, pl. 69, 1. 3.
165 Meritt 1969,191-195 fig. 3 f.
166 For instance in the peristyle of Domitian’s palace on the Palatine, now in the antiquarium, Wegner 1965, pl. 8 b. Other examples
can be found in Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli, Wegner 1965, pl. 19 b.
167 For example in the hippodrome of Domitian’s palace on the Palatine, Meritt 1969, pl. 52 d.
168 Meritt 1969, 197-198.
169 Shoe 1964, 300-303.
170 Meritt 1969, 195-196.
171 Vandeput 1997, 175.
