DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45927#0068
66
5. ARCHITECTURAL DECORATION (U. Quatember)
can only speculate, why such a peculiar form - at least for this region - might have been used for the Bouleu-
terion scaenae frons architecture in the middle of the 2nd century A.D.
From the first building phase of the scaenae frons, two pedestals and bases have been preserved in the
south-east and south-west corner of the scene wall (pls. 32, 2-3; 33).172 They belong to the regular Attic-Ionic
type, which is very well known in the Eastern Roman Empire, especially in Asia Minor.173 Above a square
plinth follow a torus, a scotia and a torus again. The latter does not project beyond the upper edge of the sco-
tia. Other examples for the use of this type include Ephesian buildings throughout the first and second century
A.D., such as the so-called Street Fountain174 from the first quarter of the 2nd century A.D. and the Vedius Gym-
nasium175. In aedicular facades an Attic-Ionic base is frequently combined with pedestals of varying heights, as
seen in the Nymphaeum Traiani176, the Celsus Library177 and Hadrian’s Gate178.
5.1.2 Corinthian Capitals
Altogether three capitals, in two different sizes (cat. 3-1. 9-1. 9-2; pls. 74; 83, 3; 84, 1-2), are preserved from
the scaenae frons.179 Their characteristic features include leaves that are decidedly in the Asia Minor tradition.
The display of the single lobes is fan-shaped, their ribs are carved with V-shaped section, and the eyelets are
elongated. The calyx shows deep drillings.
All three capitals were found in the Basilica Stoa in 1961 by W. Alzinger. Lately G. A. Plattner and A.
Schmidt-Colinet attributed them to a Late Antique (?) repair of the structure.180 Their hypothesis is debatable
because of the divergent sizes that seem less suitable for reuse in a building such as the basilica. Furthermore,
the diameter of the capitals fits the columns assigned to the Bouleuterion’s scaenae frons. L. Bier’s attribution
to the Bouleuterion therefore seems plausible.
All three capitals show the same characteristics and belong to a group of capitals that, according to G. A.
Plattner, dominates Ephesian building activities in the first half of the 2nd century A.D.181 or the late 1st and early
2nd century A.D.182 G. A. Plattner more recently seems to favor the latter date.183 P. Scherrer assumes a use of this
particular group between the late 1st century A.D. and the Hadrianic or Early Antonine era.184 This led L. Bier to
the assumption that the capitals were re-used for the Vedius scaenae frons from an earlier building phase.
To clarify this question, the evidence for Ephesian capitals in the 2nd century A.D. will be reassessed.
Plattner lists buildings with these capitals, which he calls the “Ephesos type”.185 Among them he considers the
ones in the Harbor Gymnasium, the Varius baths and the temenos of the so-called Serapeion (pl. 52, 3) to come
from the original building phase. The Serapeion temenos is best testified and the attribution of the capitals to
the original structure is certain.186 The chronology of the construction of the temple has been the subject of
much scholarly debate.187 For the porticos, P. Scherrer suggested a date between the late 1st century and the
middle of the 2nd century A.D.188 According to L. Rembart’s recent study on the stratigraphy and the finds, the
172 See below chap. 2.3.1.
173 Meritt 1969, 186-204, esp. 195-197 on its distribution in Roman times.
174 Quatember 2008c, 229 fig. 12.
175 Steskal - La Torre 2008, pl. 79, 5.
176 Quatember, FiE (forthcoming).
177 Wilberg 1943, 4 fig. 6.
178 Thur 1989, 88-90.
179 See also above chap. 4.5.
180 Plattner - Schmidt-Colinet 2005, 245.
181 Plattner 2002, 247-248.
182 Plattner - Schmidt-Colinet 2005, 245.
183 Plattner 2002, 247-248 with further references; Plattner 2008, 276.
184 Scherrer 2005, 120-121.
185 Plattner 2002, 247-248; Plattner 2008, 276 note 1337.
186 Koller 2005, 139-141 fig. 4.5; Scherrer 2005, fig. 5.6.
187 Cf. for example Koenigs - Radt 1979,346 (last quarter of the 2nd century A.D); Strocka 1988,303-305 (Hadrianic); Scherrer 2005,
109-138, esp. 119-121. 129-130 (first half of the 2nd century A.D.); Plattner 2008, 276 note 1337 (early 2nd century A.D.).
188 Scherrer 2005, esp. 119.
5. ARCHITECTURAL DECORATION (U. Quatember)
can only speculate, why such a peculiar form - at least for this region - might have been used for the Bouleu-
terion scaenae frons architecture in the middle of the 2nd century A.D.
From the first building phase of the scaenae frons, two pedestals and bases have been preserved in the
south-east and south-west corner of the scene wall (pls. 32, 2-3; 33).172 They belong to the regular Attic-Ionic
type, which is very well known in the Eastern Roman Empire, especially in Asia Minor.173 Above a square
plinth follow a torus, a scotia and a torus again. The latter does not project beyond the upper edge of the sco-
tia. Other examples for the use of this type include Ephesian buildings throughout the first and second century
A.D., such as the so-called Street Fountain174 from the first quarter of the 2nd century A.D. and the Vedius Gym-
nasium175. In aedicular facades an Attic-Ionic base is frequently combined with pedestals of varying heights, as
seen in the Nymphaeum Traiani176, the Celsus Library177 and Hadrian’s Gate178.
5.1.2 Corinthian Capitals
Altogether three capitals, in two different sizes (cat. 3-1. 9-1. 9-2; pls. 74; 83, 3; 84, 1-2), are preserved from
the scaenae frons.179 Their characteristic features include leaves that are decidedly in the Asia Minor tradition.
The display of the single lobes is fan-shaped, their ribs are carved with V-shaped section, and the eyelets are
elongated. The calyx shows deep drillings.
All three capitals were found in the Basilica Stoa in 1961 by W. Alzinger. Lately G. A. Plattner and A.
Schmidt-Colinet attributed them to a Late Antique (?) repair of the structure.180 Their hypothesis is debatable
because of the divergent sizes that seem less suitable for reuse in a building such as the basilica. Furthermore,
the diameter of the capitals fits the columns assigned to the Bouleuterion’s scaenae frons. L. Bier’s attribution
to the Bouleuterion therefore seems plausible.
All three capitals show the same characteristics and belong to a group of capitals that, according to G. A.
Plattner, dominates Ephesian building activities in the first half of the 2nd century A.D.181 or the late 1st and early
2nd century A.D.182 G. A. Plattner more recently seems to favor the latter date.183 P. Scherrer assumes a use of this
particular group between the late 1st century A.D. and the Hadrianic or Early Antonine era.184 This led L. Bier to
the assumption that the capitals were re-used for the Vedius scaenae frons from an earlier building phase.
To clarify this question, the evidence for Ephesian capitals in the 2nd century A.D. will be reassessed.
Plattner lists buildings with these capitals, which he calls the “Ephesos type”.185 Among them he considers the
ones in the Harbor Gymnasium, the Varius baths and the temenos of the so-called Serapeion (pl. 52, 3) to come
from the original building phase. The Serapeion temenos is best testified and the attribution of the capitals to
the original structure is certain.186 The chronology of the construction of the temple has been the subject of
much scholarly debate.187 For the porticos, P. Scherrer suggested a date between the late 1st century and the
middle of the 2nd century A.D.188 According to L. Rembart’s recent study on the stratigraphy and the finds, the
172 See below chap. 2.3.1.
173 Meritt 1969, 186-204, esp. 195-197 on its distribution in Roman times.
174 Quatember 2008c, 229 fig. 12.
175 Steskal - La Torre 2008, pl. 79, 5.
176 Quatember, FiE (forthcoming).
177 Wilberg 1943, 4 fig. 6.
178 Thur 1989, 88-90.
179 See also above chap. 4.5.
180 Plattner - Schmidt-Colinet 2005, 245.
181 Plattner 2002, 247-248.
182 Plattner - Schmidt-Colinet 2005, 245.
183 Plattner 2002, 247-248 with further references; Plattner 2008, 276.
184 Scherrer 2005, 120-121.
185 Plattner 2002, 247-248; Plattner 2008, 276 note 1337.
186 Koller 2005, 139-141 fig. 4.5; Scherrer 2005, fig. 5.6.
187 Cf. for example Koenigs - Radt 1979,346 (last quarter of the 2nd century A.D); Strocka 1988,303-305 (Hadrianic); Scherrer 2005,
109-138, esp. 119-121. 129-130 (first half of the 2nd century A.D.); Plattner 2008, 276 note 1337 (early 2nd century A.D.).
188 Scherrer 2005, esp. 119.
