DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45927#0070
68
5. ARCHITECTURAL DECORATION (U. Quatember)
In all egg-and-dart moldings the middle motif in between two eggs is arrow-shaped. The casing is wide and
the structure is dominated by light and dark effects. As Koster has demonstrated, arrow-shaped darts occur as
early as the Neronian period in Asia Minor.199 In Ephesos this motif is attested at least from the reign of Domi-
tian onwards.200 It also appears, for example, on the Celsus Library,201 where the wide casing and the light and
dark effects are also evident. Nonetheless, its general layout there seems more fragile and less coarse than in
the Bouleuterion egg-and-dart moldings, a feature that can also be observed on other buildings commissioned
by the Vedii.202
The leaf-and-dart is of the type called stirrup-framed by L. Vandeput.203 It clearly fits into the line of de-
velopment as sketched by Koster, with a tendency to break up the motif into single elements by using deep
drillings in between them.204
5.1.4 Architrave of the Upper Story
Unfortunately, only small fragments of the architrave zone are preserved. The crown molding is only rep-
resented by a bead-and-reel on cats. 10-6 and 10-8 (pls. 87, 1; 89, 1). As mentioned above, a crowning egg-
and-dart and cavetto can be assumed based on various analogies.205 According to the preserved corner piece
cat. 10-4 (pl. 86, 1) and toolmarks on various other pieces (for example cat. 10-5; pl. 86, 2), the architrave
originally had three fascias. The upper one was later removed, leaving more space for the inscription.206 An
architrave with three fascias in the upper story provides an exception to R. Koster’s assumption that the choice
was based on the size of the architectural elements.207 The upper story architrave is considerably smaller than
that of the lower story and it might therefore seem natural to use only two fascias. This issue has to remain
unresolved, especially given the fact that a fascia was worked off for the inscription, maybe as an afterthought
to provide more space for the letters of the inscription. Very little of the soffit panels has been preserved. From
cats. 10-7 and 10-9 (pls. 88, 1-2; 89, 2) we can conclude that they were decorated with some vegetal motif.
Vegetal ornamentation of soffit panels occurs in Ephesos from the 2nd century A.D. onwards, as seen in the
Celsus Library.208 Cat. 10-7 shows a central acanthus chalice from which the tendrils grow out. According to
R. Koster, such a central ornament is first testified in the Celsus Library and originates from influence from
the city of Rome.209 Based on the scant remaining evidence, it is impossible to draw any further conclusions
regarding the upper story. We can only assume that the frieze was adorned with some kind of ornament, either
vegetal such as an acanthus scroll, or even figured.
5.2. The Bouleuterion Ornaments in Context: The Buildings of the Vedii
5.2.1 Methodology: Patterns and their Combination
In order to search for the characteristics in the architectural ornamentation of buildings commissioned by the
Vedii, the basis of the material analyzed has to be established first. Only on definite grounds can we determine
features that are inherent in that particular group.
199 Koster 2004, 143-144.
200 Pulz 1989, 15-16 and note 77.
201 Wilberg 1943, for example fig. 8. 10. 13. 14.;Vandeput 1997, 145 interprets this as proof for the import of this motif from Rome.
This is clearly contradicted by the occurrence in earlier buildings in Asia Minor, see Koster 2004, 144.
202 See below 5.3.
203 Vandeput 1997, 29 and note 53.
204 KOster 2004, 145-147, esp. 146. On the development of stirrup-framed leaf-and-darts see also Vandeput 1997, 151-154, on the
Antonine period 152-153. In Sagalassos, the mid-rib of the Lesbian kymation in contemporary buildings, such as the Temple of
Antoninus Pius, is split into three parts, thus forming two side ribs. Cf. Vandeput 1997, pl. 28, 2. In this respect the examples from
Sagalassos differ clearly from the Ephesian ones.
205 KOster 2004, 161.
206 See also above chap. 4.8.
207 KOster 2004, 160-161.
208 Plattner 2008, 280.
209 KOster 2004, 160.
5. ARCHITECTURAL DECORATION (U. Quatember)
In all egg-and-dart moldings the middle motif in between two eggs is arrow-shaped. The casing is wide and
the structure is dominated by light and dark effects. As Koster has demonstrated, arrow-shaped darts occur as
early as the Neronian period in Asia Minor.199 In Ephesos this motif is attested at least from the reign of Domi-
tian onwards.200 It also appears, for example, on the Celsus Library,201 where the wide casing and the light and
dark effects are also evident. Nonetheless, its general layout there seems more fragile and less coarse than in
the Bouleuterion egg-and-dart moldings, a feature that can also be observed on other buildings commissioned
by the Vedii.202
The leaf-and-dart is of the type called stirrup-framed by L. Vandeput.203 It clearly fits into the line of de-
velopment as sketched by Koster, with a tendency to break up the motif into single elements by using deep
drillings in between them.204
5.1.4 Architrave of the Upper Story
Unfortunately, only small fragments of the architrave zone are preserved. The crown molding is only rep-
resented by a bead-and-reel on cats. 10-6 and 10-8 (pls. 87, 1; 89, 1). As mentioned above, a crowning egg-
and-dart and cavetto can be assumed based on various analogies.205 According to the preserved corner piece
cat. 10-4 (pl. 86, 1) and toolmarks on various other pieces (for example cat. 10-5; pl. 86, 2), the architrave
originally had three fascias. The upper one was later removed, leaving more space for the inscription.206 An
architrave with three fascias in the upper story provides an exception to R. Koster’s assumption that the choice
was based on the size of the architectural elements.207 The upper story architrave is considerably smaller than
that of the lower story and it might therefore seem natural to use only two fascias. This issue has to remain
unresolved, especially given the fact that a fascia was worked off for the inscription, maybe as an afterthought
to provide more space for the letters of the inscription. Very little of the soffit panels has been preserved. From
cats. 10-7 and 10-9 (pls. 88, 1-2; 89, 2) we can conclude that they were decorated with some vegetal motif.
Vegetal ornamentation of soffit panels occurs in Ephesos from the 2nd century A.D. onwards, as seen in the
Celsus Library.208 Cat. 10-7 shows a central acanthus chalice from which the tendrils grow out. According to
R. Koster, such a central ornament is first testified in the Celsus Library and originates from influence from
the city of Rome.209 Based on the scant remaining evidence, it is impossible to draw any further conclusions
regarding the upper story. We can only assume that the frieze was adorned with some kind of ornament, either
vegetal such as an acanthus scroll, or even figured.
5.2. The Bouleuterion Ornaments in Context: The Buildings of the Vedii
5.2.1 Methodology: Patterns and their Combination
In order to search for the characteristics in the architectural ornamentation of buildings commissioned by the
Vedii, the basis of the material analyzed has to be established first. Only on definite grounds can we determine
features that are inherent in that particular group.
199 Koster 2004, 143-144.
200 Pulz 1989, 15-16 and note 77.
201 Wilberg 1943, for example fig. 8. 10. 13. 14.;Vandeput 1997, 145 interprets this as proof for the import of this motif from Rome.
This is clearly contradicted by the occurrence in earlier buildings in Asia Minor, see Koster 2004, 144.
202 See below 5.3.
203 Vandeput 1997, 29 and note 53.
204 KOster 2004, 145-147, esp. 146. On the development of stirrup-framed leaf-and-darts see also Vandeput 1997, 151-154, on the
Antonine period 152-153. In Sagalassos, the mid-rib of the Lesbian kymation in contemporary buildings, such as the Temple of
Antoninus Pius, is split into three parts, thus forming two side ribs. Cf. Vandeput 1997, pl. 28, 2. In this respect the examples from
Sagalassos differ clearly from the Ephesian ones.
205 KOster 2004, 161.
206 See also above chap. 4.8.
207 KOster 2004, 160-161.
208 Plattner 2008, 280.
209 KOster 2004, 160.
