HİERAPOLİS ARKEOLOJİ MÜZESİ BAHÇESİ’NDE VE GÜNEY ROMA HAMAMI’NDA BULUNAN İONİK MİMARİ ELEMANLAR İLE İLGİLİ BİR DEĞERLENDİRME

The purpose of this paper is to investigate Ionic architectural elements founded in the garden of Archaeological Museum and at south Roman bath in Hierapolis. As we know, there are two different groups of elements. First, two Ionic capitals and an upper column drum which were founded by D.D.B Ferrero in sanctuary of Apollon are now exhibited in the garden of Hierapolis Archaeology Museum. The other ones are column bases, column drums, inscription on column drum, peace of capitals and capitals, which were founded by C. Şimşek, are now at abodyterium of south Roman bath. Capitals and other blocks founded at south Roman bath were reused in Roman Imperial Age at there. There are publications about these elements; the previous ones were dated to reign of Flavian, the second ones were dated toreign of Tiberius, according to inscription on column drum.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate Ionic architectural elements founded in the garden of Archaeological Museum and at south Roman bath in Hierapolis. As we know, there are two different groups of elements. First, two Ionic capitals and an upper column drum which were founded by D.D.B Ferrero in sanctuary of Apollon are now exhibited in the garden of Hierapolis Archaeology Museum. The other ones are column bases, column drums, inscription on column drum, peace of capitals and capitals, which were founded by C. Şimşek, are now at abodyterium of south Roman bath. Capitals and other blocks founded at south Roman bath were reused in Roman Imperial Age at there. There are publications about these elements; the previous ones were dated to reign of Flavian, the second ones were dated to reign of Tiberius, according to inscription on column drum. The claim that the inscription, which is founded at the bath, belongs to reign of Tiberius is right. But sizes of blocks founded at there are not suitable to each other. So it is important to determine that the inscription belongs to which blocks or columns. According to the analysis, it is clear that column base, column and capital belong to two different buildings. In other words, column’s height is different. As for scale of these, they are close to each other but not same. As I measured all of them, in my opinion, sizes of column drum which is founded inscription on it and column base are not suitable for the capital founded at the bath. Its size fits the capital in the garden of Museum. So these capitals are dated with inscription. There is little external evidence to help us in this inquiry. The present analysis is based on which dimensions have been noted for each: lower and upper column diameters, column height, capital height, abacus width, height of abacus and echinus, projection of capitals. Vitruvius gives rules of proportion for the capital in his specifications for the Ionic order. These rules of proportion were employed by Vitruvius for before and the first century A.D. Vitruvius’ rules are not entirely artificial. It seems that abacus width and capital height was fundamental to determine from a given lower column diameter. Capital size and lower column diameter are suitable to each other. So according to size of column and capital, we suggest height of column. This suggestion is not definite date, as we shall see, but it does give same encouraging results. All these ornaments should be seen parallels with those which can be found in reign of Augustus and Tiberius different architecture in Asia Minor. Some light may be on capital design by other capitals from Aphrodisias, Nyssa and Magnesia ad Meander. I am in no doubt that the decorations are typical of these periods, small Ionic capitals founded at south Roman bath belong to reign of Augustus but bigger Ionic capital exhibited in the garden of Hierapolis Archaeology Museum belong to reign of Tiberius. These are, of course, indications of where capitals were found, rather than which specific buildings they belong. They also can be dated. The buildings were built, after the earthquakes of 27 B.C., when the city revived as the sanctuary urban in Lykos Valley.