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Ephesus (Antiquity), Fountain at the Magnesian street

Συγγραφή : Aristodimou Georgia (13/3/2008)
Μετάφραση : Koutras Nikolaos

Για παραπομπή: Aristodimou Georgia, "Ephesus (Antiquity), Fountain at the Magnesian street",
Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Μ. Ασία
URL: <http://www.ehw.gr/l.aspx?id=12615>
Έφεσος (Αρχαιότητα), Κρήνη στην Οδό Μαγνησίας (1/6/2010 v.1) Ephesus (Antiquity), Fountain at the Magnesian street (13/7/2011 v.1) 
 

1. Location

The nymphaeum (no. 15) is located on the north side of the street leading from the city’s administrative centre (no. 18) to the Magnesian Gate (no.10). It was discovered in 1925, west of the so-called Tomb of St. Luke (no.14). It belongs to the nymphaeum type, with a rectilinear theatrical façade and flanking wings. According to recent reconstructions, the monument exhibits similarities to Trajan’s Nymphaeum. These were contemporary monuments (102-117 AD), erected on the donor’s expenses, Tiberius Claudius Aristio. This structure was probably renovated in the 3rd century AD.1

2. Architectural Design

The nymphaeum’s façade imitates the façades of Roman theatres. Its ground plan is Pi-shaped, as two protruding wings have been added on the flanks. Ephesus features two more nymphaea in the same shape and of a similar architectural design. One is Trajan’s Nymphaeum, also dedicated by Tiberius Claudius Aristion to Trajan; the other is the Nymphaeum of C. Laecanius Bassus.

The nymphaeum was equipped with two water basins. One was larger and functioned as a cistern. It was rectangular in shape and measured 18.80 x 3.50 m. In front of it there was a long basin for drawing water, also rectangular and measuring 21.20 x 1.10 m. This system of basins is surrounded by the Pi-shaped wall of the scenic façade, in a manner rather similar to the Miletus Nymphaeum. Water flowed through the cistern, which flooded and water streamed down to the second basin, located on the street level. Citizens drew water using pots suspended from ropes on the basin’s parapet.

The monument featured two storeys and had a total height of 16.30 m. Its size, together with the slant façade which created horizontal recesses and protrusions, resulted in an imposing visual effect. The façade’s wall (27 m. in length) and those of the lateral protrusions (6.70 m. in length) rested on a solid and continuous base. It was built in the opus caementicium masonry technique and it was dressed with marble slabs.

The lower storey was rather solid and bulky. Inscribed pilasters divided the façade’s central frontage into smaller sections. The façade’s central section featured eight columns corresponding to eight pilasters. The columns in front of the pilasters rested on Attic-Ionic order bases and were crowned by composite capitals. The columns and pilasters supported a rich sreceding entablature, comprising a three-fascia architrave and frieze. The central intercolumnal space was wider, which would have drawn attention to the sculptures placed in the central niche. The next two intercolumnal spaces on either side were shorter, while the immediately succeeding ones were also wider.

The monument featured a second storey with Corinthian order columns. The arrangement of the colonnade of the second storey closely mirrored that of the ground floor. Thus the columns of both storeys were completely matched, resulting in a harmonious uniformity in the arrangement of the aediculae.

The columns in the protrusions created two light and airy peripteral spaces at the edges of the nymphaeum’s Pi-shaped façade. This solution has been implemented in the nymphaea of Miletus and Side, as well as in Trajan’s Nymphaeum, also found in Ephesus.2

3. Epigraphical evidence and Donors

The excavations unearthed part of the epistyle, which preserves a fragmentary dedicatory inscription. This inscription is similar to that found in Trajan’s Nymphaeum.3 According to it, the monument was donated by the asiarch Tiberius Claudius Aristio and his spouse Julia Lydia Laterane. The couple dedicated the nymphaeum to Artemis Ephesia, emperor Trajan and the demos of Ephesus.4 As the inscription indicates, the donor prioritized the monument’s sculptural decoration, and emphasized that it was constructed on his own expenses.5

Tiberius Claudius Aristio and his spouse were two prominent citizens and through their benefactions had earned the respect of the people of Ephesus.6 Between 102 and 114 AD they funded the construction of Trajan’s Nymphaeum and the fountain under consideration on Magnesian Street.7 The dedicatory inscriptions on the two monuments are similar. They inform us that the high priest T. Claudius Aristio served three terms as an asiarch and neokoros.8 His wife, Julia Lydia Laterane, who also participated in these donations, apart from being high priestess of the Imperial Cult, she received the title of ‘Daughter of Asia’ and served as a prytanis.9

T. Claudius Aristio is mentioned in a number of construction and dedicatory inscriptions. As he held a number of offices (high priest, neokoros, grammateus, gymnasiarch, prytanis) he participated in the construction of many public monuments.10 Some of these were erected using civic funds, while others he funded himself (e.g. the construction of a network of underground water pipes, Trajan’s Nymphaeum, the Fountain on Magnesian Street, the completion of Celsus’ Library), which reveals his great wealth.11

4. Sculptural Decoration

The monument was lavishly adorned, as was the case with most monumental nymphaea in the cities of the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire (Miletus, Side, Perga, Sagalassos). Archaeological research, however, has managed to bring to light only scarce traces of its decoration. We have the portrait head of a young female. The hairstyle is reminiscent of portraits of Julia Mamaea, dating to the era of Alexander Severus.12 Two torsos originating from female statues have also been found. All three sculptures date to the 3rd century AD.13

5. Dating

On the basis of the titles bestowed on emperor Trajan, the monument’s construction is dated to 102-114 AD. The second female portrait head, which is safely dated to the 3rd century AD, reveals the existence of a second building phase, probably a renovation following an earthquake.14

6. Current State and History of Research

The Fountain at the Magnesian Street was discovered during excavations carried out by M. Theuer in 1925 and it was published in the following year (1926) in the excavation report by J. Keil.15It was further studied by A. Bammer during his treatment of the architectural façades of the period spanning the Flavii to Trajan, which featured a pictorial representation suggestion for the façade and ground plan by M. Theuer.16 These drawings, published in A. Bammer’s study, are among the few pieces of evidence available for this structure, which unfortunately is no longer visible.

1. P. Scherrer, Ephesus, The New Guide (2000) p. 72. H. Halfmmann, Städtebau und Bauherren im römischen Kleinasien. Ein Vergleich zwischen Pergamon und Ephesos, Ist.Mit., Beih. 43 (Tübingen 2001) p. 65. St. Karweise, Groß ist die Artemis von Ephesos. Die Geschichte einer der großen Städte der Antike (Wien 1995) p. 99.

2. For more details on the architectural design of the nymphaeum see Longfellow, B., Imperial Patronage and Urban Display of Roman Monumental Fountains and Nymphaea (Michigan 2005) p. 114 and n.86. Cl. Dorl-Klingenschmid, Prunkbrunnen in kleinasiatischen Städten. Funktion im Kontext (München 2001) pp. 187-188. P. Scherrer (ed.), Ephesus. The New Guide (2000) p. 72.

3. For the inscription of Trajan’s Nymphaeum see Börker, R. Merkelbach (ed.), Die Inschriften von Ephesos, Teil II, (Nr. 101-599) (Bonn 1979), no. 424, p. 147-149: 1. S. Settis, "Esedra" e "Ninfeo", ANRW, 1.4, 1973, pp. 662-740 esp. p.709. Dorl-Klingenschmid, Cl., Prunkbrunnen in kleinasiatischen Städten. Funktion im Kontext (München 2001) p. 119.

4. «Ἀρτέμιδι Ἐφεσίᾳ και Αὐτοκράτορι Νέρουᾳ Τραιανῷ Καίσαρ]ι Σεβαστῷ Γ[ερμανικῷ] Δακικῷ καί τῷ δήμῷ Ἐφεσίων Τιβ. [Κλαύδιος Ἀριστίων ἀρχιερεύς] τῆς Ἀσίας καί νεωκόρος μετὰ Ἱουλίας Λυδίας Λατερανῆς ἀρχιερείας καί θυγατρός Ἀσίας [σύν παντί] τῷ κόσμῷ». On the inscription of the fountain’s epistyle see Börker, R. Merkelbacht (ed.), Die Inschriften von Ephesos, Teil II, (Nr. 101-599) (I.K. 12, Bonn 1979), no. 424Α, p. 149. D. Knibbe, R. Merkelbach , "Ephesische Bauinschriften 1, Der Strassenbrunne", ZPE 31 (1978) p. 80.

5. In this inscription, the monument’s donor, Tiberius Claudius Aristio, underscores the fact that he funded the construction of the fountain and all of its sculptural decoration (σύν παντί τῷ κόσμῷ).

6. Cf. Cramme, St., Die Bedeutung des Euergetismus für die Finanzierung städtischer Aufgaben in der Provinz Asia (Köln 2001) pp.146-150. H. Thür, (ed.), "und verschönerte die Stadt.. ." Ein ephesischer Priester des Kaiserkults in seinem Umfeld (SoSchrÖAI 27, Wien 1997). Also Longfellow, B., Imperial Patronage and Urban Display of Roman Monumental Fountains and Nymphaea (Michigan 2005) p.110.

7. They also funded the creation of a 40 km long network of water pipes, which supplied fresh water from the Cayster valley; this water flowed into Trajan’s Nymphaeum, cf. Cramme, St., Die Bedeutung des Euergetismus für die Finanzierung städtischer Aufgaben in der Provinz Asia (Köln 2001) pp. 146-148.

8. Börker, R. Merkelbacht (επιμ.), Die Inschriften von Ephesos, Teil II, (Nr. 101-599) (I.K. 12, Bonn 1979), no. 424 and 424Α, p. 149. Cramme, St., Die Bedeutung des Euergetismus für die Finanzierung städtischer Aufgaben in der Provinz Asia (Köln 2001) p.146, 148 and n.552,  p. 149 and n.557.

9. C. Börker, R. Merkelbach, Die Inschriften von Ephesos, Teil V (Nr. 1446-2000) (I.K.15) no.1601e, 1, p. 106.

10. His name is involved in at least twenty construction and repair works. The construction of the Sebasteion of Ephesus is dated to his term as archiereus of the Imperial cult (88/89 AD, IvE II nos.234-235) and neokoros (89-91 AD, IvE II  no.241). During his term as grammateus (92/93 AD) he is involved in the construction and furnishing of the Harbour Baths, the Gymnasium and the Palaestra (IvE II nos.461, 508). As a gymnasiarch he was involved in the renovation of the Gymnasium, and he also served as a prytanis, an office with a double, political and religious, function (IvE II no.427).

11. Longfellow, B., Imperial Patronage and Urban Display of Roman Monumental Fountains and Nymphaea (Michigan 2005) p.110.

12. Smyrna, Archaeological Museum, no.545, J. Inan - E. Rosenbaum, Roman and Early Byzantine Portrait Sculpture in Asia Minor (London 1966) 135 no.164, table XCVI.1-2.

13. Cl. Dorl-Klingenschmid, Prunkbrunnen in kleinasiatischen Städten. Funktion im Kontext (München 2001) p. 188. J. Keil, Vorläufiger Bericht über die Ausgrabungen in Ephesus, ÖJh 23, 1926, Beiblatt. p. 274.

14. Cl. Dorl-Klingenschmid, Prunkbrunnen in kleinasiatischen Städten. Funktion im Kontext (München 2001) p. 188.

15. J. Keil, Vorläufiger Bericht über die Ausgrabungen in Ephesus, ÖJh 23, 1926, Beiblatt, pp. 271-277.

16. Bammer, A., "Elemente flavisch-trajanischer Architekturfassaden aus Ephesos", ÖJh 52, 1978-80, pp. 67-90, esp. 86, pl.18, 19.
     
 
 
 
 
 

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