Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Μ. Ασία

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 ΙΔΡΥΜΑ ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ
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Anemourion, Bath II 7 A

Συγγραφή : Pianalto Ana (1/4/2002)
Μετάφραση : Velentzas Georgios

Για παραπομπή: Pianalto Ana, "Anemourion, Bath II 7 A ",
Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Μ. Ασία
URL: <http://www.ehw.gr/l.aspx?id=7266>
Ανεμούριον, Λουτρό ΙΙ 7 Α (8/4/2009 v.1) Anemourion, Bath II 7 A (6/4/2009 v.1) 
 

1. Introduction

Bath ΙΙ 7Α of Anemourion, the smallest bath complex of the city, lies between the aqueduct (ΙΙ 4 W) and the modern road (ΙΙ 5), in a residential area to the west of the theatre. It shares the same features with the baths of small provincial cities of Cilicia and eastern Pamphylia built between the 3rd and the 5th century AD. The baths of this group did not have a gymnasium; they are small, asymmetrically arranged, with barrel-vaulted rooms which often have an apsidal ending. This particular complex belongs to the hall-type baths, where the rooms are arranged around a large central hall. Similar complexes have been attested in Antioch on Kragos (Bath Ι 12Α) and in Syedra (Bath ΙΙ 1 Α). The researchers’ opinions are divided over the use of the spaces. F. Yegul believes that the large central hall Α accommodated social or minor sports activities.1 On the other hand, I. Nielsen, who has pointed out that cold chambers (frigidarium) are larger than hot chambers (caldarium) in Late Antique baths, believes that the central hall was the frigidarium of the complex, with the hot chambers arranged on the one side and spaces intended for social gatherings on the other side of the hall.2 Furthermore, Nielsen thinks that this particular Anemourion bath is a typical example. The bath was excavated during the 1960s. It is very well preserved and almost all vaults above the rooms have survived. It dates to the late 3rd or the first half of the 4th c. AD.

2. Architectural Description

The bath has a central hall (Α),3 rectangular in plan and barrel-vaulted, aligned to an east-west direction. The other rooms, arranged around the central hall, are also barrel-vaulted but their vaults are aligned to an axis vertical to the one of the central hall vault. The east part of hall A communicates through an arched opening with a cistern, traces of which have been found. The same arrangement has also been attested in the baths of Antioch on Kragos and Syedra.

The ground plan of the complex forms a rectangular, with chamber K and apse H projecting south. The entrance to the building is at the north-west end of the north facade and leads to an oblong and narrow hallway (Q), which is lighted by four arched windows and extends along the whole west side. To the right of the entrance, across the west wall of room Q, was a bench and two rectangular niches, one of which included a small basin. A second basin is formed across the east wall. The passage gave access to the common rooms and the central hall. Central hall A communicated with the other rooms through arched openings, apart from the openings to rooms Q, Β and F. To the southeast of the hallway is a square, groin-vaulted room (Β), which communicates with central hall Α, hallway Q and the adjacent square room C; on the east and south part of room C there are small rectangular niches with basins (spaces D and Ε). The barrel-vaulted square room (G) forms a rectangular niche with a basin to the east (Ι) and ends up to an apse (Η) to the south. This apse is lighted by three arched windows and also includes a basin. Three more basins exist across the west wall of room G. Between the room G and central hall A there are two small rooms (F). Τhe rooms of the east side (J, K, L, M) are barrel-vaulted, with vaults parallel to the one of the central hall. Chamber J had a heating system with hypocausts.4 Τhe fact that the apse (Η) did not directly communicate with the central hall indicates that it served a special purpose. Its proximity to chamber J suggests a possible use of apse Η as caldarium.5 Hypocausts were found in spaces Β, C, D and Ι. Under the floor of room C in particular, colonettes have been discovered, while small pillars were found under the floors of the other chambers. Room Κ communicated with room J and gave access to the exterior. The northern rooms (Ν and Ο), with their square shape and the windows on their north walls, must have served as tepidarium, for under the floor of room Ο there are hypocausts as well. Τhe last room (P) is narrow, with drains; it has a small window on the north wall and opens to central hall Α and hallway Q. It probably served as a toilet. Chamber R was built later, thus creating a second entrance to the baths. It has four semicircular niches, two on the west wall, one on the north and one on the east wall.6

A limited number of findings preserved indicate that the bath was decorated with marble-revetment, wall paintings and mosaics.

3. Materials and Construction

The walls are made from irregular ashlar limestone blocks. Mud-brick colonettes were used for the hypocausts under room C, while mud-brick small pillars were found in the hypocausts under chambers Β, C, D and Ι. Cut sandstone and marble slabs were used in the vaults and arches, while for their construction there must have been made use of wood-forms. With the exception of groin-vaulted room Β, all the other chambers are barrel-vaulted. On the outside the roof was covered with successive layers of red mortar containing smashed tiles. The joints between the parts of central hall A are covered with tiles shapes appropriately. The horizontal and vertical clay drains suggest the existence of a system for supplying the bath with water from the cistern as well as a drainage system. Coat traces on the exterior face of the walls have led to the conclusion that the walls had been ochre painted on the outside and were decorated with a painted imitation of isodomic masonry.

1. Yegül, F., Baths and bathing in classical antiquity (New York 1995), p. 304.

2. Nielsen, I., Thermae et Balnea. The architecture and cultural history of Roman public baths (Aarhus 1990), p. 114, fn. 115, 116 and 139.

3. Room A measures 4.50 × 18.00 metres.

4. In the baths of Syedra and Antioch on Kragos an underground passage served as heating system.

5. According to Rosenbaum, E. - Huber, G. - Onurkan, S., A survey of coastal cities in western Cilicia. Preliminary Report (Monographs of Turkish Historical Society VI/8, Ankara 1967), p. 47, bath complexes of Syedra and Antioch have the same dimensions.

6. Rosenbaum, E. - Huber, G. - Onurkan, S., A survey of coastal cities in western Cilicia. Preliminary Report (Monographs of Turkish Historical Society VI/8, Ankara 1967), pp. 4-9.
     
 
 
 
 
 

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