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Ephesus (Antiquity), Gymnasium of the Theatre

Συγγραφή : Pianalto Ana
Μετάφραση : Panourgia Klio

Για παραπομπή: Pianalto Ana, "Ephesus (Antiquity), Gymnasium of the Theatre",
Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Μ. Ασία
URL: <http://www.ehw.gr/l.aspx?id=8212>
Έφεσος (Αρχαιότητα), Γυμνάσιο Θεάτρου (6/2/2006 v.1) Ephesus (Antiquity), Gymnasium of the Theatre (15/2/2006 v.1) 
 

1. Baths – Gymnasia

The baths – gymnasia of Asia Minor are some of the most monumental examples (establishments) of this building type in the East and can be compared in size and opulence to the imperial baths in Rome. The architectural type of the bath-gymnasium developed in Asia Minor, is not a simple emulation of Roman originals but combines the architectural ground plan of Roman baths with the local architectural tradition of the Greek gymnasium. Moreover, the dual character of this type of complexes is evident from both a functional and an architectural point of view. The architecture of Roman baths is combined with the simplicity and principles of the Greek gymnasium, while at the same time the use and function of the spaces are clearly defined. This is clearly evident in the example of the Gymnasium – Baths of the Theater in Ephesus, which had separate entrances. It was therefore possible for the athletic facilities and the baths to be used independently.1

2. Location and Architectural Description

The Theater Gymnasium (map no. 79) of Ephesus is situated next to the theater (map no. 75) at the eastern end of the Arcadiane (map no. 82), a central road which led from the harbour to the city center. It dates from the second half of the 2nd century AD.

The building is of the bath-gymnasium plan type which is characterized by an oblong U-shaped hall (ambulacrum), arranged on the three sides of the rectangular complex and it surrounded the heated halls. The enveloping of the heated parts of the building by the spacious U -shaped hall served their insulation. The caldarium, the tepidarium and the frigidarium in the Theater Gymnasium were on a central axis, on either side of which were smaller subsidiary facilities and changing rooms.

The rectangular palaestra was in the southern section of the complex. The courtyard of the palaesta measured 70x30 m. and was surrounded by porticos along the three sides, paved with mosaic floors. Along the north side of the courtyard built benches formed steps; this was the seating area for spectators and possibly for the judges which adjudicated over the conduct of athletic events. The palaestra had two entrances situated on the same axis; one was in the northeastern corner and the other in the northwestern. These entrances opened out into two long anterooms (vestibula) with projecting piers creating square niches on the inner side of the walls. The anterooms secured direct access to the rectangular U- shaped hall , while at the same time they communicated via side openings with the heated parts of the caldarium.

The heated facilities included a total of five rectangular halls: a) the central caldarium , whose walls had semi-circular and rectangular openings, like in other gymnasiums-baths in Asia Minor (e.g. the baths in Miletus, the Eastern baths of Pergamon and the baths of Priene), b) four halls, situated in pairs on either side of the central heated area.

From the heated halls the bathers could access the tepidarium via two auxiliary rooms. The tepidarium included two square warm bathing facilities which functioned as a transitional area from the hot to the cold baths.

The frigidarium was a U- shaped central hall, which included a large unheated pool (natatio frigida) and two large rectangular side rooms.

The large U-shaped gallery (ambulacrum), which characterized the typology of the complex, was next. It functioned possibly as a changing room or a meeting hall. It extended over the entire width of the building and framed the bathing compartments. Projecting piers formed rectangular niches in the gallery’s arms.2

The northernmost sector of the baths was composed by a series of five rectangular halls. Of special interest is the central hall with aedicular décor, which was possibly designed for the Imperial cult. Rectangular niches existed in the western and eastern walls, while a large semi-circular niche existed in the center of the north wall. The interior of the imperial hall must have had lavish architectural and sculptural decoration. The other areas of the northernmost section served auxiliary functions.

An interpretation of the arrangement of the auxiliary bathing compartments shows us that the bather moved from the heated area to the warm and finally to the cold, adjusting the body gradually to the changes in temperature.

Excavations on the Theater Gymnasium took place between 1929 and 1932 by the Austrian Archaeological Institute under the direction of J. Keil.3

1. Yegül, F., Baths and bathing in Classical Antiquity (New York 1992), p. 307

2. Yegül, F., Baths and bathing in Classical Antiquity (New York 1992), p. 416.

3. For the architectural design of the Theatre Gymnasium and the excavations in the area, see Keil, J., “Vorläufiger Bericht uber die Ausgrabungen in Ephesos”, ÖJh 25 (1929), p. 42-45; Keil, J., “Vorläufiger Bericht uber die Ausgrabungen in Ephesos”, ÖJh 26 (1930), p. 18-29; Keil, J., “Vorläufiger Bericht uber die Ausgrabungen in Ephesos”, ÖJh 27 (1932), p. 19-25; Keil, J., Führer durch Ephesos (Vienna 1964), p. 84-86; Boethius, A. – Ward Perikins, J.B., Etruscan and Roman Architecture (1970), p. 401; Ward Perkins, J.B., Imperial Architecture (London – New Haven 1989), p. 294; Yegül, F., Baths and bathing in Classical Antiquity (New York 1992), p. 279-282; Scherrer, P. (ed.), Ephesus, The New Guide (2000), p. 162.

     
 
 
 
 
 

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