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Side (Antiquity), Market and Round Temple

Συγγραφή : Dawson Maria-Dimitra (14/11/2003)
Μετάφραση : Kamara Afroditi

Για παραπομπή: Dawson Maria-Dimitra , "Side (Antiquity), Market and Round Temple",
Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Μ. Ασία
URL: <http://www.ehw.gr/l.aspx?id=9777>
Σίδη (Αρχαιότητα), Εμπορική Αγορά και Κυκλικός Ναός (12/11/2008 v.1) Side (Antiquity), Market and Round Temple (16/1/2009 v.1) 
 

1. Location

The commercial agora of Side was situated at a central location of the city. It developed in direct contact with the scene building of the theatre and its northwestern boundary was a central street, leading from the northeastern gate of the city to the theatre. It comprised a square, in the centre of which lay a round temple. The square was surrounded by porticos, behind which spread rows of shops and halls. In the three out of the four corners of the agora stood exedrae, whereas in the fourth corner, namely the western one, there was a semi-circular building which was probably used to house sanitary facilities. A monumental propylon was formed on the northwestern side of the complex and constituted the main entrance from the central street. A second entrance opened at the south end of the complex, from where a street passed leading to the so-called “Public agora” of Side.1

2. Architectural design

The ground plan of the agora complex is rectangular in shape measuring 90.80 by 94 meters. In its interior a total square was formed measuring 65.5 by 65.7m, which was surrounded by porticos. Shops lay along the northwest and northeast sides, whereas vaulted halls were arranged along the southwest side, adjacent to the scene building of the theatre.2

2.1. Porticos

The porticos were based on a two-stepped crepis made of travertine stone. Their columns had bases of the Attic-Ionic type made out of marble and shafts made out of grayish granite; they bore marble Corinthian capitals. Their total height reached 5.7 meters. The intercolumnar space was between 2.5 and 2.7 meters. The dimensions and form of the columns were proportionate to those of the columns on the central street, which proves that the architectural design was uniform and corresponded to a well-defined architectural program executed in the city in the 2nd century A.D. Only a few fragments from the three-fasciae architrave, crowned by a cymation, have been found. The cornice was of a typical Ionic type, and it was superseded by a sima, the water spouts of which had the form of lion heads. The total height of the porticos reached 6.60 meters and they were covered with a wooden roof. Their floor was of compact earth.

On the corners of the peristyle there were pillars; on both sides of those corner pillars and at a distance of 3.50 meters, i.e. at a distance bigger than that of the intercolumnar space, there were placed smaller pillars, which probably supported arches. It has been suggested that these did not belong to the initial plan of the building, but were rather a later addition, aimed at securing the corner parts of the colonnade. 3 The width of the porticos varies between 6.70 and 7.10 meters, on the northeast and northwest sides respectively, whereas it is the same on the other two sides, namely 5.80 meters.4

2.2. Halls and shops

Around the square and behind the porticos there were rectangular halls, which constituted the shops of the commercial complex.5 On the northwest side, behind the colonnade, opened up a series of vaulted halls, which were attached to the rear side of the scene building of the theatre. There are nine halls in total, six large and three smaller ones, oriented towards the interior of the market. Every second hall was interconnected to the theatre with an arched opening. On the façade of the halls towards the square arches were formed. As a result, a uniform arcade was formed along the entire side. The role of these vaulted halls, both from a constructional and a functional point of view, is not known. Their construction in direct contact with the scene building leads to the suggestion that they statically supported the latter. Furthermore, the direct contact of the theatre and the agora must have had some functional purpose, especially if we rely on the information provided by Vitruvius6 that the marketplaces offered the spectators shelter in case of a sudden rainfall. In this case, the communication between the agora and the theatre was not effectuated through the lateral corridors (parodoi), but only through the five openings of the vaulted halls.7

In the northwest corner of the complex, where the monumental entrance also lies, there were two rows of shops. The internal ones are accessible from the square, whereas the external ones from the central street of the city. On the western side of the propylon there were two rows with seven shops each, quite symmetrical in dimensions and similar in their ground plan. Along the eastern side there were also two rows of stores, six on the inside and five on the outside. The latter were approximately of the same dimensions and had a marble revetment on the walls and mosaics on the floor, whereas the external ones had an irregular ground plan and their shape was trapezoidal.8

2.3. Propylon

The propylon of the complex is situated at the middle of its northwestern side. It consists of a rectangular building measuring 9 by 12.80 meters and by a vestibule (4.30 by 13.40 meters), which interrupts the colonnade of the central street. On the façade of the vestibule there was a triple arched opening.9 Three doors led from the vestibule to the rectangular room, on the side walls of which there were semi-circular and rectangular niches, which apparently were decorated with statues. The inner side of the propylon towards the square had an equally monumental form with four marble columns between antae. According to the excavators, the monumental architecture of the propylon suggests that it was used also as an honorary hall.10

2.4. Latrines

In the western corner of the agora there is a monumental building of a semi-circular ground plan with a diameter of 22.20 meters. Its rear part lies against the supporting wall and the scene building of the theatre. Initially it was considered as an exedra, later on though it was suggested that it constituted public latrines with a capacity of 24 people. It was built with large courses of breccia stone. Beneath the slabs which covered the floor there was a drainage system. The interior walls were covered with marble. The wall of the building towards the interior of the agora is semi-circular and has a width of 2 meters. Three niches are opened on its internal side, of which the central one is semi-circular, whereas the other two are rectangular. These niches were probably decorated with statues. On the outside this wall forms a large semi-circular niche (with a diameter of 10.50 meters) and is covered by a semi-cylindrical vault supported by a triple arch.11 Access to the latrinae was possible through two entrances: one opened towards the adjacent vaulted chamber and constituted the only entrance from the interior of the agora, whereas the second one opened towards the central street.

2.5. Exedrae

In the corners of the northeastern side there were added at a later stage exedrae; they replaced some shops, whereas only one of them has been excavated. The building was constructed of rough blocks, mud bricks and limestone, and it reached a height of 6 meters. Its exterior was semi-circular (of a diameter of 5.70 meters); it bore a marble revetment and was covered with a vault decorated with paintings. The floor of the exedra was slightly higher than this of the portico and was covered with bricks. One more exedra is outlined on the design of the ground plan of the agora right in the eastern corner of the complex. It thus maintains the symmetry and the coherence of the composition. As for its function, the exedrae had probably a decorative purpose and they must have been decorated with statues.12

2.6 Tholos

In the interior of the agora the ruins of a round building (Tholos)were discovered. It is noteworthy that it is not situated at the center of the square, but its position is rather to the west. Despite the fact that the remaining architectural traces of the building were sparse, scholars have managed to reconstruct its architectural design. It consisted of a round building structured in three levels: a) the crepis and the socle faced with marble orthostates, b) the round cella with the Corinthian peristasis, and c) the pyramidal roof. In more detail, the socle with the orthostates lay over the crepis and had a diameter of 9.90 meters and a height of 1.35 meters. Its base bore moulding and its upper surface was also crowned with mouldings. The socle of the orthostates was interrupted on the southwest by a staircase with nine steps, which allowed entrance to the interior of the building.

Twelve columns of a total height of 6.30 meters constituted the Corinthian peristasis and surrounded the round cella. From this peristasis, bases of Attic-Ionic type are preserved, drums which bore 24 flutes, as well as capitals of Corinthian type. The Ionic entablature (1.15 meters high) consisted of a three-fasciae architrave and a frieze decorated with cymatia and floral patterns. Over the frieze there was a console cornice decorated with Ionic and Lesbian cymation and followed the sima with a rich floral decoration and water spouts in the form of lion heads. Behind the columns of the peristasis and in absolute correlation to them, pilasters were formed on the outer wall of the cella, which stood on bases of Attic-Ionic type and bore Corinthian capitals. The upper part of the wall was decorated with a frieze with depictions in relief, showing cupids supporting garlands, whereas in the space above the garlands gods next to their symbols were depicted. Entrance to the cella was from the west.13 From the entrance door only the lintel is preserved, which bears a rich decoration of fasciae and cymatia. The interior diameter of the round cella is estimated at about 5.45 meters. The cella was roofed with a vault, decorated with painted depictions of the zodiac cycle.14 The whole architectural composition was crowned on the exterior from a twelve-sided pyramidal marble roof, on top of which a decorative element of an unknown form served as an acroterium.

3. Hermeneutic approach

The agora of Side with its square, porticos and shops, belongs to the type of the commercial peristyle agora. This type was developed particularly during the Late Hellenistic period, but it was the architects of Imperial times that actually showed a clear preference for it. This example presents the most complicated composition due to the variety in the architectural design of the edifices, i.e. the detailed buildings, as well as to the direct contact of the building with the theatre.15

The excavators have considered the particular building complex as one of the few preserved Roman agoras of the macellum type in Asia Minor. It actually presents all the basic features of the particular type as it consists of a colonnaded square, porticos, shops and a tholos in the middle. Agora complexes of the specific type have been discovered in the neighbouring cities of Perge, Sagalassos and Selge.16

The peristyle agoras as well as the macellum-type ones had usually a commercial character. Within those complexes, the selling and buying of any kind of products took place. In the commercial agora of the bustling port of Side several products, such as oil, wine, fish and meat as well as imported products from Syria and Egypt must have been on sale. Strabo17 offers a particularly important piece of information when he mentions that Side was one of the largest and most renowned slave-markets of the ancient world. It has been suggested, therefore, that the slave-market must have located in this particular area as well.

Finally, in respect to the position of the complex in the city network, it is known that in most cities of the eastern Roman provinces the commercial agora complexes were in direct contact to the central streets. The commercial agora of Side follows this rule, as it was situated on the side of the central street, whereas a second street to the west led to another peristyle complex (M), or the so-called “Public agora” of the city.18

As far as the function of the central round building in the interior of the complex is concerned, the first scholars to study it thought that it was a clock,19 whereas later it was identified by the excavators as a temple. The identification was based on the discovery of Imperial era coins, where the goddess Tyche is depicted seated on a throne in the interior of a building with a pyramidal roof. It has been therefore suggested that the building depicted on the city coins actually represents the round building of the market.20

According to archaeological data, the cult of Tyche was particularly widespread in Asia Minor, attested especially in the cities of Pisidia and Pamphylia. The goddess Tyche was closely related to astrology and astronomy, and she was identified with Selene (Moon) or the Virgin of the zodiac cycle, whereas in other cases she was considered as a cosmic deity who defines the movement of the stars. According to the aforementioned data it is understandable why the tholos of Side was decorated with depictions of the zodiac cycle.

4. Dating

The agora complex of Side was built in Roman times and more precisely in the 2nd century A.D. The construction of the round monument is dated according to the architectural and sculptural decoration in the years of the emperor Hadrian, and thus forms part of the initial design of the commercial complex.21 According to another view, however, it was a later addition to the initial composition, dated around the 3rd century A.D.22

5. History of research and present state of preservation

The first mention of the Agora of Side was by the scholar F. Beaufort,23 who visited the area in 1811 and described the architectural remains of the round temple, which unfortunately are not preserved today. The initial study of the agora complex took place at the end of the 19th century by G. Lanckoronski, 24 who, together with G.Niemann and E. Petersen listed all the monuments of the city still visible then. The contact of the complex with the city theatre and their direct functional relationship led to the assumption that the complex constituted a portico for the theatre. Those early researchers of the site showed a particular interest in the round building, the remains of which they described with accuracy, but still interpreting them as the remains of a clock.

Systematic excavations of the complex started in 1948 by archaeologists A.M. Mansel, G.E.Bean and J. İnan, who published the results of their study a few years later, giving a clear picture of the constitutional elements of the complex and offering a reconstruction according to the archaeological data.25

Today the site is open to the public and the architectural remains of the buildings give an idea of the erst monumental view of the commercial centre of one of the most important cities of Pamphylia.

1. Mansel, A.M., Die Ruinen von Side (Berlin 1963), p. 97. Atvur, O., “Side”, A guide to the ancient city and the Museum (Istanbul 1986), p.36. Doubts have been stressed concerning the identification of the monumental complex to the southwest of the commercial agora as a public market, therefore in the relevant literature it is referred to as complex M.

2. Along the eastern side there was no architectural formation apart from the portico. Mansel, A.M., Die Ruinen von Side (Berlin 1963), p. 97-107; Mansel,A.M., Side 1947-1966 Yılları Kazılari ve Araştırmalarının Sonuçları (Ankara 1978), p. 149-151; Mansel, A.M. – Bean, G.E. – Jale, I., Side Agorası ve civarındaki Bınalar 1948 Yılı kazılarına dair rapor [Die Agora von Side und die Benachbarten Bauten. Bericht über die Ausgrabungen im 1948] (Ankara 1956), p. 26-31.

3. The distance between the corner columns and those situated just next to the side pillars corresponds to three intercolumnar spaces, i.e. to two columns. It has been estimated that if instead of those pillars one placed columns, then the total number of the columns of the initial colonnade surrounding the square would be 100, i.e. 26 columns on each side. See Mansel, A.D. Die Ruinen von Side (Berlin 1963), p. 97-98; Mansel, A.M. – Bean, G.E. – Jale, I., Side Agorası ve civarındaki Bınalar 1948 Yılı kazılarına dair rapor [Die Agora von Side und die Benachbarten Bauten. Bericht über die Ausgrabungen im 1948] (Ankara 1956), p. 26-27.

4. Mansel, A.M., Side 1947-1966 Yılları Kazılari ve Araştırmalarının Sonuçları (Ankara 1978), p. 149-151; Mansel, A.M. – Bean, G.E. – Jale, I., Side Agorası ve civarındaki Bınalar 1948 Yılı kazılarına dair rapor [Die Agora von Side und die Benachbarten Bauten. Bericht über die Ausgrabungen im 1948] (Ankara 1956), p. 26-31.

5. The size of the shops differs, as along the northeastern side they are bigger, whereas on the northwestern side they are considerably smaller. On the contrary, along the northeastern side there are no shops. Consequently one notices an incongruity on the sides of the agora from the architectural point of view.

6. Vitruv., De archit. V.9.

7. Mansel, A.M., Die Ruinen von Side (Berlin 1963), p. 97-107; Mansel,A.M., Side 1947-1966 Yılları Kazılari ve Araştırmalarının Sonuçları (Ankara 1978), p. 149-151; Mansel, A.M. – Bean, G.E. – Jale, I., Side Agorası ve civarındaki Bınalar 1948 Yılı kazılarına dair rapor [Die Agora von Side und die Benachbarten Bauten. Bericht über die Ausgrabungen im 1948] (Ankara 1956), p. 26-31.

8. The interior shops on the west of the propylon measured 3.85 (depth) by 3.50 to 4.60 (width), whereas the exterior ones were similar in their ground plan and symmetrical in their dimensions (depth 4.70 and width 4.20 meters). The entrances to these exterior shops looked towards the colonnade of the central street. As far as the exterior shops to the east of the propylon are concerned, the first three re 4.68 meters wide, whereas their depth is gradually diminished from 3.75 to 2.50 meters followed by a long corner shop 6 meters wide. See Mansel, A.M. – Bean, G.E. – Jale, I., Side Agorası ve civarındaki Bınalar 1948 Yılı kazılarına dair rapor [Die Agora von Side und die Benachbarten Bauten. Bericht über die Ausgrabungen im 1948] (Ankara 1956), p. 27.

9. On the façade there were 4 pillars, with three openings between them. These pillars, of which the two middle ones were particularly sturdy, were apparently used for supporting arches, and therefore the whole façade looked like a gate with three arched openings.

10. The side walls of the propylon were made of rough blocks and mud bricks. Mansel, A.M., Die Ruinen von Side (Berlin 1963), p. 98-99; Mansel,A.M., Side 1947-1966 Yılları Kazılari ve Araştırmalarının Sonuçları (Ankara 1978), p. 151-156; Mansel, A.M. – Bean, G.E. – Jale, I., Side Agorası ve civarındaki Bınalar 1948 Yılı kazılarına dair rapor [Die Agora von Side und die Benachbarten Bauten. Bericht über die Ausgrabungen im 1948] (Ankara 1956), p. 29-30.

11. Initially this interior niche was identified as a form of fountain. The lack of drainage installation, though, led the excavators to reconsider their initial suggestion and to conclude that it had simply a decorative character, without any practical use, but purely decorated by statues. Mansel, A.M., Die Ruinen von Side (Berlin 1963), p. 97-107; Mansel, A.M. – Bean, G.E. – Jale, I., Side Agorası ve civarındaki Bınalar 1948 Yılı kazılarına dair rapor [Die Agora von Side und die Benachbarten Bauten. Bericht über die Ausgrabungen im 1948] (Ankara 1956), p. 26-31.

12. Mansel, A.M., Die Ruinen von Side (Berlin 1963), p. 97-107; Mansel,A.M., Side 1947-1966 Yılları Kazılari ve Araştırmalarının Sonuçları (Ankara 1978), p. 157-167; Mansel, A.M. – Bean, G.E. – Jale, I., Side Agorası ve civarındaki Bınalar 1948 Yılı kazılarına dair rapor [Die Agora von Side und die Benachbarten Bauten. Bericht über die Ausgrabungen im 1948] (Ankara 1956), p. 26-31.

13. The staircase interrupting the podium of the ridges led directly to the door of the cella.

14. Mansel, A.M., Die Ruinen von Side (Berlin 1963), p. 102-107; Mansel,A.M., Side 1947-1966 Yılları Kazılari ve Araştırmalarının Sonuçları (Ankara 1978), p. 157-167; Mansel, A.M. – Bean, G.E. – Jale, I., Side Agorası ve civarındaki Bınalar 1948 Yılı kazılarına dair rapor [Die Agora von Side und die Benachbarten Bauten. Bericht über die Ausgrabungen im 1948] (Ankara 1956), p. 31-37.

15. In a modern study on the Roman macella there is not mention of the example of the marketplace of Side. See De Ruyt, C., Macellum: Marché alimentaire des Romains (Louvain 1983).

16. Mansel, A.M., Die Ruinen von Side (Berlin 1963), p. 100-101; Mansel,A.M., Side 1947-1966 Yılları Kazılari ve Araştırmalarının Sonuçları (Ankara 1978), p. 151-156; Mansel, A.M. – Bean, G.E. – Jale, I., Side Agorası ve civarındaki Bınalar 1948 Yılı kazılarına dair rapor [Die Agora von Side und die Benachbarten Bauten. Bericht über die Ausgrabungen im 1948] (Ankara 1956), p. 30-31; Mansel,A.M., „Bericht über die Ausgrabungen und Untersuchingen in Pamphylien in den Jahren 1957-1972“, AA 90 (1975), p. 83, fn. 47.

17. Strab. XIV 664.

18. Mansel, A.M., Die Ruinen von Side (Berlin 1963), p. 100-102; Mansel,A.M., Side 1947-1966 Yılları Kazılari ve Araştırmalarının Sonuçları (Ankara 1978), p. 151-156; Mansel, A.M. – Bean, G.E. – Jale, I., Side Agorası ve civarındaki Bınalar 1948 Yılı kazılarına dair rapor [Die Agora von Side und die Benachbarten Bauten. Bericht über die Ausgrabungen im 1948] (Ankara 1956), p. 30-31; one should notice that part of this intensive commercial activity must have spread to the commercial shops of the central street, passing from the north side of the market. In general, though, being a port, Side must have been a commercial city par excellence, and stores must have existed even on minor streets.

19. Lanckoronski, K., Städte Pamphyliens und Pisidiens (Wien 1892), p. 135-137, where common elements of the building with the Horologion of Andronicos Kyrrhestes (Tower of the Winds) in the Roman Agora of Athens are stressed. The particular common features were the round ground plan and the octagonal roof.

20. Similar round building, identified as Tyche temples, are depicted on coins of the Imperial period as well as of other cities of Asia Minor, such as Sagalassos, Antioch in Pisidia, Prusa and Antioch on the Orontes. Mansel, A.M. – Bean, G.E. – Jale, I., Side Agorası ve civarındaki Bınalar 1948 Yılı kazılarına dair rapor [Die Agora von Side und die Benachbarten Bauten. Bericht über die Ausgrabungen im 1948] (Ankara 1956), p. 36.

21. The excavators related rather persuasively the typology and morphology of the building with Hadrian’s Gate in Attaleia. See Mansel, A.M. – Bean, G.E. – Jale, I., Side Agorası ve civarındaki Bınalar 1948 Yılı kazılarına dair rapor [Die Agora von Side und die Benachbarten Bauten. Bericht über die Ausgrabungen im 1948] (Ankara 1956), p. 37.

22. According to Böethius, A., - Ward-Perkins, J.B., though, the round building is dated in the 3rd century A D. whereas the scholars Koenigs, W. and Radt, W. it belongs to the Antonineian era and was built by architects of the Pergamene and Ephesian schools. See Böethius, A. – Ward-Perkins, J.B., Etruskan and Roman Architecture (s.l. 1970), p. 482-483; Koenigs, W., -Radt, W., “Ein kaiserzeitlicher Rundbau (Monopteros) in Pergamon”, IstMitt 29 (1979), p. 161, fn 42. See also Vandeput, L., The Architectural Decoration in Roman Asia Minor, Sagalassos: a Case Study (Brepols 1997), p. 38.

23. Beaufort, F., Karamanien oder Beschreibung der Südküste vo Kleinasien (1921), p. 98-99.

24. Lanckoronski, K., Städte Pamphyliens und Pisidiens (Wien 1892), p. 131-137, 150-151.

25. Mansel, A.M. – Bean, G.E. – Jale, I., Side Agorası ve civarındaki Bınalar 1948 Yılı kazılarına dair rapor [Die Agora von Side und die Benachbarten Bauten. Bericht über die Ausgrabungen im 1948] (Ankara 1956), p. 25-37.

     
 
 
 
 
 

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