Assessments Concerning the Temple Ruins in Thyateira
Engin Akdeniz, Aydın ErönThyateira, a Lydian city, is located within the borders of Akhisar district of Manisa province today. New excavations contuining since 2011 go on intensively in Hastane Hoyuk. The site in question is estimated to be the acropolis of Thyateira from the Hellenistic period onwards. During the excavations on the area that can be defined as the top of the mound, ruins of an Ionic ordered temple; construction of which is believed to had been started in the Hellenistic era, have been brought to daylight. At present, the excavations are concentrated on the eastern entry and the center of this structure. The late period usages on the temple have been extensive and this amplified its destruction. It has been confirmed that the architectural pieces of the structure had been destroyed to a large extend due to the usages of the areas of the necropolis located on south and north of the temple. At this level which we call as the layer of destruction; a large number of broken pieces belonging to ornamental sections of the temple, had been found. With respect to the determination of the initial construction date; these ornamental archeological pieces are of great significance. In the light of the evidence provided by the similar architectural ornaments; it has been realized that the construction of the temple dates back to a period between second and third quarters of the second century BC. The temple in Thyateira, Hastane Hoyuk, whose structure has been started to be revealed, is at most similarity with the temple of Chryse Apollon Smintheios in terms of its substructure and ornamental features.
Thyateira’daki Tapınak Kalıntısına İlişkin Değerlendirmeler
Engin Akdeniz, Aydın ErönBir Lydia kenti olan Thyateira, günümüzde Manisa ili, Akhisar ilçe sınırları içerisinde yer almaktadır. Antik kentte 2011 yılında başlayan yeni dönem kazıları yoğun olarak Hastane Höyüğü alanında devam etmektedir. Söz konusu alanın Hellenistik Dönem’den itibaren Thyateira antik kentinin akropolü olduğu düşünülmektedir. Höyüğün zirve noktası olarak tanımlayabileceğimiz alanda gerçekleştirilen kazı çalışmalarında Hellenistik Dönem’de inşasına başlanıldığı düşünülen Ion düzenli bir tapınak yapısının kalıntıları ortaya çıkarılmaktadır. Kazı çalışmaları günümüzde yapının doğu girişi ve merkezi üzerinde yoğunlaşmaktadır. Tapınağın üzerinde geç dönem kullanımlarının bir hayli yoğun olması tahribatı arttırmıştır. Özellikle tapınağın güney ve kuzey yönünde yer alan nekropol alanlarının kullanımı sırasında yapının mimari parçalarının büyük oranda tahrip edildiği tespit edilmiştir. Tahribat tabakası olarak adlandırdığımız bu seviye içerisinde tapınağın bezemeli kısımlarına ait çok sayıda kırık parça bulunmuştur. Yapının ilk inşasının tespiti açısından mimari bezeme parçaları oldukça önemlidir. Benzer mimari bezemeler yardımıyla tapınağın inşasına MÖ II. yüzyılın ikinci ve üçüncü çeyreği arasında başlandığı anlaşılmaktadır. Thyateira, Hastane Höyüğü alanında açığa çıkarılmaya başlanılan tapınak yapısı, altyapı ve bezeme özellikleri açısından en çok Chryse Apollon Smintheios Tapınağı ile benzerlik göstermektedir.
Thyateira, a Lydian city, is located within the borders of Akhisar district of Manisa province today. New excavations contuining since 2011 go on intensively in Hastane Hoyuk. The mound in question is estimated to be the acropolis of Thyateira from the Hellenistic period onwards. During the excavations on the area that can be defined as the top of the mound, ruins of an Ionic ordered temple; construction of which is believed to had been started in the Hellenistic era, have been brought to daylight.
At present, the excavations are concentrated on the eastern entry and the center of this structure. Large part of the temple is not excavated. As the area is located in Akhisar city center, thus densely populated since Late Antiquity to present day, therefore reusage of the temple ruins as spolia and even its conversion to stone and marble pit, intensified in destruction of the building. The late period usages on the temple have been extensive and this amplified its destruction. It has been confirmed that the architectural pieces of the structure had been destroyed to a large extend due to the usages of the areas of the necropolis located on south and north of the temple. At this level which we call as the layer of destruction; a large number of broken pieces belonging to ornamental sections of the temple, had been found. It can be seen that, ornamental parts of the building were destroyed probably by means of a cutter. During the surveyings a toichobate of a Ionic, Anatolian-Ionic columm base, Ionic columm drumm, Ionic capital and fragments of architrave and sima components were found. As understood from the parts of the building that were excavated so far, the destruction was carried out conspiratorially and continued for a while. Once the ornamented and profiled parts were destroyed, roughed blocks were probably transported to somewhere else. Groove ornaments, fragments of Ionic columm drums point to this fact. It is clear that, at least one phase of this destruction layer and the northern and southern necropolis areas around the building were interconnected.
Beneath the destruction layers and late period graves, in-situ remains of the building can be seen. During the excavations of 2013, first, southeastern toichobate block of the building was found in-situ. Finding of this piece resulted in changing of the excavation planning. Entry section of the building, which was considered to be constructed in east-west direction, was eastward. Surveying the base of the building, ascertained that dacite blocks were used at the bottom. Marble stylobate blocks were laid on these dacite blocks. Concerning to plan of the temple, so far acquired data are still inadequate. Yet, toichobate and crepis arrangements remind prostylos or in antis temples. With respect to the determination of the initial construction date; these ornamental archeological pieces are of great significance. In the light of the evidence provided by the similar architectural ornaments; it has been realized that the construction of the temple dates back to a period between second and third quarters of the second century BC. The temple in Thyateira, Hastane Hoyuk, whose structure has been started to be revealed, is at most similarity with the temple of Chryse Apollon Smintheios in terms of its substructure and ornamental features.
Some findings point to the possibility that, the temple, after its construction in second century BC, was overhauled in the Roman Imperial Period. Yet, it is not easy to reach a certain decision. For all that, with the help of findings and remnants, one can suggest that, the temple was in use until the fifth century AD. Status of the building during the period from its last probable usage as temple to the Early Byzantine Period is unclear. Following the removal of graves, large amounts of architectural and architectural plastic fragments belonging to the temple, which were broken at the times when usage of the temple was came to end, were found in and around the temple area. It can be suggested that, this destruction was intensified during the Period of Iconoclasm, which began at the first half of the eight century AD and called as the “Byzantine Dark Age”. Along with fragments from the temple, some Middle Byzantine architectural and plastic fragments were also used in graves revealed in the mound. Fragments, dated to Middle Byzantine Period or tenth century AD, are the proofs of the Byzantine settlement of this period, which was located on the mound. While size and character of this settlement is not clear yet, examination of the numerous stone and marble architectural findings point to existence of at least one religious building (probably chapel) from the tenth century AD. However, architectural components which were used as spolia in graves indicates that this was not a long-term settlement. It is clear that necropolis area and the destruction of the temple and its sourroundings were interconnected.
