Perge

"Perge (southern Turkey) was one of the leading cities of Pamphylia during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
The excavations in 1970’s and 80’s revealed several mosaic pavements in the city which are currently being studied
by the author within a PhD project. The following article will present this new project, with focus on the mosaics
decorating the macellum of the city and will present the preliminary results of the research.
The macellum of Perge dates from the second half of 2nd century A.D, it has been subject to several alterations
during the late antiquity. The four galleries surrounding the main area, an exedra in the north, the three entrances
to the west as well as the gallery bordering the building on the same side are decorated with polychrome opus
tessellatum mosaics consisting mainly of geometric carpet patterns. The study of these pavements revealed 4 main
stylistic groups dating to the 4th / 5th centuries A.D. and suggests intensive renovation activities in the building
during the late antique period.
Keywords: Perge, macellum, geometric mosaics, carpet pattern, late antique."

Abstract
Two Hekateia from Antalya Museum

The first of two Hekateia, in the collection of Antalya Museum, constitutes the scope of this article, which is published here for the first time (no.1, figs. 1-4). The second Hekateion (no. 2, figs. 5-13) has been in the museum collection for a long while and is well-known among academia. The work was noted for the first time by Italian scholars R. Paribeni and P. Romanelli, who mentioned it in their publication of 1914. Later it was published again by French scholar H. Metzger in his catalogue of votive stones in 1952. However, based on the information given by the previous publication, this subject should be reevaluated.
The first statue, (i.e. the Big Hekateion) was confiscated in 2005 during an operation of the Gendarme, and was inventoried in the museum’e collection autumn of 2010. It was found in a village of Yalvaç, near Isparta. This fine quality work is one of the more rare mini-Hekate Anatolian statues because of its height at over 1 m. The goddess is depicted with her customary iconography of three bodies, almost adjoining each other, holding short torches in their hands. The other halves of the lateral figures’ bodies are not executed. This juxtaposition of bodies is represented by their standing back to back. It would appear this statue was rendered with the Hekate iconography of Phrygia. Since its find spot, was Yalvaç, and Yalvaç is located near the border region between Phrygia and Pisidia, and the statue seemed to be executed under Phrygian influence, this would indicate work was possibly a provincial one produced with Phrygian Hekate iconography. It is possible to have been produced by an inspiration from the Hekateion found at the temple of Men in Pisidian Antioch (see n. 16 and 18). In Pisidia, evidence (including coins) regarding Hekate is rarely encountered and such items are usually dated to the 2nd century AD. A very careless inscription of three lines is found on the front side of its base. According to what is was translated from the inscription, the statue was commissioned by two pairs of brothers: Eutychos, Hermes, Alexandros and Teimotheos. One phrase in the inscription (παρ᾿ ἑαυτῶν) shows the cost was covered by them. These four people are mentioned together with their fathers’ names, although there is no information regarding their identities or reason for the erection of the statue. However, they likely presented it to a local temple of Hecate as a votive offering. In regard to all the revious evidence, it would be logical to expect the presence of a Hekate temple in Yalvaç.

The inscription is translated as follows:

No. 1: “Eutychos and Hermes brothers, sons of Hermes, (and) Alexandros and Teimotheos brothers, sons of Rufus, erected (this statue) from their (pocket).”

The statue can be ascribed to the third century AD based on its iconographic and stylistic features and its inscription. The second Hekateion, (i.e. the Small Hekateion), is a small statuette depicting three female figures holding hands, each one leaning against a corner of a triangular prismatic pillar. This is a Hekate Herme. This composition of three women leaning against corners of angular pillars and holding hands around Hekate Herme is very well-known in Hekate iconography. The top and bottom parts of the pillar are broken and missing. On the miss¬ing top one would expect to find the triple head of Hekate wearing a single polos. The three figures holding hands represent the Charites. Altough this small Hekate Herme shows characteristics of an archaistic style, it is well known these Hermai belonged to the Hellenistic period. This particular statuette, however, has an interesting point: Originally, when executed, it bore no inscription, but, later, an inscription had been engraved on this Herme in 1910 by Nicolas Michael Ferteklis of Antalya.

It is translated as follows:

No. 2: “From the 18 (-year-old) youth collection of N(icolas) M(ichael) Ferteklis”.

This person lived in Antalya in the early 20th century and known to have had a statue collection. He probably marked several other works in his collection. He assisted many European scholars who visited the region, showing them around and giving then a tour of his many works. His name is known from various publications by scholars like Paribeni and Romanelli, and H. Metzger, as well, although he did not mention this inscription in his publication, possibly because he did not approve of it. Ferteklis also scratched his name on the antai of temple N4 (of Artemis and the imperial cult), see n. 42. When this Hekateion from Perge is considered together with the late Roman coins of Lyrbe and Aspendos showing different types of Hekate, it would indicate the goddess had a place in Pamphylia. It is not possible to say precisely, however, at what time this goddess might have been worshiped or if she was part of Perge’s pantheon, more solid evidence is needed for that. Evidence regarding Hekate in Pamphylia is still very limited, and a small catalogue of coins with Hekate types from Pisidia and Pamphylia is given with this article. The author’s studies on Hekate’s presence in Anatolia, with or without inscriptions, continue toward a corpus and her publications on Hekate will continue.

Bu çalışmanın birincil amacı Perge antik kentini tanımak;  kenttin mimari yapıları ve kazı çalışmaları sırasında ele geçen maddi buluntular doğrultusunda hem antik kentin hem de antik kent insanının ihtiyaçlarının günümüz insanından farksız olmadığını göstermektir.  Belirlenmeye çalışan başka bir konuda Perge’nin milattan öncelere dayanan tarihiyle Pamphylia bölgesi için önemli bir şehir olduğunun saptanmasıdır. Ayrıca Perge antik kentinin Roma döneminde yerli dokusunu kaybetmemesinden yola çıkarak Roma Devleti’nin Anadolu’da izlediği politikayı anlama yolunda bir çıkarım elde etmek amaçlanmıştır.

Bu tez kapsamında Pamphylia Bölgesi’nde bulunmuş olan, Antalya, Side ve Alanya müzelerinde yer alan tam plastik portreler ele alınmıştır. Tez, söz konusu eserlerin kapsamlı bir kataloğunu içermektedir. Portrelerin kontekstleri içinde değerlendirilmesiyle hem yapıların heykeltıraşlık programları belirlenmeye, hem de bu kontekstlerden heykellerin tarihlemesine ve kimi betimlediğinin anlaşılmasına katkıda bulunacak veriler elde edilmeye çalışılmıştır.  Pamphylia Bölgesi’nde bulunan portreler, heykel tipleri, üslup ve teknik özellikleri açısından bir bütün halinde değerlendirilmiştir. Benzerlikler ve farklılıklar saptanıp, tezin başlıca amacı olan,  atölye kökenlerine sorununa dair  sonuçlara ulaşılmaya çalışılmıştır.

Within the present doctoral dissertation, the portraits which were discovered  in the Pamphylian region and are preserved in the museums of Antalya, Side and Alanya are treated. The dissertation comprises a wide and detailed catalogue of the portraits. The portraits are examined within their contexts in order to define the  sculptural programs of the buildings and to obtain data which could contribute to the dating and identification of the portraits. By examining the technical and stylistic features of the portraits found in the Pamphylian region as a whole, an attempt to determine the similarities and differences is made with an aim to define the sculptural workshops the differences the workshops, which is the main goal of the dissertation.

Antalya ile Toroslar'ın arasındaydı " Tüm Kabileler Ülkesi ". Troia Savaşı'ndan kurtulan kahramanlar burada kentler kurmuştu: Perge gibi. Side ve Aspendos ise Ege'den göç eden başka kavimlerin eseriydi. Birkaç kez istilaya uğradı bu ihtişamlı kentler, zaman zaman da ayaklanmalara sahne oldular. Ama sakinleri, görkemli kamusal binaları, anıtsal takları, süslü çeşmeleri, yüzlerce metre uzanan sütunlu caddeleri bulunan kentleriyle hep gurur duydular, övgüler düzdüler. YAZI: Ş. SEDEF ÇOKAY-KEPÇE-AŞKIM ÖZDİZBAY* / FOTOĞRAFLAR: CÜNEYT OĞUZTÜZÜN

A naked sculpture of Aphrodite, made of white marble with fine-grained, found at the north entrance of North Bath of the ancient city of Perge, during the excavation season in 2015. The sculpture made probably of Dokimeion marble with extremely artistic quality and making a stretching movement to the left, is observed to have a slightly leaning forward movement and a balancing right foot. There is also an Eros standing on the dolphin next to the left leg of Aphrodite. The facade part of the statue is fairly polished while the back part is less polished. The statue is dedicated by Titus Flavius Clemens Pelopidianus. It is understood that this person honours and is related to Claudia Lorentia, the daughter of the Synnadian Cladius Piso, who dedicated Perge South Bath's Sculptural Works. While Titus Flavius Clemens Pelopidianus Aphrodite Statue shows the characteristics of III-IIrd century BC in Hellenistic Period, its typological root is Praxiteles' famous work of Knidos Aphrodite. However in the context of a better understanding of the artistic development of the Pelopidianus Aphrodite Statue, some Aphrodite sculptures resembling with Knidos Aphrodite have been examined in detail. Accordingly, the Pelopidianus Aphrodite Statue is very similar to the Aphrodite of Capitolini and is also close to the Aphrodite of Medici due to its general appear-ance, especially Eros and dolphin composition. Along with being a Roman replica, the sculpture can be dated to 160-190 AD during Antonin period with sculptural features and inscription.

In Perge Ancient City 2014 excavations, the code of Jb.'14-T-214- and the first Herme head in a given channel is 2014/468 Inventory Number. The other Herme head is in 2019/79 Inventory Number and during the excavation in 2019, Perge North Bath Palaestra Trench C-4 was found on the canal on the west border. Both herm head detected in Perge, Alkamenes’s Hermes Herme that is, the type of Hermes Propylaios. There are similarities and differences between Bergama (Pergamon) Hermes Herm and Ephessos (Simonetti/Bolu) Hermes Herm in her inscriptions and Herm Head 2014/168 and 2019/79 from Perge. It can be said that the hair structures of these two herms from Perge refer to the late Archaic Period, around 520-480 BC, and stylistic details on their beard point to around 460-450 BC during the Classical Period. 2014/168 Herm Head may have been used in the West Gate, West Colonnaded Street, galleries in front of the North Bath, the North Bath, the North Bath Palaestra and the North Gymnasium (Cornutus Palaestra), and this herm head is from the Roman Imperial Antonines-Severan Period, it can be dated to 138-235 AD. 2019/79 Herm Head should be used in the Perge North Bath Palaestra with its function in gymnasium/palaestra, this herm head can be dated to Roman Imperial Late Antonines-Early Severan Period, around 190-210 AD.

This thesis is an examination of the role of architectural benefaction of the local elite on the urbanization of the Greek cities of Asia Minor in the Roman Imperial period, and its impact on the social status of the benefactor. While providing a theoretical framework for the nature of benefaction in antiquity and the pattern of architectural renewal of the Anatolian cities under the Roman influence, the thesis focuses on a single case study; the Hellenistic City Gate of Perge which was restored by Plancia Magna during the reign of Hadrian. After its renovation, the gate became an indispensible part of the urban activities of Perge and a source of pride for both the city and its donor. Hence, this study constitutes an attempt to investigate the involvement of Plancia Magna’s architectural patronage within the Roman urbanization of Perge and also the transformation of the public persona of Plancia Magna in the center of the male-dominated Roman society.

Onur ve ün gibi kavramlara sosyal hayatlarının merkezinde rol veren Hellen ve Roma toplumları, geleneklerini ve kentlerini bu çerçevede geliştirmişlerdir. Oluşturulan onurlandırma geleneği içerisinde, onur elde etmek isteyen insanlar kamu ve kent yararına işler yapmış, bunun sonucunda birçok hizmet şekli ortaya çıkmıştır. Kentlerin en önemli alanları, en görünür yerleri; hükümdarlara, komutanlara, rahiplere ve soylarının bilinir sürekliliğini sağlamak isteyen birçok soyluya göz önünde olmak, nüfuz kazanmak, hatırlanmak ve propaganda yapmak için alan sağlamıştır. Onurlandırma geleneğinin günümüze ulaşan en güzel kanıtları olan heykeller ise onurlandırılan kişilerin statüsüne göre farklı şekillerde işlenmiş ve sergilenmişlerdir. Bu çalışma, kimlerin nasıl onurlandırıldığı, Hellenistik ve Roma Cumhuriyet-İmparatorluk Dönemleri içerisinde onurlandırma geleneğinin nasıl geliştiği, Batı Anadolu’da bulunan kentlerde hangi alanların onurlandırmalar için kullanıldığı ve de onurlandırma portre heykellerinin nasıl işlendiğine dair bilgiler sunmaktadır.

This article introduces four Greek inscriptionsfound during the Perge excavations carried out under the Antalya Museum since 2012. All the inscriptions are honorific and dated to the Roman Imperial Period. The first one is about Plancia Magna. The second one bears cognomen Falconianus, but the prae-nomen and gens are unknown. This inscription is significant because it includes new information about Perge. With this inscription we learn that the city had a priest for the cult of Fortuna Augusta and cele-brated a triennial agoncalled Nemeseia Severia. The third inscription honors Gnaius Pedanius Valerianus whom we have already known from two inscriptions that before found in the city. This inscription shows that Valerianus organized gladiator fights in Perge. The last inscription belongs to a citizen of Perge named Antiokhos whose father’s name is unknown. This inscription shows that Hestia and Nymphai have a common cult represented with a priesthood in the city.

The ancient city of Perge is located in the Aksu district of Antalya province. Perge is one of the most important ancient city is around the world. The first settlement in Perge began on the acropolis. The earliest findings date back to the Late Neolithic Period. In a clay tablet belonging to the period of Hittite King Tuthaliya iv, the name of the city is mentioned as Parha. Perge, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Roman period has hosted important buildings. Hellenistic towers, gymnasium (palaestra), theater, stadion, agora (macellum), south and north baths are examples of monumental structures. In addition, the period of Hadrian-Antoninus, by means of Pax Romana benefited greatly, can be considered the most brillant period of the city. On the margins of the acropolis, there are generally rock falls which size of 1-15 m. Breaking rocks can have a devastating effect on the archaelolgical site. Similar but more destructive rock overturns occur in the nearby Sillyon ancient city. The acropolis of Perge is geologically located on young sediments known as Quaternary Antalya travertine. In areas where mass movements such as falls and overturning occur in the Acropolis there is an Antalya Travertine (Qa) on the surface, under Kurşunlu Formation (Plk) and Yenimahalle Formation (Plk) beneath this unit. Kurşunlu and Aksu streams and creeks in the region have an abrasive effect on travertines. In addition, the cemented conglomerate unit at the bottom is degraded and transported. Besides that, travertine spreading at high elevations is generally cracked, hollow and permeable. Therefore, precipitation and surface waters infiltrate into this unit and degraded the conglomerate under the travertine. Under these effects, the conglomerate unit whose cement is disintegrated and whose strenght is weakened is subjected to defeat by the effect of vertical stress applied by the upper travertine mass and as a result, collapses, tipping and falling type mass movement occur in travertine mass.  In addition to this, it can be thought that earthquakes have a triggering effect on the mass movements in the Acropolis of Perge.

Öz: Bu makalede Antalya Müzesi tarafından yürütülen 2016 yılı Perge kazıları kapsamında Batı Nekropolisi’nden ele geçen üç Hellence mezar yazıtı tanıtılmaktadır. MS II. yüzyılın sonu ile MS III. yüzyılın başına tarihlenen yazıtların ilk ikisi lahit, üçüncüsü ise bir mezar odası üzerinde yer almaktadır. Söz konusu belgeler öncelikli olarak mezarların uygunsuz kullanımı sonucunda tahsil edilecek olan ceza miktarları ile bu miktar-ların ödeneceği kasalara ilişkin yapılacak olan çalışmalarda bir veri oluşturabilecek niteliktedir. Ayrıca yazıt-larda yer alan kişilerin hem kent hem de bölgede nadiren görülen ya da hiç karşılaşılmamış olan isimleri ise onomastik çalışmalara katkı sunacaktır.

Anahtar Sözcükler: Perge · Batı Nekropolis · Mezar · Yazıt · Onomastik · Fiscus

Abstract: This paper presents three Greek funeral inscriptions which were found in the Western Necropolis of Perge, in the course of research conducted by the Museum of Antalya in 2016. The first two of these in-scriptions, dated to between the end of the 2nd century and the beginning of the 3rd century A.D., are on a sarcophagi, while the third is carved on a tomb chamber. These three inscriptions contribute to studies con-cerning the amount of the fine that is to be collected in case of any improper use made of these tombs; and the treasury to which this fine should be paid, as well as to onomastic studies, as the names of the individuals recorded are unknown or rarely found in the wider region and were previously unrecorded in the city.

Keywords: Perge · Western Necropolis · Tomb · Inscription · Onomastic · Fiscus

Antik Çağ’da Pamphylia bölgesinde yer alan Perge, Antalya ili Aksu ilçesi sınırları içindedir. Akdeniz’den 11 km, Aksu (Kestros) ırmağından 4 km uzaktadır. Kentin akropoliste kurulduğu ve zamanla genişleyerek güneyindeki düzlüğe yayıldığı düşünülmektedir. Perge Aşağı Şehir olarak adlandırılan bu yerleşimi çevreleyen surlar, günümüze dek ayakta kalan görkemli kalıntılarıyla askeri mimarlık açısından önemli bir anıt niteliğindedir. Kentteki ilk bilimsel kazıları başlatan Ord.Prof.Dr. Arif Müfid Mansel, kazı raporlarında surların durumuna da değinmiş, ayrıca Pamphylia’daki şehir surlarıyla ilgili makalesinde Side’yle birlikte Perge’nin surlarını da
incelemiştir. Bu makalenin konusunu oluşturan Perge Aşağı Şehir surları, Perge Kazısı başkanı Prof.Dr. Haluk Abbasoğlu danışmanlığında 2001 yılında tamamladığım “Perge Aşağı Şehir Surlarında Roma Dönemi Uygulamalarına ilişkin Gözlemler” başlıklı Yüksek Lisans tez çalışması kapsamında incelenmiştir.

This article introduces two new sculptures with dedication inscription -Aphrodite and Hercules (?)- found in the palaestra of the North Bath of Perge in 2015. It is shown that both sculptures dedicated by Titus Flavius Clemens Pelopidianus have similarities, in terms of their style and the type of lettering employed, with the Tykhe statue dedicated by Pelopidianus which is today exhibited in the Royal Art Museum in Brussels. From this it can clearly be understood that the Tykhe statue has been abducted from the ancient city of Perge. Finally, information, is provided concerning the identity of Titus Flavius Clemens Pelopidianus, provided through the information recorded in the inscription found in Perge, which honored Claudia Lorentia from Synnada.

Perge is one of the oldest cities of the Pamphylia Region, whose name means “Land of All Tribes”. The name of the city, which is not in Greek but rather, probably, in Hittite or Latin, and her first-goddess “Artemis Pergaia”, whose cult reaches far back into time in Anatolia, prove this..