Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 2020
One of the notable features of the Sardis Synagogue was its extensive decoration with floor mosai... more One of the notable features of the Sardis Synagogue was its extensive decoration with floor mosaics, wall paintings, marble revetment, and opus sectile, with an ornamental relief arcade also appearing in the forecourt. Reliefs carved in the distinctive "champlevé" technique presented a series of arches with spandrels featuring vases, vines, and birds set against a reddish ground. The sculptural approach is not well known in the region, although examples of similar work have been reported across Europe and the east Mediterranean, most notably at Aizanoi, Antioch, and Kourion. Other fragments of incised and color-inlaid relief at Sardis suggest that the Synagogue arcade was carved by sculptors who were both familiar with the site and aware of broader trends in architectural ornament in the 6th century C.E.
The Sardis excavation sector known as MMS was a center of habitation for over a millennium. Archa... more The Sardis excavation sector known as MMS was a center of habitation for over a millennium. Archaic houses built near the great mudbrick fortification were succeeded by scattered Hellenistic and Roman dwellings, to be followed in late antiquity by imposing residences of complex plan and ambitious decoration. Like other parts of the city, these houses saw extensive structural damage in the early A.D. 600s. Raised floors, flimsy partitions and makeshift hearths are among the few signs of lingering occupation. 1 Room 9 of the rambling townhouse at the center of the sector was one of these short-lived pockets of late activity. Excavation in 1985 found that an interior wall was removed, the floor raised 0.4-0.5 m, and a bench assembled using dry-laid brick and stone. Associated coins, lamps and pottery date to the 6th and early 7th c., placing the activity well after 600. 2 Of particular interest among the artifacts is a corroded sheet of copper alloy. 3 The fragment is more or less flat and rectangular in shape (20 cm wide by 12 cm high). Irregular edges show that it was trimmed from a larger object of apparently rounded shape. An irregular hole cut through the center confirms the intended size of the modified work, whose curved edges imply a separate, underlying form. Lacking signs of physical attachment (as on decorative appliqués) or mechanical use (such as lock plates), the object resembles the lid of a small box or casket, for which a lost handle would have facilitated its use. 4 The metal plaque is distinguished by decoration with fine incised lines and punched patterns (fig. 1). A row of small, stamped circles defines an upper band with letters formed by even smaller circles spelling ΚΑΛΟΙC. The rest is occupied by two figures bearing shields and weapons who face in opposite directions toward now-missing opponents. Both are depicted with detailed gear and credible proportions. The figure on the left wears a cloak or chlamys over his shoulder and carries an ovoid shield. Viewed from the back, he prepares to throw a rock at an unknown target. His counterpart, who wears a short tunic and mid-calf boots, carries a similar shield. 5 He holds a vertical spear in his right hand and 1 For an overview, see M. L. Rautman, "A Late Roman townhouse at Sardis," in E. Schwertheim (ed.), Forschungen in Lydien (Asia Minor Studien 17, 1995) 49-66. 2
The Sardis Synagogue is a key monument of diaspora Judaism, whose rich visual language runs throu... more The Sardis Synagogue is a key monument of diaspora Judaism, whose rich visual language runs through its decoration and furnishings. Votive texts, inscribed reliefs, and freestanding lampstands found in the building make clear the central importance of the menorah as a resonant religious image but also a functional object. Differences in material, size, form, and decoration reflect multiple sources for the Sardis menorahs, with imported examples apparently guiding the production of distinctive local versions over two centuries. As a group, they document the diffusion of visual ideas as well as contacts with other Jewish communities in late antiquity.
Excavation at Sardis continued to focus on Late Roman and Archaic monuments. Of several Late Roma... more Excavation at Sardis continued to focus on Late Roman and Archaic monuments. Of several Late Roman town houses, one that is now fully exposed has 12 groundfloor rooms with high-quality decoration (mosaic floors, wall painting, and stucco) and contained a variety of artifacts including a hoard of 21 glass weights related to coinage. The 200 m long segment of Archaic city wall, which has been under excavation for 20 seasons, evidently was built no earlier than the late seventh century B.C. and was remodeled in several major ways before destruction in the mid-sixth century B.C. Massive Archaic construction 700 m away may also belong to city defenses. In the Hellenistic-Roman Temple of Artemis, ancient alterations and unfinished parts were clarified, and a colossal marble head, identified as Commodus, was recovered from a Late Roman pit below the pronaos. In largely unexcavated parts of the city site a survey of Archaic and Roman buildings clarified orientations and alignments that provide evidence for systems of urban planning. Evidence for early channels of the Hermus River suggests that in antiquity it passed close to Sardis (whereas * The Archaeological Exploration of Sardis, or Sardis Expedition, is cosponsored by the Harvard UniversityArt Museums and Cornell University and has conducted summer field campaigns every year since 1958. The expedition is financially supported by many corporate and individual donors. The conservation program is partly supported by a grant from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation. Study projects connected with the publication of the results of fieldwork before 1977 have been supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. their sound advice, supportive attitude, and unstinting assistance greatly facilitated expedition programs. The following were staff members for 1996-1998 (for all three seasons where no year is given): C.H. Greenewalt, Jr., field director; T. Yalcinkaya, administrative officer and agent; A. Ramage, associate director and specialist for antiquities from today it is distant by several kilometers). A geophysical survey, using resistivity methods, was conducted in unexcavated parts of the site that totaled 5.7 ha.* Sardis is located at the south side of the Hermus River (modern Gediz Cayl) plain, where plain meets foothills of the Tmolus mountain (Boz Dag) range. The city site (fig. 1) lies mostly on the north side of a natural acropolis (300 m high) between two mountain streams, the Pactolus on the west and the Hyllus (? modern Tabak Cayl) on the east; both streams descend from the mountains and empty into the Hermus (which today is located 2.5-3 km north of the site). Some 9 km north of the city site, on the far side of the plain, is the large tumulus cemetery Bin Tepe; beyond it lies the Gygaean Lake. The city site has a Late Roman circuit wall that encloses roughly 130 ha (ca. 320 acres), and in earlier eras habitation extended well beyond those limits sectors HoB and PN; L.M. Gadbery, associate director and head of the Sardis Office in Cambridge, Mass.; CJ. Wright, camp manager; S.H. Buchwald, specialist for churches (1998); A. McClanan, specialist for church graves (1997). To all of these for hard work, high professional standards, patience, and team spirit, heartfelt thanks. The section on Roman occupational material was written by Rautman, the rest by Greenewalt. EXCAVATION Excavation was conducted in several locales of the city site. The principal locale was the group of sectors MMS/N, MMS, and MMS/S, located at the foot of the acropolis, southeast of the Roman bathgymnasium and synagogue complex: sector MMS/ N north of the modern Ankara-Izmir highway; sector MMS located immediately south of the highway and subdivided into east, central, and west parts respectively called I, II, and III; and sector MMS/S located immediately south of MMS. At that group of sectors, fortifications of the Archaic era and a Late Roman suburb have been under excavation since 1977 (fig .3 Other locales included three in central and northern parts of the site at sectors MD1/S, MD2(1) and MD2(2) ( , and the Temple of Artemis ( .
Page 1. The Sardis Campaigns of 1994 and 1995 CRAWFORD H. GREENEWALT, JR., AND MARCUS L. RAUTMAN ... more Page 1. The Sardis Campaigns of 1994 and 1995 CRAWFORD H. GREENEWALT, JR., AND MARCUS L. RAUTMAN Abstract Excavation at Sardis in 1994 and 1995 further exposed a Late Roman suburb, with houses and colonnaded ...
Two deep wells were recently excavated at Sardis at Sector MMS. Both were in use during the expan... more Two deep wells were recently excavated at Sardis at Sector MMS. Both were in use during the expansion of a Late Roman residential quarter in the fifth century, one apparently supplying public needs and the other built into a domestic courtyard. Study of the finds suggests that the wells were filled during three phrases in the late fifth, late sixth, and early seventh centuries. These three deposits document the prominence and variety of local wares used at Sardis, as well as the dwindling supply of imported fine wares and amphorae. Among the most important discoveries are a popular local imitation of Late Roman C/Phocaean Red Slip ware and two types of single-handle amphorae, apparently also locally produced. Late Roman residential complex, courtyard with well; view to north. was cut through at least 6.0 m of colossal Archaic architecture and 16.0 m of gravel and conglomerate to reach the fifth-century water table. No ground water was noted during excavation in 1985. The 0.88 m wide shaft is lined in its upper 11.0 m with schist blocks alternating with paired courses of mortared bricks. Opposite footholds were cut at ca. 0.8 m intervals but they stop with the final brick band at *93.0, below which continue lightly mortared schist blocks and brick fragments.
Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 2020
One of the notable features of the Sardis Synagogue was its extensive decoration with floor mosai... more One of the notable features of the Sardis Synagogue was its extensive decoration with floor mosaics, wall paintings, marble revetment, and opus sectile, with an ornamental relief arcade also appearing in the forecourt. Reliefs carved in the distinctive "champlevé" technique presented a series of arches with spandrels featuring vases, vines, and birds set against a reddish ground. The sculptural approach is not well known in the region, although examples of similar work have been reported across Europe and the east Mediterranean, most notably at Aizanoi, Antioch, and Kourion. Other fragments of incised and color-inlaid relief at Sardis suggest that the Synagogue arcade was carved by sculptors who were both familiar with the site and aware of broader trends in architectural ornament in the 6th century C.E.
The Sardis excavation sector known as MMS was a center of habitation for over a millennium. Archa... more The Sardis excavation sector known as MMS was a center of habitation for over a millennium. Archaic houses built near the great mudbrick fortification were succeeded by scattered Hellenistic and Roman dwellings, to be followed in late antiquity by imposing residences of complex plan and ambitious decoration. Like other parts of the city, these houses saw extensive structural damage in the early A.D. 600s. Raised floors, flimsy partitions and makeshift hearths are among the few signs of lingering occupation. 1 Room 9 of the rambling townhouse at the center of the sector was one of these short-lived pockets of late activity. Excavation in 1985 found that an interior wall was removed, the floor raised 0.4-0.5 m, and a bench assembled using dry-laid brick and stone. Associated coins, lamps and pottery date to the 6th and early 7th c., placing the activity well after 600. 2 Of particular interest among the artifacts is a corroded sheet of copper alloy. 3 The fragment is more or less flat and rectangular in shape (20 cm wide by 12 cm high). Irregular edges show that it was trimmed from a larger object of apparently rounded shape. An irregular hole cut through the center confirms the intended size of the modified work, whose curved edges imply a separate, underlying form. Lacking signs of physical attachment (as on decorative appliqués) or mechanical use (such as lock plates), the object resembles the lid of a small box or casket, for which a lost handle would have facilitated its use. 4 The metal plaque is distinguished by decoration with fine incised lines and punched patterns (fig. 1). A row of small, stamped circles defines an upper band with letters formed by even smaller circles spelling ΚΑΛΟΙC. The rest is occupied by two figures bearing shields and weapons who face in opposite directions toward now-missing opponents. Both are depicted with detailed gear and credible proportions. The figure on the left wears a cloak or chlamys over his shoulder and carries an ovoid shield. Viewed from the back, he prepares to throw a rock at an unknown target. His counterpart, who wears a short tunic and mid-calf boots, carries a similar shield. 5 He holds a vertical spear in his right hand and 1 For an overview, see M. L. Rautman, "A Late Roman townhouse at Sardis," in E. Schwertheim (ed.), Forschungen in Lydien (Asia Minor Studien 17, 1995) 49-66. 2
The Sardis Synagogue is a key monument of diaspora Judaism, whose rich visual language runs throu... more The Sardis Synagogue is a key monument of diaspora Judaism, whose rich visual language runs through its decoration and furnishings. Votive texts, inscribed reliefs, and freestanding lampstands found in the building make clear the central importance of the menorah as a resonant religious image but also a functional object. Differences in material, size, form, and decoration reflect multiple sources for the Sardis menorahs, with imported examples apparently guiding the production of distinctive local versions over two centuries. As a group, they document the diffusion of visual ideas as well as contacts with other Jewish communities in late antiquity.
Excavation at Sardis continued to focus on Late Roman and Archaic monuments. Of several Late Roma... more Excavation at Sardis continued to focus on Late Roman and Archaic monuments. Of several Late Roman town houses, one that is now fully exposed has 12 groundfloor rooms with high-quality decoration (mosaic floors, wall painting, and stucco) and contained a variety of artifacts including a hoard of 21 glass weights related to coinage. The 200 m long segment of Archaic city wall, which has been under excavation for 20 seasons, evidently was built no earlier than the late seventh century B.C. and was remodeled in several major ways before destruction in the mid-sixth century B.C. Massive Archaic construction 700 m away may also belong to city defenses. In the Hellenistic-Roman Temple of Artemis, ancient alterations and unfinished parts were clarified, and a colossal marble head, identified as Commodus, was recovered from a Late Roman pit below the pronaos. In largely unexcavated parts of the city site a survey of Archaic and Roman buildings clarified orientations and alignments that provide evidence for systems of urban planning. Evidence for early channels of the Hermus River suggests that in antiquity it passed close to Sardis (whereas * The Archaeological Exploration of Sardis, or Sardis Expedition, is cosponsored by the Harvard UniversityArt Museums and Cornell University and has conducted summer field campaigns every year since 1958. The expedition is financially supported by many corporate and individual donors. The conservation program is partly supported by a grant from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation. Study projects connected with the publication of the results of fieldwork before 1977 have been supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. their sound advice, supportive attitude, and unstinting assistance greatly facilitated expedition programs. The following were staff members for 1996-1998 (for all three seasons where no year is given): C.H. Greenewalt, Jr., field director; T. Yalcinkaya, administrative officer and agent; A. Ramage, associate director and specialist for antiquities from today it is distant by several kilometers). A geophysical survey, using resistivity methods, was conducted in unexcavated parts of the site that totaled 5.7 ha.* Sardis is located at the south side of the Hermus River (modern Gediz Cayl) plain, where plain meets foothills of the Tmolus mountain (Boz Dag) range. The city site (fig. 1) lies mostly on the north side of a natural acropolis (300 m high) between two mountain streams, the Pactolus on the west and the Hyllus (? modern Tabak Cayl) on the east; both streams descend from the mountains and empty into the Hermus (which today is located 2.5-3 km north of the site). Some 9 km north of the city site, on the far side of the plain, is the large tumulus cemetery Bin Tepe; beyond it lies the Gygaean Lake. The city site has a Late Roman circuit wall that encloses roughly 130 ha (ca. 320 acres), and in earlier eras habitation extended well beyond those limits sectors HoB and PN; L.M. Gadbery, associate director and head of the Sardis Office in Cambridge, Mass.; CJ. Wright, camp manager; S.H. Buchwald, specialist for churches (1998); A. McClanan, specialist for church graves (1997). To all of these for hard work, high professional standards, patience, and team spirit, heartfelt thanks. The section on Roman occupational material was written by Rautman, the rest by Greenewalt. EXCAVATION Excavation was conducted in several locales of the city site. The principal locale was the group of sectors MMS/N, MMS, and MMS/S, located at the foot of the acropolis, southeast of the Roman bathgymnasium and synagogue complex: sector MMS/ N north of the modern Ankara-Izmir highway; sector MMS located immediately south of the highway and subdivided into east, central, and west parts respectively called I, II, and III; and sector MMS/S located immediately south of MMS. At that group of sectors, fortifications of the Archaic era and a Late Roman suburb have been under excavation since 1977 (fig .3 Other locales included three in central and northern parts of the site at sectors MD1/S, MD2(1) and MD2(2) ( , and the Temple of Artemis ( .
Page 1. The Sardis Campaigns of 1994 and 1995 CRAWFORD H. GREENEWALT, JR., AND MARCUS L. RAUTMAN ... more Page 1. The Sardis Campaigns of 1994 and 1995 CRAWFORD H. GREENEWALT, JR., AND MARCUS L. RAUTMAN Abstract Excavation at Sardis in 1994 and 1995 further exposed a Late Roman suburb, with houses and colonnaded ...
Two deep wells were recently excavated at Sardis at Sector MMS. Both were in use during the expan... more Two deep wells were recently excavated at Sardis at Sector MMS. Both were in use during the expansion of a Late Roman residential quarter in the fifth century, one apparently supplying public needs and the other built into a domestic courtyard. Study of the finds suggests that the wells were filled during three phrases in the late fifth, late sixth, and early seventh centuries. These three deposits document the prominence and variety of local wares used at Sardis, as well as the dwindling supply of imported fine wares and amphorae. Among the most important discoveries are a popular local imitation of Late Roman C/Phocaean Red Slip ware and two types of single-handle amphorae, apparently also locally produced. Late Roman residential complex, courtyard with well; view to north. was cut through at least 6.0 m of colossal Archaic architecture and 16.0 m of gravel and conglomerate to reach the fifth-century water table. No ground water was noted during excavation in 1985. The 0.88 m wide shaft is lined in its upper 11.0 m with schist blocks alternating with paired courses of mortared bricks. Opposite footholds were cut at ca. 0.8 m intervals but they stop with the final brick band at *93.0, below which continue lightly mortared schist blocks and brick fragments.
Le volume des Mélanges, dédié à Jean-Pierre Sodini, correspondant de l’Institut, pour son 65e ann... more Le volume des Mélanges, dédié à Jean-Pierre Sodini, correspondant de l’Institut, pour son 65e anniversaire, comporte quarante-sept contributions consacrées pour la plupart aux régions et aux sites explorés par le dédicataire. Il présente des études de différents types de matériel archéologique – sculpture, céramique et métal – ainsi que quelques descriptions littéraires de monuments.
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ISBN : 2-9519198-7-5