Anatolian Civilizations and Historical Sites - TEDA

ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATIONS:10x19 antik kentler 8/1/11 10:51 AM Sayfa
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built by Miletos, together with the Vedius baths in Ephesos are
examples which reflect the magnificence of this architecture.
Sculptures which decorated the cool room of the Faustina’s Bath
are exhibited at ‹stanbul Archaeological Museum today. Mosaics
mostly feature mythological scenes, but there were also mosaics
which had geometrical patterns. Today, the remnants of these
monumental bath structures can be seen in Ephesos, Perge, Side,
Aspendos and Aphrodisias. Furthermore, we encounter the most
beautiful examples of frescoes decorating the houses of the rich
among the hillside houses of Ephesos and villas in Antandros,
which gave an insight into the development of the art of painting
during the period.
Roman theaters were not leaned against a hill, unlike in the
Hellenistic Period, but they were established on arches and vaults.
However, the architects in Anatolia preferred to lean the theaters
on a slope even during the Roman Period. In the Theater of
Aspendos, which was one of the spectacular structures of the
Roman Period, arches and vaults-that were newly developed by
the Romans-were used and it was also leaned on a hill. This is an
indicator that the older systems were also used besides the new
systems. In Roman theaters, the two-storey wall forming the stage
is elevated, aiming to separate the audience from the outer world
and direct their attention to the theatrical play. Side entrances,
which were diagonal during the Hellenistic Period, became vertical
during the Romans, and the horseshoe-shaped orchestra was
transformed into a semicircle. In the former theaters, the audience
was also able to watch a view, whereas in the Roman theaters, the
audience was disconnected from outside. The Romans created a
distinction by decorating the stage of the theater with the most
beautiful examples of architecture and sculptures. The theaters in
Aspendos and Perge are the best examples of this. Sculptures
decorating the stage section in the theater of Perge are so rich that
there is a separate Perge Hall in Antalya Museum.
Romans also did not ignore the theaters left from the Hellenistic
Period, but they repaired and used them, as we see in the Theaters
of Miletos and Priene. During the Roman Period, amphitheaters
where gladiators and wild animals fought were not very popular.
They were still built in some cities. While imitating the works of art
of the Classical and Hellenistic Periods, Roman sculptures also