The Theatre of Diokaisareia

ISBN-13: 9783110222210 / Angielski / Twarda / 2011 / 144 str.

Marcello Spanu

Opis

The theatre of Diokaisareia (Cilicia, Asia Minor) has been partially excavated in 1993 by a team of Turkish archaeologists, when a large part of the cavea and part of the scaena have been brought to light. On this occasion many elements of the architectural decoration were uncovered and a significant fragment of the dedicatory inscription was rediscovered. This text allows to date the building during the principate of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, making this theatre the only dated monument so far in Roman Cilicia. Now the remains have been studied within the German research project directed by Detlev Wannagat. The purpose of the volume is to make a complete survey of the main architectural features of the theatre. Starting from the collation of travellers' notes and photographs, in breadth and detail Marcello Spanu analyses and illustrates all available data. The study provides a detailed survey of the ancient structures and a thorough catalogue of all the preserved architectural elements, accompanied by an accurate graphic and photographic documentation. Starting from these data, the author proposes the reconstruction of the monument, taking into account its main features and its situation within the ancient city's topographic layout. The book offers new light on the researches on Cilicia and on Asia Minor, proposing new hypothesis on architecture of ancient theatres and on architectural decoration history.

The theatre of Diokaisareia (today Uzuncaburç) located in the Roman province of Cilicia (Turkey) has been studied within the German Archaeological Research Project directed by Detlev Wannagat. The volume offers a thorough historical and architectural analysis of the building erected in the second half of the 2nd century AD. The text is complemented by an extended collection of figures and plates, providing a detailed graphic and photographic documentation and reconstruction. This is an important contribution to the study of roman theatres and architectural decoration in Asia Minor.

Recenzje

"On louera la publication de cet excellent travail qui livre une documentation de première main établie avec soin ; l'analyse de Marcello Spanu, à la fois prudente et riche, contribue à cerner l'originalité d'une école architecturale cilicienne d'époque impériale et augure de beaux développements futurs."
Laurent Tholbecq in: BMCR 2012.09.59

O autorze

Marcello Spanu, Università degli studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.