The Role of Fountains in Expressing Social Status: Late Antique Fountains in Courtyard House Architecture of Asia Minor

Mehmet Cihangir Uzun

Makale detayları

The Role of Fountains in Expressing Social Status: Late Antique Fountains in Courtyard House Architecture of Asia Minor

Yazarlar:

Mehmet Cihangir Uzun

Yayıncı:

Mersin University

Ana Başlıklar:

Archaeological Science

Dergi:

OLBA Vol.32 Issue XXXIII, pp.113-141

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2024

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001315167

pISSN:

1301-7667

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 In Late Antiquity, aristocrats and city administrators continued the tradition of using impressive architectural and decorative elements in their urban re- sidences, reminiscent of the practices in the Roman Empire. During this pe- riod, especially the most accessible and visible parts of houses were adorned in a remarkable manner to showcase the sophisticated tastes, social status, and wealth of the homeowners to their visitors. For this purpose, a particular architectural design and ornamentation was preferred because this urban elite group, in addition to hosting people under their patronage in extravagant re- sidences, also took advantage of the domestic environment to strengthen rela- tionships with peers of similar status. The courtyard, an indispensable feature of these residences, served particularly as one of the primary areas for wel- coming visitors, thus leading to its meticulous design. This space, which was vital for shaping the initial impression of both the house and its owner, could feature fountains with decorative elements in its most visible area. Similar to the bathrooms and toilets within the house, these fountains were elements that elevated the overall standard of residences. Closely connected to chan- nels and clean waterways, these fountains not only served practical functions but were also used to display the homeowners high status by enhancing the quality and value of the houses.This article primarily focuses on examining the reflections of social changes in residential structures, especially residen- tial fountains, due to the evolving structure of Late Antiquity. It discusses the fundamental characteristics of fountains positioned in courtyards as a type of fountain through a group of luxury residences from Late Antiquity in the regions of Asia Minor and the Mediterranean. Examining a sample of urban houses from Sardis, Aphrodisias, Xanthus, Arycanda, Side, Perge, Sagalas- sos, and Laodicea, and cities outside Asia Minor, this article emphasises the architectural features, functions, and significance for homeowners of the fountains dating from the 4th to 6th centuries AD located in the peristyles and open courtyar- ds of these houses. The brief descriptions provided in the relevant section about the sampled fountains offer a contextual and spatial understanding of the fountains under consideration. Additionally, the objective is to elucidate how these fountains turned into an essential element of the luxurious homes of the elite through their architectural styles and decorative designs, and how homeowners used these fountains as instru- ments to display their social statuses.

 In Late Antiquity, aristocrats and city administrators continued the tradition of using impressive architectural and decorative elements in their urban re- sidences, reminiscent of the practices in the Roman Empire. During this pe- riod, especially the most accessible and visible parts of houses were adorned in a remarkable manner to showcase the sophisticated tastes, social status, and wealth of the homeowners to their visitors. For this purpose, a particular architectural design and ornamentation was preferred because this urban elite group, in addition to hosting people under their patronage in extravagant re- sidences, also took advantage of the domestic environment to strengthen rela- tionships with peers of similar status. The courtyard, an indispensable feature of these residences, served particularly as one of the primary areas for wel- coming visitors, thus leading to its meticulous design. This space, which was vital for shaping the initial impression of both the house and its owner, could feature fountains with decorative elements in its most visible area. Similar to the bathrooms and toilets within the house, these fountains were elements that elevated the overall standard of residences. Closely connected to chan- nels and clean waterways, these fountains not only served practical functions but were also used to display the homeowners high status by enhancing the quality and value of the houses.This article primarily focuses on examining the reflections of social changes in residential structures, especially residen- tial fountains, due to the evolving structure of Late Antiquity. It discusses the fundamental characteristics of fountains positioned in courtyards as a type of fountain through a group of luxury residences from Late Antiquity in the regions of Asia Minor and the Mediterranean. Examining a sample of urban houses from Sardis, Aphrodisias, Xanthus, Arycanda, Side, Perge, Sagalas- sos, and Laodicea, and cities outside Asia Minor, this article emphasises the architectural features, functions, and significance for homeowners of the fountains dating from the 4th to 6th centuries AD located in the peristyles and open courtyar- ds of these houses. The brief descriptions provided in the relevant section about the sampled fountains offer a contextual and spatial understanding of the fountains under consideration. Additionally, the objective is to elucidate how these fountains turned into an essential element of the luxurious homes of the elite through their architectural styles and decorative designs, and how homeowners used these fountains as instru- ments to display their social statuses.

 In Late Antiquity, aristocrats and city administrators continued the tradition of using impressive architectural and decorative elements in their urban re- sidences, reminiscent of the practices in the Roman Empire. During this pe- riod, especially the most accessible and visible parts of houses were adorned in a remarkable manner to showcase the sophisticated tastes, social status, and wealth of the homeowners to their visitors. For this purpose, a particular architectural design and ornamentation was preferred because this urban elite group, in addition to hosting people under their patronage in extravagant re- sidences, also took advantage of the domestic environment to strengthen rela- tionships with peers of similar status. The courtyard, an indispensable feature of these residences, served particularly as one of the primary areas for wel- coming visitors, thus leading to its meticulous design. This space, which was vital for shaping the initial impression of both the house and its owner, could feature fountains with decorative elements in its most visible area. Similar to the bathrooms and toilets within the house, these fountains were elements that elevated the overall standard of residences. Closely connected to chan- nels and clean waterways, these fountains not only served practical functions but were also used to display the homeowners high status by enhancing the quality and value of the houses.This article primarily focuses on examining the reflections of social changes in residential structures, especially residen- tial fountains, due to the evolving structure of Late Antiquity. It discusses the fundamental characteristics of fountains positioned in courtyards as a type of fountain through a group of luxury residences from Late Antiquity in the regions of Asia Minor and the Mediterranean. Examining a sample of urban houses from Sardis, Aphrodisias, Xanthus, Arycanda, Side, Perge, Sagalas- sos, and Laodicea, and cities outside Asia Minor, this article emphasises the architectural features, functions, and significance for homeowners of the fountains dating from the 4th to 6th centuries AD located in the peristyles and open courtyar- ds of these houses. The brief descriptions provided in the relevant section about the sampled fountains offer a contextual and spatial understanding of the fountains under consideration. Additionally, the objective is to elucidate how these fountains turned into an essential element of the luxurious homes of the elite through their architectural styles and decorative designs, and how homeowners used these fountains as instru- ments to display their social statuses.

 Geç Antik Çağda aristokratlar ve kent yöneticileri, Roma İmparatorluk dö- nemindeki uygulamaları hatırlatan, etkileyici mimari ve dekoratif unsurla- rı kentsel konutlarında yaygın olarak kullanma geleneğini sürdürdüler. Bu dönemde, özellikle evlerin en erişilebilir ve en görünür bölümleri, ev sa- hiplerinin sofistike zevklerini, toplumsal statülerini ve servetlerini gelen zi- yaretçileri etkileme amacıyla dikkat çekici bir şekilde süsleniyordu. Bunun için de özel bir mimari tasarım ve süsleme kombinasyonu tercih ediliyordu. Çünkü şehirli bu elit grup, himayeleri altındaki insanları gösterişli konakla- rında kabul etmekle kalmıyor aynı zamanda eş konumdaki olan kişilerle olan ilişkilerini kuvvetlendirmek için de ev ortamından istifade ediyordu. Özel- likle bu evlerin vazgeçilmezi olan avlunun bir ziyaretçinin kabul edildiği ilk alanlardan biri oluşu, bu alanın özenle tasarlanmasına yol açmıştı. Ev ve ev sahibi hakkında edinilen ilk intiba açısından önem arz eden bu mekânın en görünür alanına ise dekoratif özellikleriyle öne çıkan çeşmeler yapılabiliyor du. Söz konusu bu çeşmeler, tıpkı ev içerisinde yer alan hamam ve tuvaletler gibi evlerin standardını yükselten unsurlardı. Kanallar ve temiz su yollarıyla yakın bağlantılı olan bu çeşmeler yalızca pratik amaçlarla hizmet etmekle kalmıyor, evlerin kalitesini ve değerini yükselten bu su unsurlarının varlığı ev sahibinin yüksek statüsünü gösterecek biçimde teşhir için kullanılıyordu. Bu makale, öncelikle Geç Antik Çağın değişen yapısına bağlı olarak sosyal yaşamdaki değişimin konutlara ve tabi ki konut çeşmelerine yansımalarını ele almakta ve bir çeşme türü olarak avlularda konumlandırılan çeşmelerin temel niteliklerini Küçük Asyadaki ve Akdeniz coğrafyasındaki bir grup Geç Antik Çağın lüks konutu üzerinden tartışmaktadır. Sardis, Aphrodisi- as, Ksanthos, Arykanda, Side, Perge, Sagalassos, Laodikeia ve Küçük Asya dışındaki kentlerden seçilen şehir içi evleri içeren örneklemde, bu evlerin pe- ristil ve açık avlularında yer alan ve MS 4.-6. yüzyıl aralığına tarihlendirilen çeşmelerin mimari özellikleri, mekân içerisindeki işlevi ve ev sahibi için öne- mi üzerinde durulmaktadır. Örneklenen çeşmeler hakkında ilgili bölümde ve- rilen kısa betimlemeler, ele alınan çeşmeler hakkında bağlamsal ve mekânsal bir anlayış ortaya koymaktadır. Burada ayrıca çeşmelerin, mimari biçimleri ve dekoratif tasarımıyla elit zümrenin lüks evlerinin vazgeçilmez bir unsuru haline geldiği ve ev sahiplerinin sosyal statülerini görünür kılmak amacıyla bu çeşmeleri nasıl araç olarak kullandıkları ortaya konulması hedeflenmiştir.

Makale detayları

The Role of Fountains in Expressing Social Status: Late Antique Fountains in Courtyard House Architecture of Asia Minor

Yazarlar:

Mehmet Cihangir Uzun

Yayıncı:

Mersin University

Ana Başlıklar:

Archaeological Science

Dergi:

OLBA Vol.32 Issue XXXIII, pp.113-141

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2024

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001315167

pISSN:

1301-7667

Late Antiquity

Courtyard

Peristyle

Housing

Water

FountainGeç Antik Çağ

Avlu

Peristil

Konut

Su

Çeşme.

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Mehmet Cihangir Uzun

Yayıncı: Mersin University

Ana Başlıklar: Archaeological Science

Dergi: OLBA Vol.32 Issue XXXIII, pp.113-141

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 8/2024

Belge Dili: İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.): 2001315167

pISSN: 1301-7667

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Mehmet Cihangir Uzun

Yayıncı:

Mersin University

Ana Başlıklar:

Archaeological Science

Dergi:

OLBA Vol.32 Issue XXXIII, pp.113-141

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2024

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001315167

pISSN:

1301-7667