Monuments in the Lower Agora and North of the Archaic Temple (Corinth vol. 1.3)

367 Pages·1951·47.21 MB·English

by  Robert L. Scranton

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PERSPECTIVE RESTORATION OF TEIE BABBIUS MONUMENT
J.
by E. Skroubelos and Travlos)
CORINTH
RESULTS OF EXCAVATIONS
CONDUCTED BY
THE AMERICAN SCHOOL OF CLASSICAL STUDIES AT ATHENS
VOLUME I, PART HI
MONUMENTSIN THE LOWER AGORA
AND
NORTH OF THE ARCHAIC TEMPLE
BY
ROBERT L. SCRANTON
THE AMERICAN SCHOOL OF CLASSICAL STUDIES AT ATHENS
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY
1951
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
PRINTED IN GERMANY
AT J. J. AUGUSTIN, GLUCKSTADT
PREFACE
THE CorinthianA gora of the Roman period presents a complexity within its simplicity
which is at once an aesthetic phenomenon of note and a tribute to the earlier builders,
who laid out their sparse array of buildings, one by one, in such a way as to allow for
addition after addition without destroying the essential unity of the plan. But the com-
plexity becomes a problemi n exposition, for the whole cannot be understoodw ithout the
parts, nor the parts by themselves alone. The present volume is a step toward the whole,
although much remains to be done.
Earlier volumes of the Corinth series have set forth most of the monuments on the
north side of the Lower Agora: the Propylaea in Part I of Volume I; the Northwest Stoa
and Shops, and the Facade of the ColossalF igures, in Part II - all by ProfessorR ichard
Stillwell. The present volume describest he West Terrace,w here most of the sanctuaries
were, the Central Terrace where were the Bema, Shops and other monuments, the
remaining part of the north side, above Peirene, and the monuments up and down the
area of the Lower Agora. Thus the Lower Agora and its periphery are completed, with
the exception of the Julian Basilica at the eastern end, which will appear elsewhere; as
will the whole of the Upper Agora, dominated by the South Stoa.
It should be noted that with the exception of the Northwest Stoa, already published,
none of the Greek remains in the area of the Lower Agora is included. This is due partly
to the unity of the volume, but far more to the fact that the Greek remains are to a
considerable extent unvailable for study until further excavation has been carried out,
or, as is the case with the Sacred Spring, are to be published in other contexts.
The accounts of the various buildings offered in this volume owe much to a consider-
able number of people, and perhaps suffer in some ways from the exchange from hand
to hand. Of the buildings on the West Terrace,t he northernmost (Temple D, the temple
of Hermes) with the area to the north was found in 1907 and the excavation was later
completed by Professor Oscar Broneer; the southernmost (Temple F, the temple of
Tyche) with the area to the south, was dug by Dr. Gladys Davidson (now Mrs. Wein-
berg) and Professor Richard Howland, under the general direction of Professors Broneer
and Stillwell. The rest of the buildings were excavated by myself under the general
direction of Professors Stillwell and Morgan, with small exceptions noted in the text.
The formal study of these buildings was begun in 1938, with Mr.W ulf Shaefer, then
engaged by the School as architect at Corinth, working on the drawings; the work was
interrupted by the war and resumed in 1946-47, with Mr. John Travlos, School Archi-
tect, and Mr. Elias Skroubelos,h is assistant for Corinth,r eworkings ome of the drawings
vi PREFACE
already prepared, and making others. Some of the photographs were made before the
war by Hermann Wagner, but most are by Harissiades. Plates 10,, 253,2 61, 274, 57~,
and 592 are by Dr. Saul Weinberg.
The Central Terrace was excavated in sections by a number of people: Professor
Broneer did the eastern half of the eastern Shops, Miss Mary Folse, under the direction
of Professors Broneer and Morgan,d id the remaindero f the eastern section of shops and
the Bema; and Miss Mary Campbell, under Professor Morgan, did the rest. Except as
noted, all of the drawings are by Mr. Travlos and Mr. Skroubelos.A ll of the excavations
benefited from real contributions by the foreman, Evangelos Lekkas.
The study of the monuments north of the Archaic Temple is based on the results of
excavations conducted by ProfessorF . Josef de Waele in 1929 and 1930. In the course of
my own study I have further benefited substantially from discussion of the problems
with B. H. Hill, and Vinko von Peschke contributed important ideas during the course
of his work in preparing the drawings and restorations. The plan of the actual state is
by Peschke, based on original plans by Douglas and Stillwell; the other drawings are all
by Peschke. Most of the photographs are by John L. Caskey, Director of the American
School of Classical Studies at Athens.
It will be clear that I owe much to the notes of the excavators named, and it goes
without saying that far more ideas than could be detailed were offered by the architects
working with me, nor would grateful acknowledgmentb e complete without reference to
the architectural experience of Mr. Leicester B. Holland. Dr. B. H. Hill has provided
important suggestions for the account. Above all, the intimate knowledge of Professor
Broneer on all matters Corinthianh as influenced every page.
The studies of the Lower Agora were made in 1946-47, while I was living at Corinth
on funds provided in part by the Fellowship Committee of the American School of
Classical Studies at Athens, and, in part, by particular generosity, by the Faculty
Fellowship Committee of Vassar College, from which institution I was then on leave of
absence. The study of the monuments north of the archaic temple was made during the
summer of 1949, on funds of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.
Emory University ROBERT SCRANTON
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE .......................... . V
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN PLATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi
LIST OF FOLDING PLATES AT END OF VOLUME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . XV
CHAPTER I. THE BUILDINGS ALONG THE WEST TERRACE ................ 3
I. INTRODUCTION .3......... . . . .... 3
II. ARCHITECTURAL DEVELOPMENT .6................ 6
A. THE TERRACE .............................. 6
B. THE PRECINCT OF HERMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
C. THE AREA NORTH OF THE TEMPLE OF HERMES . . . . . . . . . . . 16
D. THE BABBIUS MONUMENT ................... 17
E. THE FOUNTAIN OF POSEIDON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
F. THE TEMPLES OF "HERAKLES" AND POSEIDON ............ 36
G. TEMPLEK . ............................ 51
H. THE RAMP SOUTH OF THE TEMPLE OF "HERAKLES" . . . . . . .. . 52
I. THE PANTHEON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
J. THE TEMPLEO F TYCHE .......... . . . . .. . .. 57
K. THE SOUTH END OF THE TERRACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
III. CHRONOLOGY AND IDENTIFICATION ..................64
A. CHRONOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
B. IDENTIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
C. HISTORYA FTERA .D. 200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 72
CHAPTER II. THE BUILDINGS ALONG THE CENTRAL TERRACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
1. INTRODUCTION. .......................... 74
II. ARCHITECTURADLE VELOPMENT ................... 76
A. THE EARLY STOA ........................ 76
B. THE RETAINING WALL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
C. THE CIRCULAR MONUMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
D. THE DIONYSION . .. . .. .. .. . . .. . . . . .. .. 85
E. THE BEMA COMPLEX ... . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... 91
F. THE BASE IN FRONT OF THE BEMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
viii TABLE OF CONTENTS
G. THE SHOPS .. .. . .. .. .. . . . .. .. . .. . . .. . .112
H. SMALL MONUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CENTRAL TERRACE .....118
I. PASSAGES THROUGH THE TERRACE .................121
III. CHRONOLOGY AND IDENTIFICATION ................. 124
CHAPTERI II. THE ROMANL OWER AGORA ......... .............. 13
I. INTRODUCTION. ........................ 133
II. THE ROMANP ERIOD ........ .......1...... .135
III. CHRONOLOGY AND GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS .............148
CHAPTER IV. BUILDINGS NORTH OF THE ARCHAIC TEMPLE ............... 155
I. NATURAL SITUATION AND EARLIEST HISTORY OF THE AREA ....... 156
II. BUILDINGS OF THE FIFTH TO THE THIRD CENTURIES B.C. ........ 157
A. THE PAINTED BUILDING ........... .... .. ..157
B. THE NORTH STOA ........................ 163
C. THE ASCENT TO THE ARCHAIC TEMPLE ............... 173
D. CHRONOLOGY AND INTERPRETATION ................ 173
III. THE ROMANP ERIOD .................. ...... 180
A. THE ROMANM ARKET ...................... 180
B. THE ROMAN RETAINING WALL ................. 188
C. OTHERR OMAN CONSTRUCTION... ................ 190
D. CHRONOLOGAYN D INTERPRETATION.. ............... 190
IV. SUMMARY . .. .. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . . . .. . . . . .193
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT
Perspective Restoration of the Babbius Monument ............. Frontispiece
Fig.
1. Plan of the Agora about A.D. 200. ........................ 4
2. Tuscan Capital and Base. ............................ 10
3. Architrave-Frieze from Temple of Hermes ..................... 12
4. Elevation of Block from Corner of Gable of Temple of Hermes ............ 13
5. Elevation of Block from Peak of Gable of Temple of Hermes ............ 13
6. Section of Horizontal Cornice of Temple of Hermes ................. 14
7. First Step of Podium of Babbius Monument .................... 18
8. Second Step of Podium of Babbius Monument ................... 19
9. Base Moulding of Podium of Babbius Monument ................. 20
10. Orthostate for Revetment of Podium of Babbius Monument ..... ....... 21
11. Crown Moulding of Podium of Babbius Monument ................. 22
12. Block from Crown Course of Podium, or Euthynteria of Upper Structure, of Babbius Monu-
.
ment ................................... 23
13. Block of Stylobate of Babbius Monument ..................... 25
14. Restored Drawing of Base of Column of Babbius Monument ............. 26
15. Architrave-Frieze of Babbius Monument .................... 27
16. Cornice of Babbius Monument .......................... 28
17. Drawing of Ceiling Block of Babbius Monument, restored in Position ......... 29
18. Marble Pine Cone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
19. One of the Balustrades, probably from Fountain of Poseidon ............. 34
20. Naturalistically Carved Bases. ............ ....... 35
21. Base for Dolphin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
22. Orthostates from Wall of Temple of "Herakles". ................. 39
23. Blocks of Stylobate of Temple of "Herakles" ................... 40
24. Restored Drawing of Base of Column from Temple of "Herakles" or Temple of Poseidon 41
25. Capital from Temple of "Herakles" or Temple of Poseidon .............. 42
26. Architrave-Frieze from Temple of "Herakles" ................... 42
27. Corner Block from Gable of Temple of "Herakles" ................. 44
28. Block from Peak of Gable of Temple of "Herakles" ................. 45
29. Blocks from Poros Architrave-Frieze and Cornice from Temple of "Herakles" ......45
30. Threshold of Temple of "Herakles" ........................ 47
31. Cornice from Gable of Temple of Poseidon ..................... 48
32. Inscribed Architrave-Frieze of Temple of Poseidon ................. 49
33. Poros Architrave Block, possibly from Pantheon .................. 54
34. Poros Wall-Crown Block, possibly from Pantheon ................. 54
35. Marble Cornice Blocks from Pantheon ....................... 55
36. Capitals from Pantheon ............................. 56
37. Column Base, possibly from Pantheon ...................... 56
38. Crown Moulding from Temple of Tyche ...................... 58
39. Base Moulding from Temple of Tyche ....................... 59
40. Base of Column from Temple of Tyche ...................... 60
x LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT
Fig.
41. Architrave-Frieze Blocks, possibly from Temple of Tyche . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
42. Block of Cornice from Corner of Gable of Temple of Tyche . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
43. Cornice Block from Side of Temple of Tyche . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
44. Tympanum from Temple of Tyche . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
45. The Development of the Buildings on the West Terrace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
46. Plan of Existing Remains and Restored Section of Circular Monument . . . . . . . . 80
47. Sketch Plan of Successive Periods of Circular Monument: About 15 B.C., A.D. 15, and
A.D . 45 ... . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . . . . . . . 84
48. Plan of Existing Remains of Dionysion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
49. Restored Plan of Dionysion ........................... 87
50. Base Mouldings from Scholae of Bema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
51. Orthostate from Schola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
52. Pier, with Orthostate and Crown Moulding, of Schola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
53. Architrave from Eastern Schola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
54. Floor Slab from Bema showing Clamp and Mark of Juncture of Sill behind Schola . . . 98
55. Base Moulding of Bema Podium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
56. Crown Moulding of Bema Podium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
57. Corner Stylobate of Bema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
58. Fragment of Base for Pier of Bema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
59. Fragment of Pier A of Bema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
60. Fragment of Pier B of Bema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
61. Fragment of Pier C of Bema ........................ 105
62. Seat Blocks from Side of Bema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
63. Seat Block from Rear of Bema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
64. Fragment of Orthostate from Side of Bema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
65. Fragment of Pier by Central Entrance to Bema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
66. Flat Arch over Door of Shops ........................ 113
67. Plan of Existing Remains of Altar in Lower Agora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
68. Suggested Restoration of Altar in Lower Agora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
69. Actual and Restored Plans and Sections of Augustales Base . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
70. Small Base in Front of East Schola of Bema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
71. Plan with Half-Elevation and Section of Stepped Base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
72. Pier with Half-Column from Lower Story Fagade of North Stoa . . . . . . . . . . . 165
73. Section of Cornice from Lower Story Facade of North Stoa .. . . . . . . . . . . . 165
74. Balustrade-Pier from North Facade of Second Story of North Stoa . . . . . . . . . . 165
75. Upper Section of Pier from North Faqade of Second Story of North Stoa . . . . . . . . 167
76. Fragment of Doric Capital, possibly from North Stoa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
77. Bedding for Interior Pier from Second Story of North Stoa . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
78. Interior Pier from Second Story of North Stoa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
79. Horizontal Section of Architectural Member found near North Stoa . . . . . . . . . . 171
80. Elevation and Horizontal Section of Anta found near North Stoa . . . . . . . . . . 171
81. Block from Stylobate of North Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
82. Cornice from North Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
83. Restored Section and Elevation of Southeastern Cornero f North Market viewed from the West 189
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN PLATES
Plate
1. General View of the West Terrace from the North
2. View of the West Terrace from the South
3. Trench Showing Stratification South of Temple of Hermes
4. Court in Front of Temple of Hermes
5. View of Foundations of Temple of Hermes
6. 1 The South End of the West Terrace
2 Fragments of Tuscan Capital and Base
7. Temple of Hermes
1 Ionic Capital
2 Marble Architrave-Frieze
3 Top of Frieze
4 Block from Peak of Gable
5 Corner Block from Gable
8. 1 Area North of Temple of Hermes
2 Foundations of Babbius Monument
9. 1 Foundation Core of Babbius Monument Showing Imprint of Planks from Form
2 Blocks from Revetment of Podium of Babbius Monument
10. Babbius Monument
1 Inscription on Orthostate from Podium
2 Stylobate Block
3 Shaft of Column
11. 1 Architrave-Frieze from Babbius Monument
2 Capital from Babbius Monument
12. Babbius Monument
1 Cornice
2 Ceiling Block, exterior
3 Ceiling Block, interior
4 Pine Cone, possibly from Finial
13. Remains of Basins of Fountain of Poseidon
14. 1 Raking Balustrades from Fountain of Poseidon
2 Naturalistically Carved Base, probably from Fountain of Poseidon
15. 1 Marble Dolphin and Base with Dedication
2 Aphrodite from Fountain
16. Foundations of Temples of "Herakles" and Poseidon
17. 1 Poros Orthostates from Temple of "Herakles"
2 Marble Stylobate Block from Temple of "Herakles"
3 Fragment of Column from Temple of "Herakles" or Temple of Poseidon
4 Capitals from Temple of "Herakles" or Temple of Poseidon
18. 1 Inscribed Architrave-Frieze from Temple of "Herakles"
2 Blocks from Entablature of Temples of "Herakles" and Poseidon
19. Temple of "Herakles"
1 Poros Horizontal Cornice from Rear Gable
2 Poros Architrave-Frieze from Rear Corner
3 Fragment of Marble Lintel
4 Fragment of Marble Threshold