The Fine Roman Pottery Found in Parion Theater (original) (raw)

The oil lamps, the subject of our study, were found starting from the second layer. They were found increasingly in the third, fourth, and fifth layers. Within the scope of the study, we will examine 3 whole and 19 broken oil lamp.

Metal objects which are one of the most prominent discoveries of humankind has entered into the life of humans with copper which is easily accessible in nature. Since Anatolia is rich in regard to mineral deposits, people have always been able to access mines easily. In pre-historic times, people using flint stones, obsidians and bones as well as wood collected copper and started doing objects. Since metal materials are more durable compared to other things and easier to be formed, they were improved quickly in the life of human beings. Later metal materials were regarded as the major signifier of wealth, definitive in wars and the assistant of being garnished which stems from the feeling of human beings that is being liked. All those factors contributed to the increase and improvement of metal material use with the help of technological factors for ages. In this context, Parion excavations also contribute to the data in use and improvement of metal materials. Metal materials which have been unearthed in theater excavations since 2006 have contributed a lot to the data associated with metal use. The aim of this study is to highlight the changes and practices of theater in ages by means of comparing the metal artifacts with similar samples and introducing them to the scientific world as well as evaluating the layer and the context materials where the artifacts were unearthed. As well as giving information about the structure of theater, these metal artifacts help us to understand the socio-economic state of Parion.

Spectacles performed in the theatres of the Roman cities were of importance for the general public as well as for the benefactors of these events. Within the theatres water spectales, gladiatorial and beast combats were performed along with drama acts. For gladiatorial combats amphitheatres are known to have been built within the empire although in geographical locations such as Greece and Asia Minor where Greek influence and theatre culture had flourished before the Roman Empire’s conquest very few amphitheatres were built. Instead theatres were altered in architecture or built to be multi-functional structures of entertainment. Parion’s theatre is thought to have been built during the Flavian Period in the late 1st century AD and was altered/renovated several times during the second half of the 2nd century and the early 3rd century AD. Having water discharge related components installed in the orchestra, hyposcaeneium and the versura suggests that Parion’s theatre was used as a multi-functional theatre. A further hint of the theatre being a multi-funtional entertainment structure is the gladiatorial combat and venatio (beast combat and displays) related graffiti. This work intends to introduce the water system of the theatre of Parion and evaluate the system along with some architectural aspects of the theatre. Understanding the purpose of these water systems with regard to theatrical spectacles is another intent of this work.