Wright, James C

English

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Bryn Mawr CollegeScholarship, Research, and Creative Work at Bryn MawrCollegeClassical and Near Eastern Archaeology FacultyResearch and Scholarship Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology1980The Older Terrace at the Argive Heraeum and EarlyCults in the ArgolidJames C. WrightBryn Mawr College, jwright@brynmawr.eduLet us know how access to this document benefits you.Follow this and additional works at: http://repository.brynmawr.edu/arch_pubsPart of the Classical Archaeology and Art History Commons, and the History of Art,Architecture, and Archaeology CommonsThis paper is posted at Scholarship, Research, and Creative Work at Bryn Mawr College. http://repository.brynmawr.edu/arch_pubs/97For more information, please contact repository@brynmawr.edu.Custom CitationWright, James C. 1980. The Older Terrace at the Argive Heraeum and Early Cults in the Argolid. American Journal of Archaeology84:241-242.1980] EIGHTY-FIRST GENERAL MEETING OF THE INSTITUTE 241 ancient iconography, even though by now some types for sculpture and coins have been established by W.G. Gross and others. Little attention has been given to semiprecious stones, causing a great number of false attributions among them. A sound methodology is ob- viously lacking. H. Jucker and H. Kyrieleis have re- cently interpreted the Grand Camde and the Cameo Gonzaga in a manner that has some general bearing on interpretations of Early Imperial cameos. The Marlborough Cameo in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, appears, according to the iconographic and historical evidence, to depict Livia holding the bust of Augustus. It is not the portrait of Tiberius, as many believe, even though the deified Augustus has here certain traits familiar to us from the portraits of his adoptive son. The cameo was carved during the reign of Tiberius and shows Livia as priestess of Augustus. It can be compared with a number of other portraits, which all belong to the same type. We may call this type the sacerdos-type. A corpus of the portraits of Livia, Octavia and Julia will be published by the au- thor within the series Das romische Herrscherbild. TOWARD A CHRONOLOGY OF THE LATER ARTEMISION AT EPHESOS: F.E. Winter, University of Toronto All studies of the last Artemision, including Bam- mer's recent monograph, have dealt primarily with details of the plan and elevation, rather than with the stylistic differences evident in the sculptured columns and capitals. Yet the famous "Alkestis" drum cannot be by the same artist, or even contemporary with all the other "drum" and "pedestal" fragments. At least 4 or 5 hands are involved, and perhaps differences in date of over 50 years. The find-spots further suggest that the main western facade may have been built in stages, some before, the remainder after, the eastern or back end. The capitals BM 1223 and 1228 are clearly earlier than BM 1224. The lower border of the echinus forms a continuous sweeping curve; in 1224 the canalis bor- der and volute meet in a distinct angle. Furthermore, the echinus is relatively lower, and the canalis higher than in I224; and the block of 1224 includes the crowning astragal and the top of the flutes, whereas 1223 and 1228 stop at the bottom of the echinus. 1223 and 1228 obviously belong to the period ca. 340-300 (at the latest), whereas 1224 resembles middle and late Hellenistic examples from Didyma, Sardis and Magnesia. 1223 and 1228 were apparently found at the west end of the temple; Wood thought that 1224 went with the base in situ near the middle of the south outer row. According to the best MSS. of Pliny's NatHist, work on the last Artemision continued for at least 120 years, i.e. from about 350-345 until at least the late third century. Analysis of capitals and sculpture supports Pliny's statement. At Ephesos, as at Didyma, sekos walls, pronaos and inner front peristasis were probably built first, followed by the sculptured col- umns at the eastern end, the remaining elements of the west front and, finally, the plain columns of the flanks (and rear, if any). EXCAVATIONS AT STOBI, YUGOSLAVIA, 1978-1979: James R. Wisema,2, Boston University Excavation at Stobi in Yugoslavian Macedonia dur- ing the past two years has been concentrated in the area of the Episcopal Basilica and in the Synagogue/ Basilica complex. Our principal aims in digging dur- ing this time have been to refine the chronology of the structural changes in the areas concerned; to relate those changes to the sequences of streets and altera- tions in the urban plan; and to explore the earliest levels of occupation. New and helpful information was recovered in all areas. The most significant result of the 1978-79 excava- tion was the identification of the large building below the Episcopal Basilica as a 4th century church. More of the well-preserved frescoed walls and mosaic floor of the building were uncovered. Other continuing activities of the Project include an expanded radio- carbon-dating program for lime mortar and cement, and a computer program for sampling the pottery. The 1979 season was highlighted by significant results in the cleaning and mending of frescoes recovered ear- lier from the 5th century baptistery; important new figural compositions in the frescoes are now visible. The joint American-Yugoslavian staff has now completed i o seasons of research and excavation at Stobi. During the next two years the staff will devote much of its time to analysis and the preparation of the final publications. THE OLDER TERRACE AT THE ARGIVE HERAEUM AND EARLY CULTS IN THE ARGOLID: James Wright, Bryn Mawr College The older terrace at the Argive Heraeum has found no satisfactory niche in the history of that sanctuary nor in that of the early architecture of the Argolid. It has been variously dated from Mycenaean times to the seventh century B.C. with the weight of evidence indicating a date in the eighth century. In 1977 and 1979 I had the opportunity to re-exam- ine the architecture of the terrace and archaic temple. This re-examination shows that the terrace was built in Late Geometric times and supplements Blegen's discovery of sherds of that date from soundings be- hind the facade. It can also be shown, contrary to Drerup's thesis, that the terrace was not built for the seventh century temple. A close reading of the exca- vator Tilton's destription of the stratigraphy over the terrace platform allows correlation with the preserved temple stylobate and firmly fixes the date of the terrace 242 AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY [AJA 84 in the second half of the eighth century. How do we, then, explain the massive Cyclopean character of the terrace at this early date? Coldstream has recently argued that the frequent appearance of Late Geometric deposits in Mycenaean contexts, especially tombs, is evidence of a recognition and reverence by the early Greeks for their heroic ancestors. One focal point of this activity was the Argive Heraeum/Prosymna. Could the great Cyclo- pean-like terrace have been a Geometric imitation of the Cyclopean monuments at Mycenae and Tiryns? A consideration of such monuments likely to have been visible in Geometric times elicits a positive re- sponse. Furthermore, most of these monuments were built in a special Cyclopean style distinguished by the use of conglomerate. This style was originally devel- oped at Mycenae for monumental constructions, such as the facades of tholoi and of the gates, and was ex- ported to Tiryns and Argos. Thus, when selecting a monumental form of masonry in the eighth century, the local people would naturally have turned to this conglomerate style. It remains to ask why the Argive Heraeum terrace was built. Evidence at Mycenae and at Tiryns attests to cult activity at the top of the citadels in the eighth century. Wace remarked that there were traces of a Geometric structure under the Hellenistic temple at Mycenae. A much disputed building over the megaron at Tiryns has recently been associated with an eighth century votive deposit from the citadel, probably offerings to Hera. One other citadel site with traces of a probable Geometric temple is the Acropolis of Athens. If we visualize these cult centers, they would all have ap- peared at the top of the citadels resting on the remains of high Mycenaean palatial terraces and ringed around by Cyclopean circuit walls. At the Argive Heraeum, however, no such architectural remains exist; never- theless, the importance of the site to the Geometric people of the area is well documented by the numer- ous votive deposits in Mycenaean tombs and in the sanctuary. Perhaps, then, the founders of the cult were vying with the neighboring city-cults of Athena (?) at Mycenae and Hera at Tiryns. The construction of an imitation Cyclopean terrace provided an architec- tural pedigree for the cult. The worship of Hera may have some relation to that at Tiryns, since we hear later that the xoanon at Tiryns was removed to the Heraeum. In conclusion, it will be argued that the recognition of the Age of Heroes by the inhabitants of the central Argolid in Geometric times may have been a much more fundamental phenomenon in the origins of local religious centers than previously recognized. The foundation of cults of "city-goddesses," as Persson called them (or perhaps better, citadel goddesses), may have drawn inspiration from the architectural remains and lingering folklore of the ruined Myce- naean citadels. THE SUMMER BATHS IN THUBURBO MAJUS: Fikret Yegul, University of California, Santa Barbara Of the five or six public baths excavated by the French in Thuburbo Majus earlier in the century, the "Summer Baths" are the most important because of their large size and elaborate plan, and because of the interesting modifications they underwent. Although hardly any records of the original excavations are now available, a plan and a short description of the build- ing have been provided in A. Lezine's guide to the city. More recently a careful study and re-evaluation of the Summer Baths have been made possible as a result of the scholarly activities of the American- Tunisian team currently preparing the Corpus of Tu- nisian Mosaics under the directorship of Margaret Alexander and Dr. Beschaouch. On the basis of consid- erations of general planning, construction techniques and mosaic sequence, the structure has been placed within a particular and recognizable tradition of North African bath planning and its major building phases can be formulated with reasonable clarity. The Summer Baths in Thuburbo Majus display a "half-imperial" scheme with a "ring-type" circulation. The frigidarium and caldarium constitute a strong axis with three heated, rectangular halls on the west side. The direction of approach and entrance must always have been from the north, where a generous palaestra of square proportions was added on as a part of a first rebuilding which formally linked the existing bathing complex with the streets and adjoining civic monuments of the city. The palaestra itself is clearly datable to the time of the Severans by an inscription carved on the architrave, which is carried by tall and handsome Corinthian capitals. With their deeply re- cessed, iron-vaulted frigidarium, insular swimming pools, semicircular latrines and somewhat detached palaestra, the Summer Baths exhibit many of the fam- ily characteristics of North African baths, but are most similar to those in Bulla Regia. Three major periods of construction have been tentatively identified: the first and original stage might have had a rectangular caldarium divided into three bays by large piers; later the east bay was con- verted into a semicircular apse. In the final stage the caldarium was reorganized as a trifoliated unit, a Late Antique spatial favorite well represented by a number of 4th and 5th century buildings on the site. 

The Older Terrace at the Argive Heraeum and Early Cults in the Argolid

Scholarship;  Research;  and Creative Work at Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr College
Scholarship, Research, and Creative Work at Bryn Mawr
College
Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology Faculty
Research and Scholarship Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology
1980
The Older Terrace at the Argive Heraeum and Early
Cults in the Argolid
James C. Wright
Bryn Mawr College, jwright@brynmawr.edu
Let us know how access to this document benefits you.
Follow this and additional works at: http://repository.brynmawr.edu/arch_pubs
Part of the Classical Archaeology and Art History Commons, and the History of Art,
Architecture, and Archaeology Commons
This paper is posted at Scholarship, Research, and Creative Work at Bryn Mawr College. http://repository.brynmawr.edu/arch_pubs/97
For more information, please contact repository@brynmawr.edu.
Custom Citation
Wright, James C. 1980. The Older Terrace at the Argive Heraeum and Early Cults in the Argolid. American Journal of Archaeology
84:241-242.
1980] EIGHTY-FIRST GENERAL MEETING OF THE INSTITUTE 241 
ancient iconography, even though by now some types 
for sculpture and coins have been established by W.G. 
Gross and others. Little attention has been given to 
semiprecious stones, causing a great number of false 
attributions among them. A sound methodology is ob- 
viously lacking. H. Jucker and H. Kyrieleis have re- 
cently interpreted the Grand Camde and the Cameo 
Gonzaga in a manner that has some general bearing 
on interpretations of Early Imperial cameos. The 
Marlborough Cameo in the Museum of Fine Arts in 
Boston, appears, according to the iconographic and 
historical evidence, to depict Livia holding the bust of 
Augustus. It is not the portrait of Tiberius, as many 
believe, even though the deified Augustus has here 
certain traits familiar to us from the portraits of his 
adoptive son. The cameo was carved during the reign 
of Tiberius and shows Livia as priestess of Augustus. 
It can be compared with a number of other portraits, 
which all belong to the same type. We may call this 
type the sacerdos-type. A corpus of the portraits of 
Livia, Octavia and Julia will be published by the au- 
thor within the series Das romische Herrscherbild. 
TOWARD A CHRONOLOGY OF THE LATER ARTEMISION 
AT EPHESOS: F.E. Winter, University of Toronto 
All studies of the last Artemision, including Bam- 
mer's recent monograph, have dealt primarily with 
details of the plan and elevation, rather than with the 
stylistic differences evident in the sculptured columns 
and capitals. Yet the famous "Alkestis" drum cannot 
be by the same artist, or even contemporary with all 
the other "drum" and "pedestal" fragments. At least 
4 or 5 hands are involved, and perhaps differences in 
date of over 50 years. The find-spots further suggest 
that the main western facade may have been built in 
stages, some before, the remainder after, the eastern or 
back end. 
The capitals BM 1223 and 1228 are clearly earlier 
than BM 1224. The lower border of the echinus forms 
a continuous sweeping curve; in 1224 the canalis bor- 
der and volute meet in a distinct angle. Furthermore, 
the echinus is relatively lower, and the canalis higher 
than in I224; and the block of 1224 includes the 
crowning astragal and the top of the flutes, whereas 
1223 and 1228 stop at the bottom of the echinus. 1223 
and 1228 obviously belong to the period ca. 340-300 
(at the latest), whereas 1224 resembles middle and 
late Hellenistic examples from Didyma, Sardis and 
Magnesia. 1223 and 1228 were apparently found at the 
west end of the temple; Wood thought that 1224 went 
with the base in situ near the middle of the south 
outer row. 
According to the best MSS. of Pliny's NatHist, 
work on the last Artemision continued for at least 
120 years, i.e. from about 350-345 until at least the 
late third century. Analysis of capitals and sculpture 
supports Pliny's statement. At Ephesos, as at Didyma, 
sekos walls, pronaos and inner front peristasis were 
probably built first, followed by the sculptured col- 
umns at the eastern end, the remaining elements of 
the west front and, finally, the plain columns of the 
flanks (and rear, if any). 
EXCAVATIONS AT STOBI, YUGOSLAVIA, 1978-1979: 
James R. Wisema,2, Boston University 
Excavation at Stobi in Yugoslavian Macedonia dur- 
ing the past two years has been concentrated in the 
area of the Episcopal Basilica and in the Synagogue/ 
Basilica complex. Our principal aims in digging dur- 
ing this time have been to refine the chronology of the 
structural changes in the areas concerned; to relate 
those changes to the sequences of streets and altera- 
tions in the urban plan; and to explore the earliest 
levels of occupation. New and helpful information 
was recovered in all areas. 
The most significant result of the 1978-79 excava- 
tion was the identification of the large building below 
the Episcopal Basilica as a 4th century church. More 
of the well-preserved frescoed walls and mosaic floor 
of the building were uncovered. Other continuing 
activities of the Project include an expanded radio- 
carbon-dating program for lime mortar and cement, 
and a computer program for sampling the pottery. The 
1979 season was highlighted by significant results in 
the cleaning and mending of frescoes recovered ear- 
lier from the 5th century baptistery; important new 
figural compositions in the frescoes are now visible. 
The joint American-Yugoslavian staff has now 
completed i o seasons of research and excavation at 
Stobi. During the next two years the staff will devote 
much of its time to analysis and the preparation of 
the final publications. 
THE OLDER TERRACE AT THE ARGIVE HERAEUM AND 
EARLY CULTS IN THE ARGOLID: James Wright, 
Bryn Mawr College 
The older terrace at the Argive Heraeum has found 
no satisfactory niche in the history of that sanctuary 
nor in that of the early architecture of the Argolid. 
It has been variously dated from Mycenaean times to 
the seventh century B.C. with the weight of evidence 
indicating a date in the eighth century. 
In 1977 and 1979 I had the opportunity to re-exam- 
ine the architecture of the terrace and archaic temple. 
This re-examination shows that the terrace was built 
in Late Geometric times and supplements Blegen's 
discovery of sherds of that date from soundings be- 
hind the facade. It can also be shown, contrary to 
Drerup's thesis, that the terrace was not built for the 
seventh century temple. A close reading of the exca- 
vator Tilton's destription of the stratigraphy over the 
terrace platform allows correlation with the preserved 
temple stylobate and firmly fixes the date of the terrace 
242 AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY [AJA 84 
in the second half of the eighth century. How do we, 
then, explain the massive Cyclopean character of the 
terrace at this early date? 
Coldstream has recently argued that the frequent 
appearance of Late Geometric deposits in Mycenaean 
contexts, especially tombs, is evidence of a recognition 
and reverence by the early Greeks for their heroic 
ancestors. One focal point of this activity was the 
Argive Heraeum/Prosymna. Could the great Cyclo- 
pean-like terrace have been a Geometric imitation of 
the Cyclopean monuments at Mycenae and Tiryns? 
A consideration of such monuments likely to have 
been visible in Geometric times elicits a positive re- 
sponse. Furthermore, most of these monuments were 
built in a special Cyclopean style distinguished by the 
use of conglomerate. This style was originally devel- 
oped at Mycenae for monumental constructions, such 
as the facades of tholoi and of the gates, and was ex- 
ported to Tiryns and Argos. Thus, when selecting a 
monumental form of masonry in the eighth century, 
the local people would naturally have turned to this 
conglomerate style. It remains to ask why the Argive 
Heraeum terrace was built. 
Evidence at Mycenae and at Tiryns attests to cult 
activity at the top of the citadels in the eighth century. 
Wace remarked that there were traces of a Geometric 
structure under the Hellenistic temple at Mycenae. A 
much disputed building over the megaron at Tiryns 
has recently been associated with an eighth century 
votive deposit from the citadel, probably offerings to 
Hera. One other citadel site with traces of a probable 
Geometric temple is the Acropolis of Athens. If we 
visualize these cult centers, they would all have ap- 
peared at the top of the citadels resting on the remains 
of high Mycenaean palatial terraces and ringed around 
by Cyclopean circuit walls. At the Argive Heraeum, 
however, no such architectural remains exist; never- 
theless, the importance of the site to the Geometric 
people of the area is well documented by the numer- 
ous votive deposits in Mycenaean tombs and in the 
sanctuary. Perhaps, then, the founders of the cult were 
vying with the neighboring city-cults of Athena (?) 
at Mycenae and Hera at Tiryns. The construction of 
an imitation Cyclopean terrace provided an architec- 
tural pedigree for the cult. The worship of Hera may 
have some relation to that at Tiryns, since we hear 
later that the xoanon at Tiryns was removed to the 
Heraeum. 
In conclusion, it will be argued that the recognition 
of the Age of Heroes by the inhabitants of the central 
Argolid in Geometric times may have been a much 
more fundamental phenomenon in the origins of local 
religious centers than previously recognized. The 
foundation of cults of "city-goddesses," as Persson 
called them (or perhaps better, citadel goddesses), 
may have drawn inspiration from the architectural 
remains and lingering folklore of the ruined Myce- 
naean citadels. 
THE SUMMER BATHS IN THUBURBO MAJUS: Fikret 
Yegul, University of California, Santa Barbara 
Of the five or six public baths excavated by the 
French in Thuburbo Majus earlier in the century, the 
"Summer Baths" are the most important because of 
their large size and elaborate plan, and because of the 
interesting modifications they underwent. Although 
hardly any records of the original excavations are now 
available, a plan and a short description of the build- 
ing have been provided in A. Lezine's guide to the 
city. More recently a careful study and re-evaluation 
of the Summer Baths have been made possible as a 
result of the scholarly activities of the American- 
Tunisian team currently preparing the Corpus of Tu- 
nisian Mosaics under the directorship of Margaret 
Alexander and Dr. Beschaouch. On the basis of consid- 
erations of general planning, construction techniques 
and mosaic sequence, the structure has been placed 
within a particular and recognizable tradition of North 
African bath planning and its major building phases 
can be formulated with reasonable clarity. 
The Summer Baths in Thuburbo Majus display a 
"half-imperial" scheme with a "ring-type" circulation. 
The frigidarium and caldarium constitute a strong 
axis with three heated, rectangular halls on the west 
side. The direction of approach and entrance must 
always have been from the north, where a generous 
palaestra of square proportions was added on as a part 
of a first rebuilding which formally linked the existing 
bathing complex with the streets and adjoining civic 
monuments of the city. The palaestra itself is clearly 
datable to the time of the Severans by an inscription 
carved on the architrave, which is carried by tall and 
handsome Corinthian capitals. With their deeply re- 
cessed, iron-vaulted frigidarium, insular swimming 
pools, semicircular latrines and somewhat detached 
palaestra, the Summer Baths exhibit many of the fam- 
ily characteristics of North African baths, but are 
most similar to those in Bulla Regia. 
Three major periods of construction have been 
tentatively identified: the first and original stage 
might have had a rectangular caldarium divided into 
three bays by large piers; later the east bay was con- 
verted into a semicircular apse. In the final stage the 
caldarium was reorganized as a trifoliated unit, a Late 
Antique spatial favorite well represented by a number 
of 4th and 5th century buildings on the site. 


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The Older Terrace at the Argive Heraeum and Early Cults in the Argolid

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Scholarship; Research; and Creative Work at Bryn Mawr College