Die Elfenbeinplastiken aus dem Hanghaus II in Ephesos

The volume presents a study on the ivories found in the so-called "Hanghaus 2" at Ephesus. After the meticulous restoration and conservation of the small fragments the "big frieze" as well as further sculptures could be put together and reconstructed. The first part of the study includes a detailed description of the development of restoration and reconstruction, while the second part gives an interpretation of the objects based on iconographic and stylistic criteria. The ivories, originally part of the furnishing, were found in 1968 and 1969 in two rooms (SR 18 and SR 28) of the "Hanghaus 2". The restoration of the "big frieze" and the other objects continued until 1982 and lead to the final arrangement of the single pieces. More than 1000 fragments with different heights could be put together to a frieze showing Roman emperors with their entourage, barbarians as well as battle scenes between Romans and barbarians. It can be dated by stylistic criteria into Trajanic times and related to the military expedition of the emperor Trajan against the Parths. The best iconographic parallels can be found on the column of Trajan and on the arch of Benevent. The original function of the frieze and its arrangement is not quite clear. It may have been a part of a representative gate or door. Later on the frieze became part of a housing furnishing. Therefore several parts of it had to be reworked. These ivories, like the relieves representing gods, heroes and signum-carriers or statuettes as well as portraits may be dated into the second quarter of the 3rd century AD, allthough it is not possible to give an exact date for them by stylistic criteria. Comparable ivories or other small findings are more or less missing and the general stylistic development during the 3rd century is broadly discussed. In this case the building history of "Hanghaus 2" is very important. The insula was destroyed by an enormous earthquake in 262 AD and therefore the destruction deposits must be dated into the 3rd quarter of the 3rd century. Finally the ivories seem to be a missing link between imperial and late roman art history because of their secure dating based on contextuality.