Roman Sarcophagi from Ephesos

The study of Roman sarcophagi found at Ephesos (Turkey; the main Austrian excavation in the mediterranean area) is of special importance within the scope of the study of Ephesian sculpture in general. Ephesos is especially suited for a "case study" in the field of sarcophagi research: as the capital of the Roman province of Asia, as a centre of commerce, due to the existence of marble quarries and due to local production of sarcophagi and a great variety of imported sarcophagi. The innovative approach of the proposed project focuses on the documentation and interpretation of the whole spectrum of sarcophagi in an important Roman town, whereas the prevailing research on sarcophagi from Asia Minor focuses mainly on specific types of sarcophagi, their imagery and especially on questions of chronology. The incorporation of all the sarcophagi found at Ephesos is based on the studies in the current project P13186-SPR and the cooperation with the colleagues of the Ephesos Museum at Selcuk - where most of the sarcophagi from Ephesos are housed - aiming at a joint publication. Only a joint publication of all the finds - either from Austrian, British or Turkish excavations at Ephesos - makes sense in terms of science. Finally, the image of the whole spectrum of sarcophagi found at Ephesos affords also insights into the production of sarcophagi in general, into economy and commerce of Imperial Roman Asia Minor. The goal of this project is the scientific and photographic documentation of all sarcophagi found at Ephesos, in the form of a systematic catalogue. Methodological basis for this catalogue is the autopsy of all respective monuments in the museums in Turkey and other countries. Based on this integrative catalogue, stylistic criteria for the chronology of the locally produced sarcophagi will be developed. The imported sarcophagi can be dated according to the chronology of the monuments at their production centres. New insights into the period of local sarcophagus production and its dependence on other centres of production will be gained, too. In the course of cooperation with the colleagues of the Selcuk Museum, the body of material will be divided according to findspots and types of sarcophagi. Dr. Heinz, who is recommended to conduct the research in this proposed project, will publish approximately half of the sarcophagi herself, but, together with the applicant, will overview all the monuments and will support the joint publication.

The goal of this project was the systematic documentation of all Roman sarcophagi found at Ephesos (Asia Minor, Turkey), as part of the publication program regarding the sculpture of this ancient city. Whereas the current research on sarcophagi from Asia Minor focuses mainly on chronological and typological issues and on their decorative programs, the focus of this project is on the spectrum of the sarcophagi found in one city: i.e. the local production as well as the import and export of sarcophagi. Ephesos, as capital of the Roman province of Asia and as important harbour and commercial center, is especially well suited for such a study. In the course of the project, Margarete Heinz documented almost all of the sarcophagi - housed in Turkish and British museums and in Berlin (about 800 monuments) - , and finished large parts of the catalogue. Important for international research are the following results: the beginning of a busy local sarcophagus production at Ephesos already in the early Roman imperial era, the changes in the choice of decorative motives and in the import of sarcophagi from other production centres, from the 1st through the 3rd centuries A.D., and the end of local sarcophagus production in the 3rd century A.D. The evaluation by Hans Taeuber (University of Vienna) of the inscriptions on the sarcophagi will contribute to the clarification of chronological issues and enhance our image of Ephesian society. Moreover, the project intensified the cooperation with the Ephesos Museum at Selçuk where most of the monuments are stored. In the course of the project, Margarete Heinz published two relevant articles in a scientific journal. The results of her research will be published in a volume of the series "Forschungen in Ephesos". The completion of this publication will be the goal of the follow-up project, P 17122-G02.