Vedius and East Gymnasium in Ephesos: Sculptural Decoration

Aim of this project is the publication of the sculptural decoration of the Vedius and East Gymnasium in Ephesos (Turkey) as a volume of the series "Forschungen in Ephesos". Both buildings are linked in many ways: in their typology as bath-gymnasium-complexes with additional palaestra and richly decorated exedra ("Kaisersaal"), in their date (Vedius Gymnasium: about the middle of the 2nd century A.D.; palaestra of the East Gymnasium: 3rd quarter of this century), and by the donor of the Vedius Gymnasium whose statue was erected in both exedrae. According to the building inscription of the Vedius Gymnasium this is a member of the most renowned Ephesian family, the Vedii: Vedius III., the "Bauherr". Both baths were excavated in the early 20th century. Status of research regarding these two buildings is on a different level, though. As architecture and sculptural decor of both baths represent the highest standard of their genre they were widely discussed in scientific literature, but a final publication is still lacking. Recent investigations in the Vedius Gymnasium (since 2000; M. Steskal - M. La Torre) shall lead to a comprehensive publication, as an example of the other four Ephesian baths. A detailed chronology of the building was verified and a second phase of decoration in the 5th century A.D. discovered. In 2003/04, a levelling stratum was excavated under the 5th century floor of the "Kaisersaal" which was interspersed with 373 fragments of smashed sculpture from the original decoration. - Dr. Johanna has already done a lot of preliminary work in her thesis which focused on the sculptural finds from the "old" excavations of both baths. As full-time employee in this project, she will concentrate on the following fields of research: documentation of the recent sculptural finds from the Vedius Gymnasium, reconstruction and interpretation of the sculptural programs of both baths, differentiation of the primary and secondary phases of decoration in the Vedius Gymnasium. Furthermore, the interpretation of the function of the "Kaisersäle" and the study of sculptural workshops will be the focus of her research. As J. Auinger`s studies will be based on the records in the archives of the Austrian Archaeological Institute and on recent architectural and archaeological research, important progress in the fields of classical archaeology and ancient history may be expected.- A prerequisite for a parallel documentation of the sculptural decoration of the East Gymnasium is the architectural investigation and reconstruction of the exedra and propylon of this bath. Therefore, a contract for work for this documentation - which will be published as an annex in the volume - is applied for in this project, too.

Aim of this project is the publication of the sculptural decoration of the Vedius and East Gymnasium in Ephesos (Turkey) as a volume of the series "Forschungen in Ephesos". Both buildings are linked in many ways: in their typology as bath-gymnasium-complexes with additional palaestra and richly decorated exedra ("Kaisersaal"), in their date (Vedius Gymnasium: about the middle of the 2nd century A.D.; palaestra of the East Gymnasium: 3rd quarter of this century), and by the donor of the Vedius Gymnasium whose statue was erected in both exedrae. According to the building inscription of the Vedius Gymnasium this is a member of the most renowned Ephesian family, the Vedii: Vedius III., the "Bauherr". Both baths were excavated in the early 20th century. Status of research regarding these two buildings is on a different level, though. As architecture and sculptural decor of both baths represent the highest standard of their genre they were widely discussed in scientific literature, but a final publication is still lacking. Recent investigations in the Vedius Gymnasium (since 2000; M. Steskal - M. La Torre) shall lead to a comprehensive publication, as an example of the other four Ephesian baths. A detailed chronology of the building was verified and a second phase of decoration in the 5th century A.D. discovered. In 2003/04, a levelling stratum was excavated under the 5th century floor of the "Kaisersaal" which was interspersed with 373 fragments of smashed sculpture from the original decoration. - Dr. Johanna has already done a lot of preliminary work in her thesis which focused on the sculptural finds from the "old" excavations of both baths. As full-time employee in this project, she will concentrate on the following fields of research: documentation of the recent sculptural finds from the Vedius Gymnasium, reconstruction and interpretation of the sculptural programs of both baths, differentiation of the primary and secondary phases of decoration in the Vedius Gymnasium. Furthermore, the interpretation of the function of the "Kaisersäle" and the study of sculptural workshops will be the focus of her research. As J. Auinger`s studies will be based on the records in the archives of the Austrian Archaeological Institute and on recent architectural and archaeological research, important progress in the fields of classical archaeology and ancient history may be expected.- A prerequisite for a parallel documentation of the sculptural decoration of the East Gymnasium is the architectural investigation and reconstruction of the exedra and propylon of this bath. Therefore, a contract for work for this documentation - which will be published as an annex in the volume - is applied for in this project, too.