The Heroon from Trysa, Part 2

The Heroon from Trysa is situated on a high plateau in the mountainous region in Lycia/Turkey. The tomb precinct is surrounded by an enclosing wall of former 3 meter height, a sarcophagus was installed in the middle of the precinct. The two upper stone layers of the outer walls in the south and the inner walls of the temenos were decorated with friezes over a length of 211 meter. The first results of the intensive study on the friezes have been published in a monograph by Otto Benndorf und George Niemann in 1889. Benndorf was interested in the monument due to a report of the expedition of Julius August Schönborn, a teacher in Posen, who discovered the Heroon in the forties of the 19th Century. During the first expedition to Lycia, Benndorf and his team rediscovered the Heroon as a nearly intact grave monument. In 1884 the friezes have been transported to Vienna and are among the most important archaeological objects in the Kunsthistorisches Museum. When the visitor has reached the Heroon his gaze fell on the friezes on both sides of the entrance door which was decorated with reliefs. The viewer was impressed by four friezes featuring combats: Amazonomachy, Centauromachy, the Seven against Thebes and a landing battle. The image of Medusa and the bull protomes have an apotropaic effect. The rosettes and the Bes-figures imply a relationship to the afterworld on the door lintel as well as the Kalathiskos-dancers on the inner door jamb. The friezes continue on the inner walls: scenes from Greek mythology on the south side, the Slaughter of the Suitors and the Calydonian Boar Hunt. The Rape of the Leucippides on the north wall, the deeds of Theseus and Perseus on the east wall and the reliefs with the Seven against Thebes on the outer wall are unique in Lycia. The west wall shows combats and a city siege, a subject which scholars usually connect with the siege of Troy although a connection of the frieze to Homer and Troy has not been clarified. The study examines the friezes in context of Lycian culture and society and interprets the selection of the picture themes. In a very exceptional way the friezes visualize Greek, Lycian and Persian subjects and contents which characterize the world of the Lycians and meet the requirements of the tomb owner. The first part of the 2-volume publication includes an introduction, the status of research, typological and iconographical analysis of the friezes, chapters on the style, the interpretation of the Heroon, and a catalogue, including description and technical information on the friezes. The second part includes images, supplements, tables, lists of images and bibliographical abbreviations.