Olympos Episkopeionu Peristyl mozaiklerindeki insan betimlemeleri

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Human Representations on the Peristyle Mosaic of the Olympos Episkopeion The Episkopeion (Episcopal Palace) located in center of the ancient city Olympos on the east coast of Lycia was arranged as a monumental complex with its dimensions about 128x68 m. The circulation in the complex is achieved by the vestibulum and hallways. In this architectural texture, the peristyle in west of the complex is not only a unit for transition as it is in other episcopal complexes in the Mediterranean. Because of its arrangement and location in the complex, the peristyle has a function associated with healing and sacred usage of water. This feature shows that the peristyle was a frequently visited unit in the complex. During the excavations in 2014-2015 the peristyle floor mosaics dated to the beginning of 6th century have been identified. There are five donor depictions and a female personification of ??????, ?????, ????????? (ktisis, kharis, ananeosis) on the mosaic pavement. Three of the donors depicted in ceremonial position under three arches were situated in the east portico of the peristyle. When the rosettes and brickwork in the peristyle are considered together with the architectural depiction on the mosaic pavement, it is seen that this depiction was created as a reflection of the peristyle portico. Two of these donors portrayed themselves as servants ????????? (???) (struktorion) and ????????? (pinkernes). As a result, the mosaic pavement describes ‘creation’ and ‘renewal’ carried out with God's grace by his magnanimous servants. In the Early Byzantine period, benefactors started to depict their donations for the church and through the church for the people, particularly at most visible parts of sacred buildings. The other two human figures located in south of the peristyle have no inscriptions above their heads. Because of this, it is considered that these two figures didn’t represent specific people. Objects carried by the figures as fish tray, sheaf of wheat, sickle and objects around the figures like fishing net and shepherd wand shows that these figures could be representing people belonging to different professions in the city. Figural depictions in the peristyle of the Episkopeion and in other buildings of the city, also the murals of the churches were not destroyed during Iconoclastic period. This shows that the city of Olympos was already abandoned before Iconoclasm. The aim in this study is to evaluate the human figures in the peristyle mosaic of the Episkopeion in its own context and by comparing with the other mosaic depictions in the Mediterranean.