Evaluation of the Ancient Mortars of the Stratonikeia Theater in the Light of the Analyzes

Abstract

Stratonikeia, one of the central cities of the Inner Caria Region in the ancient period, is located within the borders of the Eskihisar neighborhood of Yatagan District, Mugla Province. It is traced that the name of the region was Idrias at the beginning of the 5th century BC. The territory of Stratonikeia was ruled by the Seleucids in the final stages of Antiochus I's reign after 268 BC, and the region was renamed Stratonikeia in 260 BC. Our study was carried out in the theater, one of the most important edifices in the Hellenistic city. The cavea of the theater was placed on the natural slope facing north, as in Greek theaters. Originally constructed as a single storey during the Hellenistic Period (2nd century BC), the theater's stage construction was expanded by two storeys during the Augustus Period to become a three-story structure. The original plaster and mortar samples from three distinct sections of the theater construction in the Ancient City of Stratonikeia were subjected to spot tests, conductivity measurements, calcination (ignition loss), acid loss, and sieve analyses. Point loading strengths were also evaluated. The binder/aggregate mixture ratios of the mortars at Stratonikeia Theatre were roughly calculated to be 1/3 during the evaluation of the analysis data. It was observed that the mortar mixture ratios are consistent with the ancient mortar measurements suggested by Vitruvius. Moreover, uniaxial compressive strengths were ascertained by the point loading test, and the existence of water-soluble salts and their pozzolanic mortar instances were examined based on conductivity measurements and ignition loss results.