Allianoi
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Allianoi is an ancient spa settlement (dating predominantly from the Roman Empire period, 2nd century A.D.) situated near Bergama (ancient Pergamon) in Turkey's İzmir Province. The site is located at 18 kilometers from Bergama in the north-east direction, on the road to the town of İvrindi. It is right inside the projected reservoir of Yortanlı Dam whose construction is actually brought to completion. The dam has not yet been put in activity due precisely to the ongoing discussion in Turkey on finding means to save the site of Allianoi which would inevitably be inundated and disappear once the dam starts to collect water.
One particularity of Allianoi is its being a very recent discovery. It had been mentioned once by the 2nd century orator and medicinal writer Aelius Aristides’s Hieroi Logoi (Sacred Tales) (III.1 ), one of the key sources for our knowledge on the science of healing as it was understood at that time. No other writer of antiquity nor any epigraphic finding refer to Allianoi.
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[edit] Pre-historical Age
During the excavations conducted in the forest to the west of Allianoi, a vessel of the type called as Yortan (dating from the Early Bronze Age II) was found. On the hills of Çakmak Tepe (Flint Hill) a high quantity of flintstones were found during the surveys conducted. Other than these, two stone axes were also unearthed from an earth fill. In the light of this material, one can conclude that there was some form of prehistoric settlement at or nearby Allianoi.
[edit] Hellenistic Era
Because of the hot springs, there must have been a thermal bath complex at this period as well, but probably at a smaller scale then the Roman site. No architectural material was found in Allianoi belonging to this period and only a few archaeological and numismatic clues.
[edit] Roman Era
In the Roman Imperial Period (2nd century A.D.), in line with the erection of a multitude of urban centers in Anatolia and also with the famous Asklepion of nearby Pergamon, the number of public works constructed in Allianoi cult center increased as well. Many of the edifices encountered at the site today date from this period. Besides the thermal baths; the bridges, the streets, the insulae, the Connection Building, propylon and the nympheum were all planned and built during this period.
[edit] Byzantine Era
Allianoi was still densely populated during the Byzantine period. Nevertheless, as has been the case for the neighboring Pergamon, the socio-economical tissue of the urban settlement had thinned. Some architectural elements of the Roman Period are seen to have been re-used by the Byzantine settlers. Using the paved streets of the stoas and main streets of the Roman times, they have built simpler dwellings. The most important buildings of Allianoi, namely the thermal baths and the nympheum, were used for a long time afterwards, together with some minor alterations. A big church, of a basilical plan, was built in the east and chapels were constructed in and nearby the settlement. Metal, ceramic and glass workshops were all traceable to this period.
[edit] Ottoman Era
The site was known as Paşa Ilıcası (The Thermal Baths of the Pasha) in the Ottoman Period. It is mentioned in the yearbooks for the vilayet (province) of Aydın, but does not seem to have been used at an intensive scale. There are no traces from this period apart from a few pieces of coins. In the beginning of the 20th century, the sub-governor of the region did start an effort to put the spa complex back to use and the big pool section has been partially re-furbished. Also, all along the Ottoman period and up to 1979, the Roman Bridge situated to the west of the settlement was used to connect the towns of Bergama and İvrindi.
[edit] Present Day
The Bath Complex was partially cleaned of the accumulated silt in the beginning of the century. Despite continuous flooding problems, the hot springs section was in use in the 1950’s. In 1992, the Roman Bridge that was also still in use was re-constructed with some distortions, without paying attention to the conservational aspects. Also, in 1992, some rather shabby reconstruction work had been done in Allianoi self and a modern building was constructed over the historical remains. The complex thus built was put out of use after the heavy floods experienced in February 1998. Parts of the site have been used as farmland. These recent elements have been removed in 2003 by the excavation team and the major parts of the Bath Complex beneath them started to come to light.
[edit] References
- YARAŞ A. (2004) "Allianoi", TÜRSAB Magazine, August 2004,
- MÜLLER, H., "Allianoi. Zur Identifizierung eines antiken Kurbades im Hinterland von Pergamon ", IstMitt 54, 2004; 215-225.
- YARAŞ 1999 A. Yaraş, "Bergama'da İkinci Antik Sağlık Merkezi : Allianoi", Yapı Aylık Kültür, Sanat ve Mimarlık Dergisi, 217 / Aralık, s. 35-38.
- YARAŞ 1999 A. Yaraş "1998 Yortanlı Barajı Kurtarma Kazısı", Bergama Belleten 9, s. 44-50.
- YARAŞ 2001 A. Yaraş, "Su İçinde Gelen Sağlık, Su İçinde Yok Olan Kültür! ; Allianoi", Toplumsal Tarih , Sayı 85, Ocak, s. 26-29.
- YARAŞ 2001 A. Yaraş, "Tanrıçanın Hüznü Allianoi", Atlas 97,Nisan, s.48-66.
- YARAŞ 2000 A. Yaraş, "Yortanlı (Bergama) Baraj Havzası’ndaki Tarihsel Miras", Zeugma Yalnız Değil Türkiye'de Barajlar ve Kültürel Miras, Aralık, s. 109-115.
- YARAŞ 2001 A. Yaraş, "1998-1999 Bergama Yortanlı Barajı Kurtarma Kazısı" 11. Müze Çalışmaları ve Kurtarma Kazıları Sempozyumu (24-26 Nisan 2000 Denizli), Ankara, s.105-118.
- YARAŞ 2001 A. Yaraş, "2000 Yılı Allianoi Kurtarma Kazısı", XXIII. Kazı Araştırma ve Arkeometri Sempozyum Sonuçları , Ankara, (25-30 Mayıs 2001 Ankara), I. Cilt, s.463-478.
- YARAŞ 2002 A. Yaraş, "Allianoi " Arkeoatlas sayı 1, s.148-149.
- YARAŞ 2002 A. Yaraş, "İzmir’de Yeni Bir Ören Yeri ; Allianoi", İzmir Kent Kültürü Dergisi , Şubat, sayı 5, s.165-170.
- YARAŞ 2003 A.Yaraş "Allianoi Geç Antik Çağ Seramik Fırınları", 3. Uluslararası Eskişehir Pişmiş Toprak Sempozyumu, (16-30 Haziran 2003 Eskişehir), s. 404-410.
- YARAŞ 2003 A. Yaraş, "2002 Yılı Allianoi Kurtarma Kazısı", XXIV. Kazı Araştırma ve Arkeometri Sempozyum Sonuçları,(27-30 Mayıs 2001 Ankara), s. 373-384.Ankara.
- YARAŞ 2004 A.Yaraş, "Allianoi 2003 Kazıları", XXV Uluslararası Kazı Sonuçları Toplantısı, (26-31 Mayıs 2002 Ankara), Baskıda.
