STUCCOWORK FROM METROPOLIS; A DETAILED RESEARCH ON STYLISTIC FEATURE OF THE STUCCOES IN THE ROMAN BATH-PALAESTRA COMPLEX

Authors

  • Burak ARSLAN Ege University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14795/jaha.13.1.2026.1400

Keywords:

Stucco, Metropolis, Roman Bath-Palaestra Complex, Wall Painting, Architectural Ornament

Abstract

This study examines the stuccoes found together in the Roman Bath-Palaestra Complex, the largest public structure uncovered to date in Metropolis, during the 2011–2012 excavations. All of the identified examples were uncovered during the excavation of a particular room. The relationship between the stucco and the space, and its use in the interior design of the room, is one of the research topics of the article. The aim is to reveal the functional and structural significance of the room within the bath with the help of the finds such as stucco and colored wall plaster (fresco). Dating proposals have been made based on the decorative features of the stucco, contextual information, and comparisons with similar examples. Stuccowork and application have been preferred for centuries, particularly in the interior design of public buildings and private residences during the Roman Imperial period. However, it has mostly remained in the background as a research area and has not been sufficiently studied. Therefore, this study both evaluates the high-quality stuccowork in the Roman Bath-Palaestra complex in Metropolis and draws attention to stucco, which is an important part of ancient architecture and craftsmanship.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

ADAM 1995

Adam, J. P., Roman Building, Materials and Techniques (London - New York: Routledge).

ALLAG 2019

Allag, C., Stucs de Syrie: maîtrise des matériaux et des techniques, Syria Stucs d’Orient Suppl. V, 217-230.

AYBEK/ARSLAN 2022

Aybek, S./Arslan, B., Eski Çağlardan Günümüze Torbalı Ovasında Ulaşım Ağı ve Metropolis’in Stratejik Önemi. In: Nurdan, S./Özler, M. (eds.), 18. Türk Tarih Kongresi, Vol. 11 (Ankara), 341-359.

AYBEK 2016

Aybek, S., Metropolis’te Bulunan Üç Roma Hamamı. Arkeoloji ve Sanat Dergisi 153, 109-124.

AYBEK/ARSLAN/GÜLBAY 2021

Aybek, S./Arslan, B/Gülbay, O., The Peristyle House of Metropolis (İstanbul: Ege Yayınları).

BEDELLO-TATA 2014

Bedello-Tata, M., Ostia Antica. Terme del Nuotatore. Stucchi dall’ambiente 18. In: Zimmermann, N. (ed.), Antike Malerei Zwischen Lokalstil und Zeitstil. Akten des 11th Internationalen Kolloquiums der Aipma 13–17 September 2010 in Ephesos. Archäologische Forschungen Bd. 23 (Vienna: Austrian Academy of Sciences Press), 121-126.

GENSHEIMER 2018

Gensheimer, M. B., Decoration and Display in Rome’s Imperial Thermae, Messages of Power and their Popular Reception at the Baths of Caracalla (Oxford: Oxford University Press).

GÜLBAY 2023

Gülbay, O., Home & Family Life. In: Aybek, S./Arslan, B. (eds.), Metropolis; A City, Its People, Their Way of Life (İstanbul: Arkeoloji ve Sanat Yayınları), 161-162.

HAMARI 2019

Hamari, P. (2019). Roman-Period Roof Tiles in the Eastern Mediterranean Towards Regional Typologies (Ph.D. diss., University of Helsinki).

KADIOĞLU 2013

Kadıoğlu, M., Anazarbos Zafer Takı: Restitüsyon ve Tarihleme Önerisi, In: Kökdemir, G. (ed.), A Festschrift for Orhan Bingöl on the Occasion of His 67th Birthday (Ankara: Bilgin Kültür Sanat Yayıncılık), 237-260.

KAYMAK 2015

Kaymak, G., Side P Tapınağı’nda Yeni Araştırmalar, Yeni Bulgular ve Yeni Yorumlar, Adalya 18, 203-240.

MAURINA 2023

Maurina, B., Fragments de corniches en stuc provenant des fouilles de la Vigna Barberini sur le Palatin à Rome. In : Carrive, M./Spühler, A./Tomassini, P. (eds.), Peintures et stucs d’époque romaine. Études toichographologiques (Bordeaux : collection de l’AFPMA 12), 217-228.

MORA/DÍAZ/ÁLVAREZ 2014

Mora, F. J. H./Díaz, A. F./Álvarez, M. B., Decoracion parietal de Augusta Emerita. Repertorio pictorico y contexto arqueológico a partir de las excavaciones de un vertedero del subirbio norte. In: Zimmermann, N. (ed.), Antike Malerei Zwischen Lokalstil und Zeitstil. Akten des 11th Internationalen Kolloquiums der Aipma 13–17 September 2010 in Ephesos. Archäologische Forschungen Bd. 23, (Vienna: Austrian Academy of Sciences Press), 461-471.

PLANT 2022

Plant, J., Hard as Rock and Light as Air: Stucco Ceilings in Roman Domestic Space. In: Haug, A./Hielscher, A./Taylor Lauritsen, M. (eds.), Materiality in Roman Art and Architecture, Aesthetics, Semantics and Function (Berlin: De Gruyter), 113-130.

RATHMAYR 2010

Rathmayr, E., Vorbemerkungen zu den Bauphasen. In: Krinzinger, F. (ed.), Hanghaus 2 in Ephesos, Die Wohneinheiten 1 und 2, Baubefund, Ausstattung, Funde. Forschungen in Ephesos VIII/8 (Vienna: Austrian Academy of Sciences Press), 86-100.

ROZENBERG 2019

Rozenberg, S., Stuccowork in the Ancient Landof Israel, Syria Stucs d’Orient Suppl. V, 183-200.

SCHEDING 2011

Scheding, P., Der römische Stuck eines kaiserzeitlichen Großbaus. Zur Bedeutung monumentaler Stuckausstattung im römischen Karthago, Kölner und Bonner Archaeologica 1, 37-44.

SCHMIDT-COLINET 2013

Schmidt-Colinet, A, Zusammenfassung: Palmyras Reichtum durch weltweiten Handel. In: Schmidt-Colinet A./al-As’ad, W. (eds.), Palmyras Reichtum Durch Weltweiten Handel, Archäologische Untersuchungen im Bereich der Hellenistischen Stadt, Bd. 2, Kleinfunde (Vienna: Verlag Holzhausen), 261-300.

THÜR 2014

Thür, H., Baubeschreibung. In: Thür, H./Rathmayr, E. (eds.), Hanghaus 2 in Ephesos, Die Wohneinheit 6, baubefund, ausstattung, funde. Forschungen in Ephesos 8/9, (Vienna: Austrian Academy of Sciences Press), 29-120.

TOBER 2013

Tober, B., Stuck und Wandmalerei. In: Schmidt-Colinet A./al-As’ad, W. (eds.), Palmyras Reichtum Durch Weltweiten Handel, Archäologische Untersuchungen im Bereich der Hellenistischen Stadt, Bd. 1, Architektur und ihre Ausstattung (Vienna: Verlag Holzhausen), 170-253.

WADSWORTH 1924

Wadsworth, E. L., Stucco Reliefs of the First and Second Centuries Still Extant in Rome, Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome 4, 9-102. DOI: 10.2307/4238518.

WRIGHT 2005

Wright, G. R. H., Ancient Building Technology, Vol. 2, Materials, Technology and Change in History, Vol. 7/1 (Leiden - Boston: Brill).

ZIMMERMANN 2010

Zimmermann, N., Wandmalerei. In: Krinzinger, F. (ed.), Hanghaus 2 in Ephesos, Die Wohneinheiten 1 und 2, Baubefund, Ausstattung, Funde. Forschungen in Ephesos 8/8 (Vienna: Austrian Academy of Sciences Press), 105-121.

Downloads

Published

2026-05-14

Issue

Section

Archaeological material

How to Cite

STUCCOWORK FROM METROPOLIS; A DETAILED RESEARCH ON STYLISTIC FEATURE OF THE STUCCOES IN THE ROMAN BATH-PALAESTRA COMPLEX. (2026). JOURNAL OF ANCIENT HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.14795/jaha.13.1.2026.1400

Similar Articles

11-20 of 412

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.