The best-preserved monuments and remains of ancient Cilicia are found in eastern Rough Cilicia, also known as the Olba Region, which extends between the rivers Kalykadnos Göksu and Lamos Limonlu . This region has attracted much scholarly interest and is currently under intensive study. A group of five towers in this region has attracted our notice. These five towers have isodomic masonry, which is contrary to the more conventional towers of the region with polygonal masonry. However, the most noteworthy point about these towers is the date proposed for their construction - the period from the regulations introduced by Pompey in 65 B.C. to the establishment of Provincia Cilicia in A.D. 72 by Vespasian. This dating is quite interesting because it points to security issues even after piracy was eradicated by Pompey in the region. As known, the imperial region encompassing eastern Rough Cilicia came into the Pax Romana with the reign of Augustus. Thus it is worth investigating why such towers were built. There is one more reason for this investigation. During the century starting with the reign of Augustus very few construction activities are observed in the major cities of eastern Rough Cilicia such as Korykos, Elaiussa Sebaste, Diokaisareia, Olba and Seleukeia. However, it is known that the Roman Empire witnessed rich construction activities during the early imperial period. The present article aims to investigate the reasons underlying the scarcity of construction in eastern Rough Cilicia during the concerned period in comparison to other regions of the Empire. Actually, it is aimed at clarifying any connection between the stagnation in construction activities and the towers exhibiting isodomic masonry.
Kilikia’dan günümüze en fazla Dağlık/Taşlık kısmının doğusundaki eserler ve anıtlar korunagelmiştir. Bu bölge, Doğu Dağlık Kilikia’dır ve Olba Bölgesi olarak da adlandırılmaktadır. Doğu Dağlık Kilikia, Kalykadnos Göksu ve Lamos Limonlu Nehirleri arasında yer alır. Bu bölge, Kilikia içerisinde araştırmacılar tarafından en çok ilgi çeken ve araştırma yapılan alan özelliğine sahiptir. Bu bölgenin kale ve kuleleri, kentleşmesi ve kırsal yerleşimleri, evleri, epigrafik buluntuları, mezarları, heykeltıraşlık eserleri , mimari süslemeleri, kamusal yapıları düzenli ve kapsamlı bir şekilde incelenmiş ve sonuçları bilim dünyasıyla paylaşılmıştır
Primary Language | Turkish |
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Journal Section | Research Article |
Authors | |
Publication Date | June 1, 2014 |
Published in Issue | Year 2014 Issue: 17 |
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