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AN UNUSUAL FLOWER AMONG THE TRADITIONAL ANTHEMION IN SMINTHEION: ARUM MACULATUM

Year 2024, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 1 - 19, 30.04.2024
https://doi.org/10.54707/meric.1375486

Abstract

Anthemion frieze in Greek and Roman architecture consists of lotus and palmette
flowers, whose origins are based on Egyptian and Assyrian art. Compared to the classical
and Hellenistic architectural samples, there is much more variety in the architectural
decorations of the Roman period, apart from the lotus-palmette. The reason for this diversity
in decoration stems from the idea of Rome to emphasize the local and to increase the richness
in decoration. During this period, the change in the arrangement of the lotus-palmette shows
itself with the different arrangement and style of the lotus and palmettes on the same
structure. In this thought, which aims to create richness instead of uniformity, decorations
can either increase or decrease in size or be adorned in high relief or shallow, depending on
where they are used. Vivid specimens that show the highest quality of workmanship and are
pleasing to the eye are preferred in visible areas. Anthemion decoration has been widely used
in the Hellenistic triple arrangement since the Augustus period and the Julius-Claudian
period. In the Traian and Hadrian Periods, a return to the classical style of the Augustus
period was made, and the triple arrangement became fashionable again. One example that
adds a new type to this traditional lotus-palmette (anthemion) frieze is the Smintheion frieze
block fragment. Here, the arum maculatum is placed instead of the lotus flower between the
alternating open and closed palmettes seen in the most common anthemion decoration. Arum
maculatum and arum species have been used in the treatment of some diseases since ancient
times to find healing and continue to be used today. The fact that this plant is the most
powerful and showy plant that survived around Gülpınar-Smintheion must have had a great
impact on people. Arum is a plant that impresses people with its external appearance and
leaves different implications with its sexual connotation. At the same time, it is different from
other plants in that it contains both male and female flowers and its physical structure. Due
to this structure, it attracts insects to itself and makes extraordinary fertilization. The appearance of the plant and its use in the field of health caused it to be named differently.
The depiction on the frieze block in Smintheion must be related to the healing properties of
Apollo

References

  • Abu-Darwish M.S., Efferth T. (2018). “Medicinal Plants from Near East for Cancer Therapy, Frontiers in Pharmacology 9, 1-17.
  • Alachkar A., Jaddouh A., Elsheikh M. S., Bilia A.R., Vincieri F.F. (2011). “Traditional Medicine in Syria: Folk Medicine in Aleppo Governorate”, Natural Product Communications, 6.1., 79-84.
  • Başaran, C. (1995). “Anadolu Roma Çağı Lotus-Palmet Örgesinde Tip Gelişimi”, TAD XXVIII, 1989, 53-72.
  • Baytop, T. (1999). Türkiye’de Bitkilerle Tedavi, Geçmişte ve Bugün, İstanbul.
  • Baytop, T. (2007). Türkçe Bitki Adları Sözlüğü, Ankara. An Unusual Flower Among The Traditional… The Meric Journal Cilt:8 Sayı:1 Yıl:2024
  • Bedalov, M. ve Küpler, P. (2005). “Studies on the genus Arum (Araceae)”, Bulletin de la Société Neuchâteloise des Sciences Naturelles, 128, 43-70.
  • Bertoldi, V. (1936). “Nomina tusca in Dioscoride,” Studi Etruschi 10, 295-320.
  • Bonacelli, B. (1928). “La natura e gli Etruschi,” Studi Etruschi 2, 427-569.
  • Cook, A.B. (1894). “Animal worship in the Mycenaean Age”, JHS 14, 81-169.
  • Correa, P. C. (2002), “Arcadian Nightingales”, Ordia Prima 1, 121-126.
  • Doğan, H. (2022). “Eski Anadolu Türkçesi Metinlerine Göre Bitkilerde İşaret Teorisi”, KOSBED 43, 51-67.
  • Gibernau, M., Macquart, D., Przetaki, G. (2004). “Pollination in the Genus Arum – a review”, Aroideana 27, 148-166.
  • Grimaldi, I. M., vd. (2018). “Literary evidence for taro in ancient Mediterranean: A Chronology of names and uses in a multilingual World”, Plos One, 13.6.
  • Harrison AP, Turfa J. M. (2010). “Were natural forms of treatment for Fasciola hepatica available to the Etruscans?” Int J Med Sci, 7, 16-25.
  • Ivancheva, S., Stantcheva, B. (2000). “Ethnobotanical inventory of medicinal plants in Bulgaria”, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 69, 165-172.
  • Kachmarov, V., Kozuharova, E., Naychov, Z., Momekov, G., Mincheva, I. (2015). “Ethnobotany And Ethnopharmacology of Arum Maculatum L. (Araceae) In Bulgaria With An Emphasis On Its Effect Against Haemorrhoids”, International Journal Of Pharmaceutical, Chemical And Biological Sciences, 5.2., 394-402.
  • Kaplan, D. (2016). “Smintheion’dan Abraxas tasvirli bir Amulet ve İkonografisi”, Anadolu/Anatolia 42, 95-123.
  • Klöckner, A. (2017). “Tertium genus? Representations of religious practitioners in the cult of Magna Mater”, Beyond Priesthood. Religious Entrepreneurs and Innovators in the Roman Empire (Ed. R. L. Gordon-G. Petridou-J. Rüpke), Berlin 2017, 343-384.
  • Krappe, A. (1947). “Απόλλωoν Oνος” CP 42, 223-234. An Unusual Flower Among The Traditional… The Meric Journal Cilt:8 Sayı:1 Yıl:2024
  • Lack, A. J., Diaz, A. (1991). “The pollination of Arum maculatum L.- a historical review and new observations”, Watsonia 18, 333-342.
  • Leonti M, Casu L, Sanna F, Bonsignore L. (2009). “A comparison of medicinal plant use in Sardinia and Sicily – De Materia Medica revisited?”, Journal Ethnopharmacol 121, 255-267.
  • Ray, J., vd. (1693). A collection of curious travels and voyages in two volumes, London.
  • Rumscheid F., (1994). Untersuchungen zur Kleinasiatischen Bauornamentik des Hellenismus.
  • Scarborough, J. (2006). “More on Dioscurides’ Etruscan Herbal” Etruscan News 6, 1, 9.
  • Schede, M. (1909). Antikes Traufleisten Ornament zur Kunstgeschichte des Auslandes, Strassburg.
  • Schwertheım, E., ve Tanrıöver, A., (2011). “Die Ausgrabungen des Jahre 2009 in Alexandria Troas”, KST 32/1, 301-318.
  • Torelli, M. (1976). “La situazione in Etruria”, Hellenismus in Mittelitalien (Ed. P. Zanker), Gottingen, 97-110.
  • Turnheim, Y. (1998). “Imported Patterns and their Acclimatization in Eretz Israel - the Anthemion”, Assaph. Studies in art history 3, 19-36.
  • Uzun, E., Sarıyar G., Andersen, A., Karakoç, B., Ötük, G., Oktayoğlu, E., Pırıldar, S. (2004). “Traditional medicine in Sakarya Province (Turkey) and antimicrobial activities of selected species”, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 95, 287-296.

AN UNUSUAL FLOWER AMONG THE TRADITIONAL ANTHEMION IN SMINTHEION: ARUM MACULATUM

Year 2024, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 1 - 19, 30.04.2024
https://doi.org/10.54707/meric.1375486

Abstract

Anthemion frieze in Greek and Roman architecture consists of lotus and palmette flowers, whose origins are based on Egyptian and Assyrian art. Compared to the classical and Hellenistic architectural samples, there is much more variety in the architectural decorations of the Roman period, apart from the lotus-palmette. The reason for this diversity in decoration stems from the idea of Rome to emphasize the local and to increase the richness in decoration. During this period, the change in the arrangement of the lotus-palmette shows itself with the different arrangement and style of the lotus and palmettes on the same structure. In this thought, which aims to create richness instead of uniformity, decorations can either increase or decrease in size or be adorned in high relief or shallow, depending on where they are used. Vivid specimens that show the highest quality of workmanship and are pleasing to the eye are preferred in visible areas. Anthemion decoration has been widely used in the Hellenistic triple arrangement since the Augustus period and the Julius-Claudian period. In the Traian and Hadrian Periods, a return to the classical style of the Augustus period was made, and the triple arrangement became fashionable again. One example that adds a new type to this traditional lotus-palmette (anthemion) frieze is the Smintheion frieze block fragment. Here, the arum maculatum is placed instead of the lotus flower between the alternating open and closed palmettes seen in the most common anthemion decoration. Arum maculatum and arum species have been used in the treatment of some diseases since ancient times to find healing and continue to be used today. The fact that this plant is the most powerful and showy plant that survived around Gülpınar-Smintheion must have had a great impact on people. Arum is a plant that impresses people with its external appearance and leaves different implications with its sexual connotation. At the same time, it is different from other plants in that it contains both male and female flowers and its physical structure. Due to this structure, it attracts insects to itself and makes extraordinary fertilization. The appearance of the plant and its use in the field of health caused it to be named differently. The depiction on the frieze block in Smintheion must be related to the healing properties of Apollo.

References

  • Abu-Darwish M.S., Efferth T. (2018). “Medicinal Plants from Near East for Cancer Therapy, Frontiers in Pharmacology 9, 1-17.
  • Alachkar A., Jaddouh A., Elsheikh M. S., Bilia A.R., Vincieri F.F. (2011). “Traditional Medicine in Syria: Folk Medicine in Aleppo Governorate”, Natural Product Communications, 6.1., 79-84.
  • Başaran, C. (1995). “Anadolu Roma Çağı Lotus-Palmet Örgesinde Tip Gelişimi”, TAD XXVIII, 1989, 53-72.
  • Baytop, T. (1999). Türkiye’de Bitkilerle Tedavi, Geçmişte ve Bugün, İstanbul.
  • Baytop, T. (2007). Türkçe Bitki Adları Sözlüğü, Ankara. An Unusual Flower Among The Traditional… The Meric Journal Cilt:8 Sayı:1 Yıl:2024
  • Bedalov, M. ve Küpler, P. (2005). “Studies on the genus Arum (Araceae)”, Bulletin de la Société Neuchâteloise des Sciences Naturelles, 128, 43-70.
  • Bertoldi, V. (1936). “Nomina tusca in Dioscoride,” Studi Etruschi 10, 295-320.
  • Bonacelli, B. (1928). “La natura e gli Etruschi,” Studi Etruschi 2, 427-569.
  • Cook, A.B. (1894). “Animal worship in the Mycenaean Age”, JHS 14, 81-169.
  • Correa, P. C. (2002), “Arcadian Nightingales”, Ordia Prima 1, 121-126.
  • Doğan, H. (2022). “Eski Anadolu Türkçesi Metinlerine Göre Bitkilerde İşaret Teorisi”, KOSBED 43, 51-67.
  • Gibernau, M., Macquart, D., Przetaki, G. (2004). “Pollination in the Genus Arum – a review”, Aroideana 27, 148-166.
  • Grimaldi, I. M., vd. (2018). “Literary evidence for taro in ancient Mediterranean: A Chronology of names and uses in a multilingual World”, Plos One, 13.6.
  • Harrison AP, Turfa J. M. (2010). “Were natural forms of treatment for Fasciola hepatica available to the Etruscans?” Int J Med Sci, 7, 16-25.
  • Ivancheva, S., Stantcheva, B. (2000). “Ethnobotanical inventory of medicinal plants in Bulgaria”, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 69, 165-172.
  • Kachmarov, V., Kozuharova, E., Naychov, Z., Momekov, G., Mincheva, I. (2015). “Ethnobotany And Ethnopharmacology of Arum Maculatum L. (Araceae) In Bulgaria With An Emphasis On Its Effect Against Haemorrhoids”, International Journal Of Pharmaceutical, Chemical And Biological Sciences, 5.2., 394-402.
  • Kaplan, D. (2016). “Smintheion’dan Abraxas tasvirli bir Amulet ve İkonografisi”, Anadolu/Anatolia 42, 95-123.
  • Klöckner, A. (2017). “Tertium genus? Representations of religious practitioners in the cult of Magna Mater”, Beyond Priesthood. Religious Entrepreneurs and Innovators in the Roman Empire (Ed. R. L. Gordon-G. Petridou-J. Rüpke), Berlin 2017, 343-384.
  • Krappe, A. (1947). “Απόλλωoν Oνος” CP 42, 223-234. An Unusual Flower Among The Traditional… The Meric Journal Cilt:8 Sayı:1 Yıl:2024
  • Lack, A. J., Diaz, A. (1991). “The pollination of Arum maculatum L.- a historical review and new observations”, Watsonia 18, 333-342.
  • Leonti M, Casu L, Sanna F, Bonsignore L. (2009). “A comparison of medicinal plant use in Sardinia and Sicily – De Materia Medica revisited?”, Journal Ethnopharmacol 121, 255-267.
  • Ray, J., vd. (1693). A collection of curious travels and voyages in two volumes, London.
  • Rumscheid F., (1994). Untersuchungen zur Kleinasiatischen Bauornamentik des Hellenismus.
  • Scarborough, J. (2006). “More on Dioscurides’ Etruscan Herbal” Etruscan News 6, 1, 9.
  • Schede, M. (1909). Antikes Traufleisten Ornament zur Kunstgeschichte des Auslandes, Strassburg.
  • Schwertheım, E., ve Tanrıöver, A., (2011). “Die Ausgrabungen des Jahre 2009 in Alexandria Troas”, KST 32/1, 301-318.
  • Torelli, M. (1976). “La situazione in Etruria”, Hellenismus in Mittelitalien (Ed. P. Zanker), Gottingen, 97-110.
  • Turnheim, Y. (1998). “Imported Patterns and their Acclimatization in Eretz Israel - the Anthemion”, Assaph. Studies in art history 3, 19-36.
  • Uzun, E., Sarıyar G., Andersen, A., Karakoç, B., Ötük, G., Oktayoğlu, E., Pırıldar, S. (2004). “Traditional medicine in Sakarya Province (Turkey) and antimicrobial activities of selected species”, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 95, 287-296.
There are 29 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Art History, Theory and Criticism (Other)
Journal Section Araştırma Makalesi
Authors

Davut Kaplan 0000-0002-5690-1639

Publication Date April 30, 2024
Submission Date October 13, 2023
Acceptance Date March 11, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2024 Volume: 8 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Kaplan, D. (2024). AN UNUSUAL FLOWER AMONG THE TRADITIONAL ANTHEMION IN SMINTHEION: ARUM MACULATUM. Meriç Uluslararası Sosyal Ve Stratejik Araştırmalar Dergisi, 8(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.54707/meric.1375486
AMA Kaplan D. AN UNUSUAL FLOWER AMONG THE TRADITIONAL ANTHEMION IN SMINTHEION: ARUM MACULATUM. Meriç Uluslararası Sosyal ve Stratejik Araştırmalar Dergisi. April 2024;8(1):1-19. doi:10.54707/meric.1375486
Chicago Kaplan, Davut. “AN UNUSUAL FLOWER AMONG THE TRADITIONAL ANTHEMION IN SMINTHEION: ARUM MACULATUM”. Meriç Uluslararası Sosyal Ve Stratejik Araştırmalar Dergisi 8, no. 1 (April 2024): 1-19. https://doi.org/10.54707/meric.1375486.
EndNote Kaplan D (April 1, 2024) AN UNUSUAL FLOWER AMONG THE TRADITIONAL ANTHEMION IN SMINTHEION: ARUM MACULATUM. Meriç Uluslararası Sosyal ve Stratejik Araştırmalar Dergisi 8 1 1–19.
IEEE D. Kaplan, “AN UNUSUAL FLOWER AMONG THE TRADITIONAL ANTHEMION IN SMINTHEION: ARUM MACULATUM”, Meriç Uluslararası Sosyal ve Stratejik Araştırmalar Dergisi, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 1–19, 2024, doi: 10.54707/meric.1375486.
ISNAD Kaplan, Davut. “AN UNUSUAL FLOWER AMONG THE TRADITIONAL ANTHEMION IN SMINTHEION: ARUM MACULATUM”. Meriç Uluslararası Sosyal ve Stratejik Araştırmalar Dergisi 8/1 (April 2024), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.54707/meric.1375486.
JAMA Kaplan D. AN UNUSUAL FLOWER AMONG THE TRADITIONAL ANTHEMION IN SMINTHEION: ARUM MACULATUM. Meriç Uluslararası Sosyal ve Stratejik Araştırmalar Dergisi. 2024;8:1–19.
MLA Kaplan, Davut. “AN UNUSUAL FLOWER AMONG THE TRADITIONAL ANTHEMION IN SMINTHEION: ARUM MACULATUM”. Meriç Uluslararası Sosyal Ve Stratejik Araştırmalar Dergisi, vol. 8, no. 1, 2024, pp. 1-19, doi:10.54707/meric.1375486.
Vancouver Kaplan D. AN UNUSUAL FLOWER AMONG THE TRADITIONAL ANTHEMION IN SMINTHEION: ARUM MACULATUM. Meriç Uluslararası Sosyal ve Stratejik Araştırmalar Dergisi. 2024;8(1):1-19.