ON THE USE OF “ΚΑΤΑΣΚΕΥΑΣΕΙΝ” IN BUILDING INSCRIPTIONS

Number: 26 May 1, 2018
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ON THE USE OF “ΚΑΤΑΣΚΕΥΑΣΕΙΝ” IN BUILDING INSCRIPTIONS

Abstract

Based upon the recent discussions concerning the construction chronology of the monumental fountain building (nymphaeum) at Side, this contribution makes some suggestions concerning the other possible meaning(s) of the verb of “κατασκευάζειν”, which is not infrequently attested in building inscriptions. To this end, a total of nine case studies sourced from different regions and over a wide time-span, from the Hellenistic to the Late Antique Period, were assembled and interpreted. Two of these examples are recorded from mainland Greece, i.e. the theatre building at Delphoi and an unidentifiable building at Athens. The other documents concern the Laodike fountain at Teos mentioned in the inscription of Antiochus III, the Pataran road monument (Monumentum Patarense), the governor edicts enacted for the protection and upkeep of the Aristion aqueduct at Ephesos, the donations of Opramoas of Rhodiapolis in the aftermath of the severe earthquake in Lycia in 141 A.D. (regarding in particular the bath-houses), the inscription of hydreion of Menandros at Ephesos and lastly the Neronic/Vespasianic bath from Patara. By scrutinizing all of the above evidence, this article maintains that the initial construction phase of those buildings whose inscriptions carry the verb of “κατασκευάζειν”, may not provide the exact date when the inscription was carved, contrary to what is widely believed in current scholarship. It is thereby emphasized that the verb of “κατασκευάζειν”, synonymous occasionally with “ἐπισκευάζειν”, is not limited in its meaning “to construct”, but rather, it has a wide range of meanings, such as: to reconstruct, to repair, to renovate or even to enlarge the buildings. It is therefore proposed that the dating of the constructions, if they are made relying only upon the epigraphic evidence (i.e. upon the presence of the verb of “κατασκευάζειν”), may result in faulty interpretations.

Keywords

References

  1. Alzinger 1970 Alzinger, W., “Ephesos. B. Archäologischer Teil”, RE Suppl. XII, 1588-1704.
  2. Bean – Mitford 1970 Bean, G. B. – T. B. Mitford, Journeys in Rough Cilicia 1964-1968, Vienna.
  3. Bommelaer 1991 Bommelaer, J. F., Guides de Delphes. Le site, Paris. Bringmann – von Steuben 1995
  4. Bringmann, K. – H. von Steuben, Schenkungen hellenistischer Herrscher an griechische Städte und Heiligtümer, Teil I: Zeugnisse und Kommentare, Berlin.
  5. Courby 1921 Courby, F., “Notes topographiques et chronologiques sur le sanctuaire d’Apollon délie”, BCH 45, 174-241.
  6. Cramme 2001 Cramme, S., Die Bedeutung des Euergetismus für die Finanzierung städtischer Aufgaben in der Provinz Asia (Dissertation), Cologne.
  7. Daux – Salač 1932 Daux, G. – A. Salač, Fouilles de Delphes. Tome III: Épigraphie. Fasc. III: Inscriptions depuis le trésor des Athéniens jusqu’aux bases de Gélon, Paris.
  8. Dorl-Klingenschmid 2001 Dorl-Klingenschmid, C., Prunkbrunnen in kleinasiatischen Städten. Funktion im Kontext, Munich.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

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Journal Section

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Publication Date

May 1, 2018

Submission Date

-

Acceptance Date

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Published in Issue

Year 2018 Number: 26

APA
Uzunoğlu, H. (2018). ON THE USE OF “ΚΑΤΑΣΚΕΥΑΣΕΙΝ” IN BUILDING INSCRIPTIONS. OLBA, 26, 375-404. https://izlik.org/JA45EF55JD
AMA
1.Uzunoğlu H. ON THE USE OF “ΚΑΤΑΣΚΕΥΑΣΕΙΝ” IN BUILDING INSCRIPTIONS. OLBA. 2018;(26):375-404. https://izlik.org/JA45EF55JD
Chicago
Uzunoğlu, Hüseyin. 2018. “ON THE USE OF ‘ΚΑΤΑΣΚΕΥΑΣΕΙΝ’ IN BUILDING INSCRIPTIONS”. OLBA, nos. 26: 375-404. https://izlik.org/JA45EF55JD.
EndNote
Uzunoğlu H (May 1, 2018) ON THE USE OF “ΚΑΤΑΣΚΕΥΑΣΕΙΝ” IN BUILDING INSCRIPTIONS. OLBA 26 375–404.
IEEE
[1]H. Uzunoğlu, “ON THE USE OF ‘ΚΑΤΑΣΚΕΥΑΣΕΙΝ’ IN BUILDING INSCRIPTIONS”, OLBA, no. 26, pp. 375–404, May 2018, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA45EF55JD
ISNAD
Uzunoğlu, Hüseyin. “ON THE USE OF ‘ΚΑΤΑΣΚΕΥΑΣΕΙΝ’ IN BUILDING INSCRIPTIONS”. OLBA. 26 (May 1, 2018): 375-404. https://izlik.org/JA45EF55JD.
JAMA
1.Uzunoğlu H. ON THE USE OF “ΚΑΤΑΣΚΕΥΑΣΕΙΝ” IN BUILDING INSCRIPTIONS. OLBA. 2018;:375–404.
MLA
Uzunoğlu, Hüseyin. “ON THE USE OF ‘ΚΑΤΑΣΚΕΥΑΣΕΙΝ’ IN BUILDING INSCRIPTIONS”. OLBA, no. 26, May 2018, pp. 375-04, https://izlik.org/JA45EF55JD.
Vancouver
1.Hüseyin Uzunoğlu. ON THE USE OF “ΚΑΤΑΣΚΕΥΑΣΕΙΝ” IN BUILDING INSCRIPTIONS. OLBA [Internet]. 2018 May 1;(26):375-404. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA45EF55JD