Gladiators and Animals. New Pictorial Graffiti from Aphrodisias and their Contexts

Year 2018, Volume: 4, 31 - 54, 11.12.2018

Angelos Chaniotis , Peter D. De Staebler

Abstract

The authors present pictorial and textual graffiti from Aphrodisias that can be associated with munera and study their spatial context (ca. 3rd-6th cent. CE). Gladiatorial events and beast hunts certainly took place in the Stadium of Aphrodisias, where an oval Arena was construc-ted in the late fourth to early fifth century CE. Graffiti recorded in 1997–2008, mostly in the city’s Urban Park (‘South Agora’), show gladiators and exotic animals (lions, ostriches, an an-telope). Pictorial and textual graffiti (peacocks, other birds, athletes, acclamations), found in their vicinity, are unrelated to gladiatorial events and venationes but provide important evi-dence for the spatial context. The concentration in the Urban Park of both acclamations and graffiti connected with the world of shows in the late Empire may suggests that this public spa-ce was used as a place of gatherings and possibly as the location of the clubs of the supporters of the circus factions.

Keywords

Aphrodisias, graffiti, gladiators, animals, public space, clubs, circus factions

Gladyatörler ve Hayvanlar. Aphrodisias’tan Yeni Resimsel Graffitiler ve Bağlamları

Abstract

Yazarlar, Aphrodisias'tan munera (kamusal
gösteriler) ile ilişkilendirilebilecek resimli ve metinli grafitiler tanıtmakta
ve bunların mekânsal bağlamlarını incelemektedir (yak. İS 3.-6. yüzyıl).
Gladyatör müsabakaları ve vahşi hayvan avları şüphesiz Aphrodisias’ın İS 4.
yüzyılın sonları ile 5. yüzyılın başlarında oval bir arenanın inşa edildiği
stadion’unda vuku bulmaktaydı. Büyük kısmı Kent Parkı’nda (‘Güney Agora’) olmak
üzere 1997–2008 yılları arasında kayda geçirilen grafitiler gladyatörleri ve egzotik
hayvanları (aslanlar, devekuşları, bir antilop) resmetmektedirler. Yakın
çevrelerinde bulunan re-simli ve metinli grafitiler (tavus kuşları, diğer
kuşlar, atletler, övgüler) gladyatör müsabakaları ve avlarla ilgili
değildirler, ancak mekânsal bağlam açısından önemli kanıtlar sağlamaktadırlar.
Geç İmparatorluk Dönem’de gösteri dünyasıyla bağlantılı övgü ve grafitilerin
Kent Parkı’nda yoğunlaşmış olması, bu kamusal mekânın bir toplanma yeri ve
muhtemelen arena grupları taraftar kulüplerinin mekânı olarak kullanıldığını
düşündürmektedir.

Keywords

Aphrodisias, grafiti, gladyatörler, havyanlar, kamusal mekan, kulüpler, arena grubları

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