Abstract
Romalıların Mısır obelisklerini yerinden kaldırarak taşımaya başlamaları MÖ 1. yüzyıl sonlarında ülkeyi egemenlikleri altına almalarıyla başlar. Romalıların bu devasa monolitleri yerlerinden alıp yeni konumlara nakletmeleri elbette ki Nil kıyısındaki bu büyük ve eski uygarlığı elde etmelerini simgeler. Aynı zamanda obelisk kaldırma işi, onların teknolojik ve lojistik becerilerinin gösterişli bir biçimde sahnelenmesi olarak da düşünülebilir. Eski Mısırlılar obelisklerini doğrudan alçak platformlar üzerine yerleştirmekteydiler. Romalılar bu yekpare taşların en büyüklerini yükseklikleri 20 m. veya daha fazla olanlar yüksek kaideler üzerine dört köşelerine yerleştirilen madeni veya taştan destekler vasıtasıyla yükseltmekteydiler. Küp veya yuvarlatılmış-yengeç biçimli olanları da kullanılan bu taşıyıcı desteklere genelde aşık kemiğine benzedikleri için “astragal” denmekteydi. Bu çalışma, astragalların sembolik anlam ve yaklaşımlarını olduğu kadar Roma yapı teknolojisinin dikey-kaldırma ve dört köşeli yükleme sistemlerini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır.
References
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- Birch 1877 Birch, S., “Proceedings of the Association, November 21, 1877,” Journal of the British Archaeological Association 33, 483-499.
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- Ćurčic 1993 Ćurčic, S., “Design and Structural Innovation before Haghia Sophia,” Hagia Sophia from the age of Justinian to the present, R. Mark ed. (New York), 16–38.
- Curran et al 2009 Curran, B., Grafton, A., Long, P. and Weiss, B., Obelisk: A History (Cambridge, MA).
- Fontana 1590 Fontana, D., Della trasportatione dell’obelisco vaticano et delle fabriche di Nostro Signore Papa Sisto V, Rome.
- Gorringe 1885 Gorringe, H. H., Egyptian Obelisks, London.
- Gregorius 1987 Gregorius, M. and Magister, J., The Marvels of Rome, Toronto. Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies.
- Hahn 2012 Hahn, R., Anaximander and the Architects: The Contributions of Egyptian and Greek Architectural Technologies to the Origins of Greek Philosophy, Albany, NY.
- Iversen 1968 Iversen, E., Obelisks in Exile: The obelisks of Istanbul and England, Copenhagen.
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- Lewis 1984 Lewis, M. J. T., “ Roman Methods of Transporting and Erecting Obelisks”, Transactions of the Newcomen Society, 56(1), 87–110.
- Rashwan and Darwish 2017 Rashwan, M. and Darwish, M., “Structural Dynamic Characteristics of an Ancient Egyptian Obelisk,” in Facing the Challenges in Structural Engineering - International Congress and Exhibition ‘Sustainable Civil Infrastructures: Innovative Infrastructure Geotechnology’, Cham, Switzerland, 12–22.
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Abstract
Once the Romans gained control of Egypt in the late first century BCE, they began to relocate obelisks. The transporting and re-erecting of such great monoliths obviously symbolized conquest over the ancient culture on the Nile. At the same time these acts provided bravura spectacles of engineering and logistical expertise. While the ancient Egyptians had placed obelisks directly on low platforms, the Romans instead put the largest monoliths over 20 m tall on four metal or stone supports situated at the corners of tall pedestals. Generically called astragals after examples shaped like knucklebones, these small supporting elements also took the form of cubes and crabs. This paper explores the meaning of astragals, considering not only their symbolic associations, but also their essential role in Roman vertical-lift and four-point load systems of engineering
References
- Bardill 2010 Bardill, J., “The Monuments and Decoration of the Hippodrome in Constantinople,” in Hippodrom - Atmeydanı: İstanbul’un Tarih Sahnesi, B. Pitarakis, ed. (Istanbul), 149–84.
- Birch 1877 Birch, S., “Proceedings of the Association, November 21, 1877,” Journal of the British Archaeological Association 33, 483-499.
- Bruns 1935 Bruns, G., Der Obelisk und seine Basis auf dem Hippodrom zu Konstantinopel, Istanbuler Forschungen 7 (Istanbul).
- Busbecq 1581 Busbecq, O. G., de Itinera Constantinopolitanum et Amasianum ab Augerio Gislenio Busbequij, & C.D. ad Solimannum Turcarum imperatorem C.M. oratore confecta. Eiusdem Busbequij De acie contra Turcam instruenda consilium, Antwerp.
- Ćurčic 1993 Ćurčic, S., “Design and Structural Innovation before Haghia Sophia,” Hagia Sophia from the age of Justinian to the present, R. Mark ed. (New York), 16–38.
- Curran et al 2009 Curran, B., Grafton, A., Long, P. and Weiss, B., Obelisk: A History (Cambridge, MA).
- Fontana 1590 Fontana, D., Della trasportatione dell’obelisco vaticano et delle fabriche di Nostro Signore Papa Sisto V, Rome.
- Gorringe 1885 Gorringe, H. H., Egyptian Obelisks, London.
- Gregorius 1987 Gregorius, M. and Magister, J., The Marvels of Rome, Toronto. Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies.
- Hahn 2012 Hahn, R., Anaximander and the Architects: The Contributions of Egyptian and Greek Architectural Technologies to the Origins of Greek Philosophy, Albany, NY.
- Iversen 1968 Iversen, E., Obelisks in Exile: The obelisks of Istanbul and England, Copenhagen.
- Kiilerich 1998 Kiilerich, B., “The Obelisk Base in Constantinople: Court Art and Imperial Ideology”, Acta ad archaeologia et artium historiam pertinentia 10, Rome.
- Lancaster 1999 Lancaster, L., “Building Trajan’s Column”, American Journal of Archaeology, 103(3), 419–439.
- Lewis 1984 Lewis, M. J. T., “ Roman Methods of Transporting and Erecting Obelisks”, Transactions of the Newcomen Society, 56(1), 87–110.
- Rashwan and Darwish 2017 Rashwan, M. and Darwish, M., “Structural Dynamic Characteristics of an Ancient Egyptian Obelisk,” in Facing the Challenges in Structural Engineering - International Congress and Exhibition ‘Sustainable Civil Infrastructures: Innovative Infrastructure Geotechnology’, Cham, Switzerland, 12–22.
- Safran 1993 Safran, L., “Points of View: the Theodosian Obelisk Base in Context”, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies, 34, 409–435.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal Section | Research Article |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | January 1, 2018 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2018 Issue: 8 |