Research Information System
SOMA 2018: XXII Symposium on Mediterranean Archaeology, Rome, Italy, 22 - 25 November 2018, (Unpublished)
The specific genre of temple design with a raised platform is characteristic for the Aiolian settlements of Western Anatolia in the Archaic period. The temples in Neandria, Larisa, old Smyrna and Klopedi constitute the most prominent examples of this type. Within my ongoing PhD studies a detailed survey of the Athena temenos and temple of the ancient settlement of Larisa (Buruncuk) is accomplished, and the temple building is studied in a comparative context with other Archaic Aiolian temples of Western Anatolia.
The remains of the first phase of the temple from the 6th century B.C. are only preserved in basement level. The building is composed of a cella with dimensions 4.30 x 6.60 - 7.59 m., and a narrow platform that surrounds the cella. An altar is situated southeast of it. Since the altar is located at the highest point of the temenos, a connection ramp between this and the temple is thought to be probable. In the 6th century, the temenos included a temple, an altar and a stoa as the main elements in its composition. Around the year 530, the temple and the altar were renewed; the cella was enlarged and the platform around the temple was enlarged into a “U” shaped podium.
Such examples of early period temples with a platform of Western Anatolia show some evident similarities to Etruscan temples. First of all is the fact that these temples are raised on a “podium”. Secondly, except the substructures, the podium and probably the wall-base, the building is constructed entirely out of timber and mudbrick. In both Western Anatolian and Etruscan temples numerous terracotta decorative elements of upper structures have survived. Upper structure elements such as terracotta friezes, raking simas and antefixes reflect a common practice. Similarities in style must also be added to this. Similar construction techniques, design and stylistic characteristics of Aiolian temples of Western Anatolia and Etruscan temples arise the question of the probability of a “common origin”. The major supportive factor here is that the Etruscans are known to have Anatolian origins. The probability of the transference of some early Anatolian developments in temple architecture by means of Etruscans to the West is handled through hypothetical discussions in this study.