Roman Ionia - The Hadrian's Temple Frieze – Slab 1 - 3

Dedicated to the emperor Hadrian by P. Vedius Antoninus Sabinus, the Hadrian Temple was built within the Varius' Baths Complex facing the Curetes Street. The epistyle of the doorway is decorated with a frieze depicting the foundation of the city of Ephesus by the mythical hero Androklos with the assistance of various deities and heroes . The four original slabs of the frieze have been removed and are displayed today inside Ephesus Archaeological Museum in Selçuk. The reliefs are thought to have been made in the third quarter of the 4th century AD for an unknown building, and shortly after, perhaps between 383 and 387 AD in the reign of Emperor Theodosius I (379-395 AD), they were taken to the "Temple of Hadrian" during its restoration following an earthquake.

The photo shows three of the four frieze slabs: slab no. 1 and 2 were located to left of the doorway inside the porch of the Temple, the slab no. 3 immediately to right of the same door.

 

Characters engraved on the slab no. 1:

1) Male figure representing the region;

2) Female figure holding a vase symbolizing the source Hypelayos, a spring among the olive trees, which may have later been contained by a fountain, the Hypelaion

3) Armored male figure (Androklos ?) - According to the local legend, Ephesus was founded by Androklos, son of Kodros, the last legendary or mythical king of Athens, estimated to have reigned around 1089-1068 BC. Forced to flee Greece (perhaps because of Dorian invasions), Androklos sailed to Anatolia with his followers.

4) Androklos on horseback hunting a wild boar;

5) Warrior

 

Characters engraved on the slab no. 2:

1) Male figure with a shield;

2) Herakles;

3) Nike;

4) Dressed male figure standing in front of the altar (Theseus ?);

5) Altar;

6) Male figure holding a spear;

7) Herakles;

8) Amazon with a shield;

9) Amazon;

10) Amazon;

11) Amazon;

On the left, six figures stand around a statuette of a deity, perhaps Artemis, on an altar. The winged female figure, third from the left, is probably Nike crowning the draped male in front of her, perhaps Androklos or a Roman emperor. This figure's garments have been seen as a Roman military tunic and paludamentum (a military robe). The naked figure with a spear may be Androklos or Theseus, and next to him is Herakles, wearing the skin of the Nemean Lion and holding a club.

On the right, four female figures, three of which are shown with exposed right breasts, probably represent fleeing Amazons, according to some versions of myths the original inhabitants of Ephesus. The leftmost figure carries a “pelte”, the type of shield held by the Amazons in Greek and Roman art. The rightmost figure has fallen to her knees.

 

Characters engraved on the slab no. 3:

1) Amazon:

2) Amazon;

3) Amazon;

4) Amazon;

5) Pan;

6) Dionysos;

7) Satyr;

8) Dancing Satyr;

9) Male figure on an elephant (Satyr or Dionysos ?);

10) Maenad holding a tympanum.

The scene involving 10 characters represents four Amazons fleeing from Dionysus and his thiasos. Dionysus (6) stands in the centre, holding what appears to be a thyrsos in his raised right hand, and embracing the smaller figure (7) of a Satyr (or Silenus) with his left hand.A diminutive Pan (5) leans to the left from behind Dionysus' back, looking in the direction of the Amazons; one of his goat's legs can be seen between the legs of Dionysus. The ninth figure (9) riding an elephant probably refers to the "Triumph of Dionysus". The female figure on the far right (10) is thus seen as a Maenad is holding a tympanon (drum), cymbals or some other object.

 

Source @ My Favourite planet, pp 22 – 24.

 

Marble relief

Slab n. 1: height 61 cm, width 116 cm.; slab n. 2: height 60 cm, width 172 cm.; slab n. 3: height 60 cm, width 182 cm

Selçuk, TR, Ephesus-Museum

 

 

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