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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Gerga |
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Type:
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Sanctuary |
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Altitude:
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m |
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Region:
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Aegean |
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Province:
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Aydin |
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District:
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Çine |
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Village:
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Ovacik |
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Investigation Method:
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Survey |
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Period:
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Hellenistic Roman |
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| Location: It is located near Ovacik; 12 km southeast of the Çine District of the Aydin Province [Bean 1976:349]. It is situated on the eastern bank of the Cine Brook (Marsyas during the ancient period); a branch of the Meander River [Held 1996:59]. |
| Geography and Environment: The sanctuary is situated on a mountaineous area. At present; it is surrounded by a few pine and olive trees. The land consists of dark grey gneiss rocks. The buildings in the sanctuary were made of these local stones [Held 1996:59]. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: It was first visited by Cousin at the beginning of 1900s; and a survey was conducted by Laumonier in 1933; followed by Bean in 1968. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. |
| Stratigraphy: |
| Small Finds: |
| Remains: It covers an area of approximately 1.5 km. Probably limited by the 500 m temenos wall to the northwest and by the rock inscriptions in other directions; the center of the sanctuary is likely to be on the northeastern section as most of the buildings are concentrated there. Consisting of a total of three terraces as western-; mid- and eastern-; the most significant buildings are located on the eastern terrrace [Held 1996:60]. There are many agricultural terraces. Although it is possible that some are buildings' terraces; they are mostly considered as agricultural terraces as no architectural remains were observed. The terrace walls consisting of large stones erected with dry masonry are mainly present in the northwestern and southern slopes of the city. Similar to the city wall and temple-graves in terms of construction techniques; they were erected in steps in accordance with the nature of the land. Probably valuable plants like olive and vine were grown. The number of terraces are much more than the ones in the vicinity of the deme seen in the Rhodian Peraea [Diler 1996:316-317]. Temple/Sanctuary: Pedimented Monument: It is located on the eastern terrace to the northerneast of the city. Consisting of a rectangular structure of 5x3.95 m and a niche of around 2 m depth; the entrance faces south. A large block inscribed with the name "GERGA" in Greek; forming the pediment; stands on a lintel with two fascia carried by two monolith shafts [Bean 1969:180]. The entire monument is made of gneiss. While no axle clout or peg was employed for construction; light-colored; intense and harsh mortar is common at several parts. The blocks consisting of the 80 cm wide walls are very huge. The roof made of gneiss is an imitation of woodwork. It consists of a principal rafter and two common rafters on both sides. The plates covering the roof are placed on the outer wall [Held 1996:60]. The monument was described as temple or sanctuary grave depending on the presence of features like symmetrical axis; frontal entrance and presence of a niche. [Held 1996:60-61]. The sockets on both sides of the rear niche indicate the presence of a curtain covering the niche; which might have housed a cult statue; even a pool for holy spring. The big statue found near the monument was probably a cult statue. All parts are available except the head. Its actual size is considered to be around 5.2 m while the weight of the remained torso is approximately 9 tons. There are reliefs of two lions' claws with reliefs of lions'heads in between on a 60 cm bank forming the lower part of the statue whereas the two-stepped pedestal is depicted with a bull's head. It is assumed that the statue was attached to the bedrock through an oval hole in the central part of the steps. Mortar was also used. Six sockets for pegs on the chest of the statue is an indication of a metal breastplate. It is assumed that the left hand was extended forward [Held 1996:61]. It is compared with Artemis of Ephesus with her legs; her tight costume wrapping the lower part of her body; her breast-ornament; frontal parts of her arms extending forward; and a cordon extending down from the hands and ending up with a tassel or a knot; and it is typologically included in the group of "Artemis of Ephesus and her associated cult statues" by Fleischer. The rear part of the statue was left unprocessed. Thus; it meant to be seen from one side only [Held 1996:62]. Due to the lions' heads on the pedestals and overall position of the building; it probably belongs to Kybele. Even tough it is considered that the wooden statues specific to the southwestern Anatolia; smaller than their natural dimensions date at latest back to the 7th century BC; it is indicated that this monumental statue in the ancient city of Gerga cannot be included in this group and dated to the mentioned century when its dimensions; material; clamp and mortar usage are taken into consideration. Additionally; it is unlikely that the bulls' head on the pedestal belong to a period earlier than the Hellenistic Period. So; the sculpture should have been from a later period [Held 1996:62]. Pool: To the east of the temple lie four buildings. The southern one is a pool of gneiss with two discharge holes on both sides while the others are stellai made of gneiss standing on a rectangular pedestal; and increasingly becoming pointed upwards with an inscription of "GERGAS" on Greek in their front face. There stood a statue setting between the two stelai. The torso of the statue was uncovered in the vicinity. The rear part of the statue was left unprocessed. It is compared to the cult statue in the temple in this respect. The head and thigh of the statue couldn't make it to the present day [Held 1996:62]. The pool is located on the northern end of the mid-terrace. The U-plan building with a dimension of 2.5x1.95 m was built of gneiss blocks. The façade faces south. The antae are decorated with lions' heads. Inside the building; there is a niche on the rear wall while in the middle a pool surrounded by gneiss plates. The spring water flows into the pool through a hole at the back. Also found are some inscriptions with the name "GERGA" at several places [Held 1996:63]. Most of the inscriptions date back to the Roman Period. It is likely that they can be compared with the 2nd and 3rd century Carian inscriptions. The inscriptions are not in ancient Greek. The name "GERGA" may indicate a local god or goddess worshipped in this city. Presence of inscriptions all over the sanctuary may be an indication of the territorial borders of the sanctuary. Workshop: It is compared with Cnidus; one of the most significant wine production sites in the ancient world. However; it has a few oil and wine mills. The floor of an workshop next to the pyramidal stelia to the southeast of the temenos terrace looks like a rectangular shallow basin. The bottom was flattened. It was supported by underlying thick and flat stone blocks because of the inclination of the land. It is similar to the workshop in Alabanda as the bed of the press arm opens near the floor. Although it was suggested that as it is next to the stelai; it can be a cult pavement related with the stelai; this idea was dropped as it is not located in front of the stele [Diler 1996:316-319]. It was found out that the floor to the west of the stelai in front of the temenos terrace was used as press. It is like a muller type press used for olive and grapes. It has a liquid pouring channel and a discharge hole. Rock pits of several sizes seen in the vicinity were probably used as crushing pits or they were related with the cult. It was also found that the 3 m high xoanon-like stone; probably sacred; on the temenos terrace was originally seated on a rounded hole with a diameter of 50 cm carved into adjacent rock [Diler 1996:320]. |
| Interpretation and Dating: |
