Roman Period...
During the Hellenic Period, when the Pergamum King Attalos II turned over his territory to the Romans in 133 BC, Rome
gained control over Anatolia. In addition to the immense territory around the Mediterranean that they governed, the Romans
had also established rich city states in regions such as Egypt, the Palestine, Syria and Anatolia. Together with the Roman
state concept came social, economic and political conditions, which all gained large dimensions for art. As for the fact
that Eastern Mediterranean cities becoming Roman states, they blended in with previously existing local sculptural and
architectural traditions for balanced richness. Amongst the large statues that decorated the monumental buildings were
figures of gods, loved, powerful leaders and the aristocracy.
From the standpoint of trying to gain control of the other states, the Romans gave a lot of importance to Anatolia. The
Roman Empire was made up of free cities. For this reason, as many Anatolian cities informed Rome of their loyalty and
friendship, the Roman Emperors would pay visits to these cities. It was for this reason that Roman Emperors were perhaps
better known in Anatolia than back in Rome. During this period, large buildings were being built in Anatolian cities, not
on hills as they used to be, but in places supported with rows of arches. In the Roman period, many of the theaters were
also built in the same fashion. The two - storied walls forming the theater stage were a characteristic of Roman
architecture. In the Hellenic Period, the orchestra pit was shaped like a horseshoe, whereas it was transformed into a
semi - circle in the Roman period. While magnificent theaters like Aspendos were being constructed, theaters such as
Pergamum, Ephesus and Priene were repaired and utilized additional sections. After 80 BC, once the Romans had discovered
central heating by passing hot air under the floor and through holes in the brick walls, they constructed large thermal
facilities. Today, the magnificent Roman baths that can be found in all of the ancient cities were important from the point
of their once serving as sports schools. The Vedius Gymnasium and Miletus Faustina Bath in Ephesus and the baths now used
as museums in Side and Hierapolis are the best examples. In addition, the mosaics decorating the floors of the baths also
reflected the Roman art of painting. Aqueducts were also a Roman invention.
The best examples of these architectural structures that once carried water into town from distant places can be seen in
Side, Aspendos, Phaselis and Ephesos. Another typical Roman structure was the Triumphal Arch of which there are few
examples of these in Anatolia. However, magnificently constructed city entrance gates are quite common throughout Anatolia.
In the Roman Age, the sides of libraries the walls of stage entrances and especially monumental fountains were ornately
carved and decorated with statues. Constructing roads with columns to protect people from the sun and rain was another
Roman discovery. Examples of these may be seen in the ancient cities of Ephesus, Miletus, Side and others. In addition to
the previously constructed temples that were repaired and used, new temples such as the Augustos Temple in Ankara, the Zeus
Temple in Aizanoi and the Apollo Temple in Side were all newly constructed.
Today, it is possible to view these temples and theaters in our ancient cities. The portrait art form was popular as a way
of immortalizing historic Roman personages. Instead of the idealistic lines of the old period, the art of Roman portrait
making reflected an individual's characteristic appearances. Not only were portraits made for the emperor and his family,
but for those respected in society, clerks and thinkers. Ephesus, Miletus, Pergamon and Aphrodisias were all important
Anatolian sculpture centers in the Roman period. In particular, masterpieces that were made from the white and blue-grey
marble quarried from Mt. Babadag near Aphrodisias were so fabulous that they were shipped to Greece and Italy.