A Group of Busts of Zeus from Bilecik and Zeus Bronton

Abstract

A Group of Busts of Zeus from Bilecik and Zeus Bronton In the museums of Bursa, Bilecik, Istanbul, Eskisehir, Sogut ve Iznik, there are a group of Zeus busts of local style, all having no inscriptions and resembling to each other considerably in terms of typology and style. They have been found mostly in the province of Bilecik and its territory according to the information provided from the inventory records. Apart from no. 10, all the busts of Zeus depicted in various sizes are treated nude. The anastole employed in their hair over the forehead is a major characteristic of the busts, which carry crown behind their head and are depicted in a sharp symmetry and stylization. The iconography of Sarapis must have had an effect on the treatment of the busts in some way. They functioned quite likely as the votive offerings. In my opinion, the dowel holes seen at the bottom of the busts indicate that they were once erected on the upper parts of the big dedicatory altars (see p. 130). In the article, it is argued that the uninscribed busts stood on the inscribed altars and the gods depicted on the busts must have been identified from the inscriptions. The busts were possibly employed for Zeus Bronton, the main deity of Bilecik and its surroundings. Plenty of Zeus Bronton dedications are known in the same find-spots. Bilecik and its territory is the border region between northwest Phrygia and Bithynia. Phrygia had a deep influence on the neighboring regions in many respects. I think that the phenomenon of depiction of Zeus as a bust in Bilecik was spread from the region of northwest Phrygia to here, given that the dedication of Zeus busts was not common in Bithynia. The altars dedicated to Zeus Bronton together with their busts must have stood in the temples or sacred precincts (maybe in the open air). It is possible to date the busts of Bilecik between the end of 2 nd century and the first half of the 3 rd century.