OLBA BÖLGESİ ve BÖLGEDE KULLANILAN POLYGONAL DUVAR TEKNİĞİ

Abstract

The first tendencies of epigraphy and art in Greek manner appear during the Hellenistic period vvithin the Olbian priesterly dynasty in eastern Rough Cilicia. Furthermore a Greacization has taken place in the culture of the region. The effects of this time period which can be defincd as acculturation can be observed best on religious platforms. As a result of syncretizm, gods of Luwian origin werc Gracesized and the effects of the changes left important traces, not only in epigraphy or artifacts but also in cultural and social sphercs. For example the Olbian symbols which are the products of this period are the attributes of Greek gods and can be presented as one of the best cvidences of this influencc. It is also obvious that during this period the architectural characteristics of the Olba region changed radically. In the region vvhere no monumental architectural existed until the 3rd century B.C., a construction period started through the middle of the 3rd century B.C. and flourished in the 2nd century B.C. These dates coincide with the important changes observed in epigraphical, social and cultural sphercs as well as in art. The most chracteristic feature of this construction period is that the technique of polygonal vvalls found its way to Olba and started to be used dominantly. Especially the development considering epigraphy, art as well as social and cultural activities which appeared as a result of Graecization makc us think that also the architectural development followed the same way. This situation must be the product of a power, vvilling to settle the Greek culture in Olba and of a systematical planning. This povver was one of the most important kingdoms of the Hellenistic period, namely the Selcucids and the system they applied was the policy of acculturation. Thcre is a historical parallelity between the frequency of epigraphic and architectural material in this region and the event of 188 B.C. as the vvestern bordcr of the Seleucids was defined as Seleucia. It is obvious that there is a combination between these facts and that the acculturation policy of the Seleucids in Olba gained power during this period. The introduction of the polygonal wall technique and its application on civil and military architecture must be considered as a part of this policy. The settlements vvhich are not far from each other are small but posess strong fortification vvalls and the walls of these constructions within these settlements are built in polygonal technique. Duc to the diffcrent topographical features these settlements have various plans but considered as a vvhole it appears that they are part of an organised settlement and defense system. Constructions of various aims show local characteristics. Hellenistic tombs, temples and towers, built closc to the settlements, reflect the architectural character of the region. Other struetures such as fortification vvalls, their towers, bastions and houses are the buildings mostly attested within the settlements. It is a common feature that they are ali built in the polygonal technique. The defense system consists of independent towers and settlements with grandiose defense vvalls. This system is set on the shore and continued in north-south direetion along vallics and roads so that ali the region is taken under safety. The polygonal vvalls are divided into two main groups according to their contours and surfaces. There are also subgroups and these are categorized due to constructions and settlements vvhich are mostly part of the defence system. But the survcys have shown that a certain type of polygonal wall did not represent a certain architectural class (military, rcligious, civil architectural examples or graves) and that in each architectural class more than one type of contour or surface working was applied. It is also obvious that there is no chronological development between the types of polygonal walls which differ in themselves. Furthermore the polygonal walls vvhich can be dated to the Hcllenistic period do not have a Standard quality and the quality differs due to the economic, geographic, strategic or hierarchic instances. Until new discoveries are made, it is possible to suggest that the defense system with its tonibs, civil and religious architecture is to be dated to the begining of the 2nd century B.C. and that it continued until the last quartcr of the 2nd century B.C. or the last quarter of the 2nd ccntury. Actually the construction of polygonal technique continued after the Hellenistic period but with a continious decline in its quality. Independent from the improvement and settled politics of the Hellenistic period, the polygonal tcchnique even continued during the period of Early Christianity but vvithout any systcmatic and it is usually represented by single examples.