RHODIAPOLIS PİSKOPOSLUK KİLİSESİ'NDE İŞLEVİ TARTIŞMALI MİMARİ DÜZENLEMELER: YÜKSEK NEF AYRIMI VE OTURMA SEKİLERİ

Abstract

The ancient city of Rhodiapolis is located to the southeastern Lycia, at Kumluca, Antalya. The name of the city can be found on the episcopal lists until the 9 th century. An early Byzantine episcopal church is situated in the acropolis of the city. The church was excavated and completely uncovered between 2007-2012, however the adjacent buildings to the north of the church have not been excavated yet. Having basilica plan with two aisles and a nave, the episcopal church can be dated to 5th and 6th centuries based on its architectural features and decoration. The architectural arrangement of the nave made in the later phase of the building is analyzed and the purpose of these arrangements, which are rarely seen in the Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture inventory, are discussed in this article. The first of these unusual arrangements is the high barriers constructed at intercolumniations. On the south and north stylobates of the nave, the poorly constructed rubble walls were uncovered between the column bases. Large number of well decorated slabs, piers and upper elements of the slabs were found along the side walls. The location of the slabs unearthed in the south aisle indicates that these well decorated slabs were placed on the rubble walls between the columns facing the nave. The height of the intercolumnation is estimated to be at least 1.75 m. This type of architectural arrangement, which is unusual in other early Byzantine churches, prevents both accessing to and visibility of the nave. The use of high bar­riers along the nave is rarely seen in other regions.(Anatolia, Macedonia, North Africa) There are no common features between these churches. The architectural arrangement with the use of high barriers is considered to be made for the catechumens. However, the question of why this arrangement was made in only some churches remains unknown. Another unusual feature of the Rhodiapolis church is the placement of benches along the nave on both sides. A bench adjacent to the wall on the north stylobate was uncovered during the excavations. Also belonging to another bench, there are some in-situ revetments placed in upright position and some traces of the bench on the mosaic floor found in front of the south stylobate. Thereby it is understood that the benches of about 11 m. in length were constructed during the later phase of the building along the north and south sides of the nave. The placement of benches in the nave in which the liturgical ceremony was performed, is not common in early By­zantine architectural inventory. In some early examples the benches were constructed along the lateral walls of the churches, contrary to Rhodiapolis. These benches having a capacity of approximately 40 people, are estimated to be designed for the elderly people who could barely stand during the liturgy. Limited number of the benches in other churches may imply that the benches were made of perishable material such as wood which is difficult to survive in most cases.