Zeuxippus Ware

Abstract

Trench V of the 1927 excavations of the British Academy in the Hippodrome of Constantinople was located just beyond the tomb of Ahmet I, in the direction of St. Sophia. With two extensions (VA and VE) it became a considerable excavation, which uncovered a series of massive piers of brick interrupted by occasional courses of stone. These the excavators identified as part of the Baths of Zeuxippus. In 1928 they uncovered more of the building and, to the south-east of it, part of a separate portico with a large exedra. This second building fitted the identification, as part of the connected gymnasium, particularly when two pedestals were found inscribed with the names of Hecuba and Aeschines, both of whom are known to have had statues there.Objections to the identification have been raised; notably on the grounds that the excavators found no water-tanks or hypocausts. This particular objection was removed in 1952 by the discovery near by, during the laying of a sewer, of connected structures; for these included a plastered cistern and basins. In a recent review of the topography of the approaches to the Great Palace the identification is accepted; nor does it appear to be invalidated by any of the testimonia relating to the Baths of Zeuxippus which have lately been collected.