OLBA

Abstract

Numerous sculpture fragments were revealed during the excavations carried out in Aizanoi, from 2021 to 2023, within the scope of the works of Excavation-Restoration-Improvement of the Penkalas River. These sculptures are important for demonstrating that various public buildings were equipped with sculptures simultaneously with the construction activities performed in the city and the face of the city transformed into a fully equipped Roman city. The portrait-sculpture constituting the subject of this study was revealed during the works of Bridge numbered 3 on Penkalas River performed in 2022. The total height of the sculpture made from white marble with fine crystals (Dokimeion) together with its pedestal with rectangular form is 211cm. It should probably be the product of an artisan working in the Dokimeion workshop. It wears tunic-toga on its body and calceus equester on its feet and its size exceeding normal human size indicates that it is a sculpture of an honoured person. It is iconographically based on the portrait-statue of Aischines in Naples and also belongs to the category of Pallium-type statues with togas. Within this scope the (statue-relief with Pallium Type Toga) is the only authentic variation representing the Aischines archetype (the left hand on the hip). The sculpture which we consider to belong to Augus- tan Period in stylistic terms is affected by Hellenistic art in addition to classicism. It is not possible to detect the identity of the sculpture since it does not have any inscription, however one can express an opinion on its status on the basis of its garments particularly over two probabilities. The first probability is that it could be a Roman citizen who was a member of the local elite class and the second is that it covers all Roman citizens of other ranks particularly including the mount- ed class excluding the servants of the Roman management at high positions. However the fact that any name receiving citizenship before the Claudian Period was not recorded in the existing epigraphic and numismatic documents and that the epigraphic documents enlightening the Augustan Period are of limited number renders it impossible to draw final inferences about the subject. Nevertheless one can consider that the sculpture represents an important Roman citizen who had earned the respect of the people thanks to the services he provided for the city in the Augustan Period.