Page - 42 - in The Power of Urban Water - Studies in premodern urbanism

42 Nicolas Lamare reignofAntoninus.74However, the lackof coherencebetween thebasinsand thearcadesof the façade suggests that the latter was built in a second phase, perhaps in relation to the large- scale repairs of the4th century,whicharementionedbyan inscription.75 The situation in other provinces can be compared to that of North Africa. In Asia Minor, twoexamplesof restorationsareworthnoting.Thefirst is thatof thenymphaeumofSide,which under Gordian III underwent severalmodifications.76 The second example is the nymphaeum ofMiletus, built in the Flavian period, whichwas elevatedwith a third storey and decorated withnumerousstatuaryelements inthe3rdcentury,under theproconsulateofL.EgnatiusVictor Lollianus, dated 242–245,77 asmentioned on the upper floor inscription.78 In theMiddle East, there is also evidenceof fountain restorationsdatingback to theEarlyRomanEmpire. InAnti- och on the Orontes, the construction of a nymphaeum, perpendicular to the porticoed track, whichoccupied thenorthern sideof a courtyard,makes sense aspart of the reconfigurationof this road, dating from the reconstruction that took place under Justinian’s reign.79 The Nysa- Scythopolis nymphaeum, built in the 2nd century according to the architectural study,was de- stroyed and then rebuilt around 400, under the Governor Artemidorus, as part of a citywide buildingprogramme, including the redesignofpartof theporticoedstreetalongwhich it stood, andof abathbuilding.80 Building, restoring, and transforming fountains:maintainingmonuments andpractices Do late restorations and constructions indicate a change in the function of the buildings? An- drea Schmölder-Veit uses the name ‘Nymphäumsraum’ for a type of nymphaeumwhich she compares to the ‘nymphaea a camera’ of NormanNeuerburg’s typology, and notes that these buildingsformaveryparticularcategorywhichhasneverbeenhighlightedintheexistingtypol- ogies.Theseare independentstructures,notconnectedtoapublicbuilding,sanctuaryorhouse. Theyaredefinedby thepresenceofacoveredspaceor surroundedbyporches: thus, themonu- ment could be enclosed or the porches closed by doors. The plan views showmuch larger buildings, as themonumentswere often inserted into existing structures.81 Ithasbeensuggested that latrinesandbathsgradually lost their roleasplacesofsociability ata laterstage,82althoughthis ideahasrecentlybeentempered.83Schmölder-Veitproposes that nymphaeawere able to fill this gap by becomingmeeting places. Their location at the bottom of small squaresand their semi-circular shapeor their structure surroundedbyporticoeswould have been ideal for welcoming a group. The idea is indeed attractive and the examples she presentsofOstia, Ephesus, andSbeitla are revealing. InOstia, thenymphaeumof theBiviodel Castro84hada façademore than26mwideatamajor junctionof thecity,along thedecumanus maximus. Its late establishment, in the4th century, as recently confirmedby stratigraphy, took placealongasectionwhichwascutoff by the façadeof ahouse fromtheEarlyRomanEmpire. 74 Kleinwächter 2001, 190–195; Lamare 2019, 355f. no.32. 75 ILTun, 251. 76 Dorl-Klingenschmid 2001, 242–244no. 106. 77 According toLoriot 1996, 223no. 16 andnot 241–244asDorl-Klingenschmid 2001, 215f. no.64 indicates. 78 Hülsenet al. 1919, 71. 79 Lassus 1972, 44–52. 125pl. 69. 80 Tsafrir –Foerster 1997, 95f. 106–116. 81 Schmölder-Veit 2010. 82 Neudecker 1994, 62–72quotedbySchmölder-Veit 2010, 113n. 22; Thébert 1999, 383–388; Thébert 2003, 482f. 83 Bowes 2010, 52–54. 84 Neuerburg 1965, 179no. 110; Letzner 1999, 436no.309. See the results of recent excavations and the analyses of Lavan 2012, 681–685.