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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 242â245,77 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 Justinianâs 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 âNymphĂ€umsraumâ for a type of nymphaeumwhich she
compares to the ânymphaea a cameraâ of NormanNeuerburgâs 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 KleinwĂ€chter 2001, 190â195; Lamare 2019, 355f. no.32.
75 ILTun, 251.
76 Dorl-Klingenschmid 2001, 242â244no. 106.
77 According toLoriot 1996, 223no. 16 andnot 241â244asDorl-Klingenschmid 2001, 215f. no.64 indicates.
78 HĂŒlsenet al. 1919, 71.
79 Lassus 1972, 44â52. 125pl. 69.
80 Tsafrir âFoerster 1997, 95f. 106â116.
81 Schmölder-Veit 2010.
82 Neudecker 1994, 62â72quotedbySchmölder-Veit 2010, 113n. 22; ThĂ©bert 1999, 383â388; ThĂ©bert 2003, 482f.
83 Bowes 2010, 52â54.
84 Neuerburg 1965, 179no. 110; Letzner 1999, 436no.309. See the results of recent excavations and the analyses
of Lavan 2012, 681â685.
The Power of Urban Water
Studies in premodern urbanism
- Titel
- The Power of Urban Water
- Untertitel
- Studies in premodern urbanism
- Autoren
- Nicola Chiarenza
- Annette Haug
- Ulrich MĂŒller
- Verlag
- De Gruyter Open Ltd
- Datum
- 2020
- Sprache
- englisch
- Lizenz
- CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
- ISBN
- 978-3-11-067706-5
- Abmessungen
- 21.0 x 28.0 cm
- Seiten
- 280
- Kategorie
- Technik