Friezes with scroll pattern ornament from the Agora of Smyrna

The ancient city of Smyrna was one of the most prominent cities of the ancient world. Due to its favorable geographical condition, the city has continually been inhabited since the Hellenistic Period. After the excavations conducted between 1932 and 1942, the ancient city remained unexcavated for a long time. Furthermore, the excavation period initiated in 1996 did not last long enough. Finally, from 2007 onwards, excavations at the ancient city have not been interrupted, and the city and its surroundings are currently being excavated. During the aforementioned excavation periods, a bath, bouleterion, stoas and basilica located at the Agora of Smyrna have been unearthed. The scroll patterns analyzed in this work must have belonged to these buildings. The scroll pattern is an element of ornament, widely used from the Classical Period onwards. However, it's not seen on friezes until the Roman Period. From the Roman Period onwards, the pattern frequently ornamented friezes. Since the 30 scroll patterns analyzed date back to the Roman Imperial period, earlier periods are not discussed in this study. The scroll pattern ornament consists of various elements including the main branch, central motif and filling motives. The scroll pattern do not witness major periodical differentiations; on the other hand, while dating the ornament the mentioned elements and their characteristic features are consulted. The result of the study shows that the scroll patterns analyzed can be dated back to the second and third centuries AD. Although original places of the patterns cannot be detected precisely, they may have belonged to the buildings located where they were unearthed.