Terracotta figurines from the south necropolis of Tralleis

The terracotta figurines discussed in this thesis study were found throughout the South Necropolis of the Tralleis, with a large number coming from the barrel vaulted chamber tombs. The figurines were recovered in the earlier salvage excavations by the Aydın Archaeological Museum. The excavators records of objects found in a representative series of graves must form basis for our study of the chronology and styles of the figurines. Thirty three contexts are listed as of interest, but not of sharply defined chronological significance. The evidence for dating is derived for the most part from pottery, coins and other archaeological remains, the cemetery of Tralleis dates from the 2nd century B.C.E. at least through the 2nd century A. C. E. The figurines were each cast in a mold. In the 2nd century B.C.E. however, the number of molds used in the creation of a single figurine was increased. The manufacture of terracotta figurines in Roman İmperial Period was an industry. The clay of the Tralleis figurines are rather coarse but homogeneous and contains a fair amount of mica. Yellowish red clay with some mica was used rarely, and mostly in 2nd century B.C.E. Reddish yellow clay, sometimes burned light red, with mica, is characteristic of the finest pieces. The commonest clay is reddish yellow usually with mica, and often with a light white slim according to Munsell Soil Color Chart. According to the stylistic analysis, the influences from Attica, Tanagra, Boeotia and Myrina also are obvious among the early figurines at Tralleis. Flying figurines as Eros and Nike were prominent in the 2nd century B.C.E. Religious types are also found and include Aphrodite and worshipers. Other representations of deities included an Ariadne, Dionysos and his entourage. During the second half of the 2nd century B.C.E. genre groups with animals and standing draped women proliferated. Tralleis was destroyed by an earthquake in 26 B.C.E. and reconstructed with the efforts of Emperor Augustus. The typology repertoire of the 1st century A.C.E. consists of standing draped women and men, athletes with quiver, masks, actors, puppets, caricatures, animals and other mythological and religious types. This type of figurines was commonly found in most of the Mediterranean sites in the Hellenistic and Roman Imperial Period. The works of the coroplasts whose signatures are found in the South Necropolis may be examined here in more detailed. These are Trophimos, Simalionos, Theodotos, AA and the others. The signatures show that workshops were active at Tralleis in the Roman Imperial Period as early as the 1st century B.C.E. and continued to produce figurines until the 2nd century A.C.E. We may therefore assume the fabric of which the coroplasts are made to be a local fabric of its period. Each figurine is introduced by a general commentary that outlines the typology, chronology and significance of the class in the catalogue. Catalogue descriptions give factual detail, references to previous publications, and close parallels. Finally, typology and style of these examples can also be compared with the dated finds from the other contemporary sites and contexts. On the whole, the evidence presented points to the fact that the 2nd century B.C.E. was the most prosperous ones for the city of Tralleis.