A group of hellenistic period loomweights and spindle whorl in Izmir agora

In ancient ages, Izmir was one of the prominent trade, art and culture centers. Myths about the city?s foundation, including names such as Amazonians, Thesesus and Tantalos are stil being told. In the first half of 6th century B.C., West Anatolia was world?s cultural center. This state was changed the Persian invasion of 545 B.C. In this period prominent philosophers, scientists and artist had escaped to Athens. The Persian invasion in Anatolia ended with Alexander the Great ,and during teh Hellenistic Period cities began to improve; thus a new city was founded on the foothills of Pagos Mountain during 300 B.C. There is even a myth of Alexander the Great about the foundation of Smyrna. The Smyrna Agora, which was built in this period, was collapsed because of an earthquake in the year 178 and was rebuilt with the help of Marcus Aurelius. Smyrna Agora is stil being excavated. The first excavations were between 1932 and 1941. The objects found during those excavations are currently exhibited in Museum of Archeology in Izmir. Smyrna participated in Mediterranean trade between the years 650 and 545 B.C. One of the trade goods of this particular era was weaved fabrics. These fabrics were weaved in the looms by processing the wool in to the ropes by using small hand machines which is called ?Kirmen? and having the spindle whorl in its center of mass. There used to be three kinds of looms for these weaving. Unlike today?s techniques, the weaving used to be made in up-to-down style in the looms which started to exist in Hellenistic Period for the first time and loomweights were used to keep the upperport of the loom in balance. Those weights which are made of cooked soil were not only used in the looms but also as the weight of fishnets and hunting nets. Being totally hand made, those weights and spindle whorls used to get pierced to have a couple of handing holes on them and also to prevent the crackings that can possibly occur during the cooking. After getting hardened enough they used to be cut in equal pieces therefore in equal weights and would be totally ready to use. Fourthy seven Hellenistic Period loomweights and one Hellenistic Period spindle whorl which were found in the excavations of Smyrna Agora are catalouged in this master thesis. Key Words: 1) Agora, 2) Smyrna, 3) Hellenistic, 4) Spindle Whorl 5) Loomweight