Building M at Side

Main subject of this thesis is the studies on what is commonly referred to as the "Building M" located in the ancient city of Side of the Pamphylia Region. The study focuses on the structure's architecture and examines its place in the history of architecture based on its dating via specifications of the structure's plan, restitutions, excavations, and the classifications of the ornaments on the structure. The study also handles the stages of the structure's construction and how these stages reflect on the architecture as separate subjects. One of the important results of the study is that the building is a gymnasium. In addition, a connection with another structure to the south of the gymnasium was revealed. Thus, the structure examined in the literature as Building M was revealed precisely that it is a bath-gymnasium structure complex. The special sites preferred on the eastern short side of the gymnasium which is a Late Hadrian - Early Antonine structure measuring approximately 70 x 90 m become prominent as privileged areas of the building. The part named as Emperor's Hall of Honor and located in the center of the mentioned sites is remarkable with its two-storey aedicular facade architecture. In this study, it is suggested that the structure named as Vespasianus Monument in Side has influenced the facade design of the Emperor's Hall of Honor and then this facade has affected the facade design of the stage structure of the theater in Aspendos. In this respect, it is emphasized that the aedicular facade design reflects the architectural elements of the transition from Hadrian to Antonine Period. This design has emerged as a typical bath-gymnasium and when it is studied in terms of the plan, its distribution in Pamphylia Region and other Roman geography has been investigated. Another important result of the study is that the structure had been built between 130 and 150 AD and its use ended at the beginning of the 7th century. Studies have documented six phases clarifying the 450-year period of use of the site. In this study, the new adding and ancient restoration of the site made throughout the years of its standing have been discussed in detail. At the same time, the place and importance of the building in urbanism have also been examined.