Table Of ContentThe Small Temple
Gorgias Studies in Classical and Late Antiquity
9
Gorgias Studies in Classical and Late Antiquity contains monographs
and edited volumes on the Greco-Roman world and its transition
into Late Antiquity, encompassing political and social structures,
knowledge and educational ideals, art, architecture and literature.
The Small Temple
A Roman Imperial Cult Building in Petra,
Jordan
Sara Karz Reid
9
34
2013
Gorgias Press LLC, 954 River Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
www.gorgiaspress.com
Copyright © 2 0 1 3 by Gorgias Press LLC
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright
Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise without the
prior written permission of Gorgias Press LLC.
2013 ܘ 9
ISBN 978-1-4632-0234-7
Reprinted from the 2005 edition.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication
Data
A Cataloging-in-Publication Record is Available
from the Library of Congress.
Printed in the United States of America
CONTENTS
List of Maps..............................................................................................ix
List of Tables............................................................................................ix
List of Illustrations..................................................................................xi
Acknowledgments.................................................................................xv
1 The Nabataeans, Petra, and the Archaeological Record...........1
1.1 Geography..................................................................................3
1.2 Nabataean Origins.....................................................................4
1.3 The Historical Record
and the Transition from Nomads to Settlements.......5
1.4 Nabataean Relations..................................................................8
1.4.1 Diplomatic Relations.......................................................8
1.4.2 Trade and Commerce...................................................15
1.5 Nabataean Religion.................................................................18
1.6 Nabataean Pottery...................................................................21
1.7 Petra: The Nabataean Capital................................................23
1.7.1 Nabataean Petra.............................................................23
1.7.2 Petra under the Romans...............................................24
1.7.3 Petra and Bostra............................................................25
1.7.4 Petra after the Roman Period......................................27
1.8 Architecture in Petra...............................................................28
1.9 Previous Research at the Small Temple...............................46
v
vi THESMALLTEMPLE
2 Methodology.................................................................................49
2.1 Survey Methodology...............................................................50
2.2 Excavation Strategy.................................................................51
2.3 Site-Formation and Post-Depositional Processes
at the Small Temple........................................................53
2.4 Field Notebook and Recording.............................................55
2.4.1 Recording Conventions................................................55
2.4.2 Trench Reports..............................................................56
2.4.3 Images.............................................................................57
2.4.4 Databases........................................................................58
2.5 Post-Excavation.......................................................................58
2.5.1 Storage.............................................................................58
2.5.2 Consolidation.................................................................58
2.5.3 Analyses..........................................................................59
3 The Small Temple Excavation...................................................61
3.1 Trenches and Stratigraphy.....................................................61
3.2 Architecture..............................................................................62
3.2.1 Architectural Elements and Order.............................62
3.2.2 Site Overview.................................................................64
3.2.3 Walls and Revetment....................................................65
3.2.4 Platforms.........................................................................69
3.2.5 Basins...............................................................................70
3.2.6 The Alcove.....................................................................73
3.2.7 Roofing............................................................................75
3.2.8 Limestone Floor Pavers...............................................76
3.2.9 Doorways and Traffic Flow.........................................79
3.2.10 The Substructure...........................................................82
3.2.11 Portico.............................................................................86
3.2.12 Staircase...........................................................................88
3.2.13 Upper Precinct...............................................................92
3.2.14 Courtyard........................................................................92
3.3 Chronological Phases..............................................................93
3.3.1 Phase I: Original Architecture.....................................94
3.3.2 Phase II: Placement
of the Latest Subfloor Elements.................................96
3.3.3 Phase III: Addition of Interior Platforms.................97
3.3.4 Phase IV: Latest Decoration of the Interior.............98
3.3.5 Phase V: Early Basin Added........................................99
CONTENTS vii
3.3.6 Phase VI: Modifications
in the Southwest Corner.............................................100
3.3.7 Phase VII: Placement of the Latest Floor...............103
3.3.8 Phase VIII: Removal of the Latest Floor................103
3.3.9 Phase IX: Marble Destruction...................................103
3.3.10 Phase X: Roof Collapse..............................................106
3.3.11 Phase XI: Deposit of Overburdens..........................106
3.3.12 Phase XII: Later Activity............................................107
3.3.13 Phasing Outliers...........................................................107
3.4 A Possible Motive
for the Destruction of the Small Temple................110
4 Marble, Trade, and the Small Temple.....................................113
4.1 Marble Finds at the Small Temple.....................................113
4.1.1 Marble Types................................................................113
4.1.2 Sourcing........................................................................114
4.1.3 Revetment.....................................................................114
4.1.4 Cornices........................................................................116
4.1.5 Inscriptions...................................................................117
4.2 Marble and Imperial Associations at the Small Temple.121
4.2.1 Inscriptions Overview................................................123
4.2.2 Inscription Content.....................................................123
4.2.3 Inscription Phases.......................................................132
4.2.4 Imperial and Affluence Associations of Marble.....135
4.3 Marble Trade and Acquisition............................................137
4.3.1 Trade and Commerce in the Roman Empire.........137
4.3.2 Quarry Locations.........................................................140
4.3.3 The Roman Imperial Quarry System:
The Ratio Marmorum.................................................143
4.3.4 Marble Acquisition at Petra.......................................147
5 Ruler Worship and the Imperial Cult......................................149
5.1 Ruler Worship.......................................................................150
5.1.1 Near East......................................................................150
5.1.2 Hellenistic World.........................................................151
5.1.3 Roman Empire.............................................................151
5.2 Imperial Cult Buildings in the Roman Empire................152
5.2.1 Placement of the Imperial Cult within a City..........153
5.2.2 Architectural Styles......................................................154
5.2.3 Benefactors and Commissioners
of the Imperial Cult.....................................................154
viii THESMALLTEMPLE
5.3 Imperial Cult Observance in the Roman Empire...........156
5.3.1 The Western and Eastern Roman Empire..............156
5.3.2 Examples for Comparison.........................................159
5.3.3 Caesarea........................................................................160
5.3.4 Ephesus.........................................................................164
5.3.5 Aphrodisias...................................................................166
6 The Small Temple as an Imperial Cult Building....................169
6.1 Datable Objects in Context................................................170
6.2 Architecture and Influences................................................171
6.2.1 Roman Influences.......................................................171
6.2.2 The Pes Monetalis (the Roman Foot).........................173
6.2.3 Imperial Cult Associations
with Water and Serapis...............................................178
6.3 A Prestigious Location........................................................180
6.4 Imperial Titulature on Imperial Material..........................182
6.5 A Symbol of Roman Dominance and Integration..........184
Appendix 1: Trench Locations and Descriptions..........................189
2000 Season.....................................................................................189
2001 Season.....................................................................................192
2002 Season.....................................................................................197
Appendix 2: Results of Marble Isotopic Analysis..........................202
Appendix 3: Standard Deviations
and Ancient Units of Measurement..................................205
Bibliography.........................................................................................217
Index .................................................................................................233
LIST OF MAPS
Map 1. Petra and the eastern Mediterranean.......................................3
Map 2. Nabataean area, first century BCE to first century CE...........9
Map 3. The Petra city center.................................................................29
Map 4. Map of imperial cult sites for comparison.........................160
Map 5. Marble quarries represented at the Small Temple............204
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Nabataean kinglist, after McKenzie 1990: 57.....................11
Table 2. Chronological phases at the Small Temple.........................94
Table 3. Comparison of standard deviations..................................175
Table 4. Calculation of standard deviation
at the ½ Roman foot scale..................................................176
Table 5. Results of marble isotopic analysis....................................202
Table 6. Calculation of standard deviation at the 1⁄ scale...........206
12
Table 7. Calculation of standard deviation at the 1⁄ scale...........208
10
Table 8. Calculation of standard deviation at the ¼ scale............210
Table 9. Calculation of standard deviation at the ½ scale............212
Table 10. Calculation of standard deviation at the 1⁄ scale.........214
10
ix
