The Ancient Roads and Routes around Sidyma and New Inscriptions from its Vicinity

Authors : Fatma Avcu, Hüseyin Uzunoğlu

Pages : 319-344

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Publication Date : 2019-10-11

Article Type : Research

Abstract :In this contribution, we introduce the Xanthos- Sidyma road on the basis of its physical remains, which were found and topographical observations made during the course of field surveys conducted in 2017–2018 within the framework of the Monumentum Patarense (MP). The article focusses upon why there is no connection recorded on the monument between Sidyma and Pinara, despite the fact that these were neighbouring settlements. In this respect, we investigate the issue of whether the connection recorded in the MP between Xanthos and Sidyma took the northern or southern course. It is suggested in the article that it must have been the northern course, due to the two (or possibly three) new milestones and other ancient artefacts discovered at Dereboğaz Mevkii. One of the milestones (no. 1) is dated to the reign of Commodus and records that the restoration of the roads was accomplished under the superintendence of the proconsul C. Pomponius Bassus Terentianus. This milestone was used in the 1st Tetrarchic Period (no. 1b). The other milestone likewise belongs to the 1st Tetrarchic Period (no. 2), but lacks any mile information. Also presented are six inscribed funerary altars, from both the Fethiye Museum and from various villages around Sidyma (such as Seki, Ge, etc.) as well as one early Christian metrical building inscription concerning a hospital.
Keywords : Monumentum Patarense-Stadiasmus Patarensis, Roman road, Sidyma, Xanthos, Pinara, Milestones, Funerary inscriptiones, iatreion and xenodokheion