Nymphaeum

The Nymphaeum of Miletus is a splendid fountain structure from the late first century CE. It is located at the heart of the ancient city center, between the Ionian Hall, the Market Gate and the Great Church. Along with wells and cisterns used to store groundwater and rainwater, the Nymphaeum secured the water supply to the city center. It was fed with spring water from a limestone plateau to the south of the city, transported to Miletus by an aqueduct. A complex distribution system consisting of clay pipes channeled the water to the storage facilities of the Nymphaeum. Through waterspouts in its magnificent facade, the water reached the frontal basin, an underground tank and the lateral latrines. The canalization network surrounding the avenue disposed of excess water and wastewater from the latrines.

Photo: Hülsen 1919, Taf. 63

The colored reconstruction drawing of the Nymphaeum gives an insight into everyday life in Miletus (J. Hülsen, Das Nymphaeum von Milet, Milet 1,5 (Berlin 1919) Taf. 63).

Photo: Hülsen 1919, Taf. 1.1

The Nymphaeum and the associated architectural segments after their excavation, seen from the north (J. Hülsen, Das Nymphaeum von Milet, Milet 1,5 (Berlin 1919) Taf. 1.1).

Photo: Hülsen 1919, Taf. 58

Reconstruction of the Nymphaeum’s facade (J. Hülsen, Das Nymphaeum von Milet, Milet 1,5 (Berlin 1919) Taf. 58).

Photo: Hülsen 1919, Taf. 1.2

Frontal view of the Nymphaeum after its excavation, seen from the north (J. Hülsen, Das Nymphaeum von Milet, Milet 1,5 (Berlin 1919) Taf. 1.2).

Photo: Hülsen 1919, Taf. 53

Perspective view of the Nymphaeum’s reconstruction (J. Hülsen, Das Nymphaeum von Milet, Milet 1,5 (Berlin 1919) Taf. 53).

As well as its practical purpose, the Nymphaeum was a representative monument and a tasteful highlight in the city center of ancient Miletus. Today, only the ruins of the decorative facade and parts of the water storage and distribution system remain of it. However, because a large number of its marble components has survived, the Nymphaeum can be reconstructed relatively easily. It was probably a structure with a width of 20 meters, depth of 21 meters and height of 16 meters originally. The 3-story marble facade was richly decorated. The exact selection and design of its capitals, columns adorned with foliate reliefs and god, demigod, and hero statues varied between stories. Some of the sculptures on the ground floor not only served an aesthetic purpose, they were also waterspouts, holding vessels, and animals bearing water pipes in their hands. The Latin inscription on the ground-floor architrave reveals that the structure was built at the behest of M. Ulpius Traianus, the father of the later Emperor Trajan, during the reign of Emperor Titus (79–81 CE). A second, Greek architrave inscription shows that the building underwent an extension under Emperor Gordian III (238–244 CE), probably relating to its inventory of sculptures.

Text: Nadia Cahenzli

References

J. Hülsen, Das Nymphaeum, Milet 1,5 (Berlin 1919).
G. Alföldy, Traianus pater und die Bauinschrift des Nymphäums von Milet, REA 100, 1998, 367–399.
U. Quatember, Ornament im Kontext. Der Beitrag der Bauforschung zur Untersuchung von Architekturdekoration, in: J. Lipps – D. Maschek (eds.), Antike Bauornamentik. Grenzen und Möglichkeiten ihrer Erforschung (Wiesbaden 2014) 99–116.
M. Maischberger, in: P. Niewöhner (ed.), Milet / Balat. Städtebau und Monumente von Archaischer bis in Türkische Zeit. Ein Führer (Istanbul 2016) 71–75.
C. Berns, Die Hafenstadt als Handlungsraum. Beobachtungen zur Präsenz verschiedener Akteure im städtischen Zentrum von Milet, in: D. Marzoli – S. Reinhold – U. Schlotzhauer – B. Vogt – H. Schnorbusch (eds.), Kontaktmodi. Ergebnisse der gemeinsamen Treffen der Arbeitsgruppen „Mobilität und Migration“ und „Zonen der Interaktion“ (2013–2018), Menschen, Kulturen, Traditionen 17 (Wiesbaden 2020) 97–107.