Gymnasia in Eastern Sicily of the Hellenistic and Roman Period
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Monika Trümper Gymnasia in Eastern Sicily of the Hellenistic and Roman Period Summary According to literary and epigraphic sources, the institution of Schriftquellen und Inschriften legen nahe, dass in Sizilien die the gymnasion thrived in Sicily from the 3rd century BC on- Institution des Gymnasions vom 3. Jh. v. Chr. an florierte, im wards, in the realm of Hieron II as well as in the Late Repub- Reich Hierons II. wie auch in der spätrepublikanischen römi- lican Roman province. This paper critically discusses whether schen Provinz. Dieser Beitrag untersucht kritisch, ob sich die- the boom of the gymnasion is also reflected in the archaeolog- ser Boom im archäologischen Befund und in der Entstehung ical record and the emergence of a clearly discernible build- einer eindeutig erkennbaren Bautypologie widerspiegelt. Am ing typology. Focusing on five cities of Hieron’s realm in east- Beispiel von fünf ostsizilischen Städten in Hierons Reich (Syra- ern Sicily (Syracuse, Morgantina, Megara Hyblaea, Neaiton, kus, Morgantina, Megara Hyblaea, Neaiton, Akrai) wird unter- and Akrai), it is examined whether gymnasia can be safely sucht, ob Gymnasia sicher identifiziert werden können, wel- identified, what plan, decoration, and function they had, and chen Grundriss sowie welche Ausstattung und Funktion sie whether changes between the 3rd century BC and later peri- hatten, und ob es Änderungen zwischen dem 3. Jh. und spä- ods can be observed. It is shown that none of these cities pro- teren Epochen gab. Es wird gezeigt, dass bislang keine die- vides evidence of a securely identifiable, fully known gymna- ser Städte ein sicher identifiziertes und vollständig bekanntes sion, however. Gymnasium aufweist. Keywords: gymnasion; palaistra; Syracuse; Morgantina; Keywords: Gymnasion; Palaistra; Syrakus; Morgantina; Mega- Megara Hyblaea; Neaiton; Akrai ra Hyblaea; Neaiton; Akrai Ulrich Mania and Monika Trümper (eds.) | Development of Gymnasia and Graeco-Roman Cityscapes | Berlin Studies of the Ancient World 58 (ISBN 978-3-9819685-0-7; ISSN (Print) 2366-6641; ISSN (Online) 2366-665X; DOI 10.17171/3-58) | www.edition-topoi.org 43 monika trümper According to literary and epigraphic sources, the insti- whether the archaeological evidence of gymnasia in tution of the gymnasion thrived in Sicily from the 3rd Sicily supports these assumptions, focusing on the fol- century BC onwards at the latest. Based on this evidence, lowing questions: Where and how can gymnasia be scholars formulated two hypotheses: first, that King Hi- safely identified; where (cities/urban context), when and eron II of Syracuse systematically promoted the gymna- by whom were they built, what did they look like sion in the cities of his realm for strategic-military pur- (size/plan/decoration), and what was their function; can poses, in order to train loyal, competent citizen-soldiers; significant changes be observed, e.g. between the period and second, that “Roman rule in Sicily entailed the con- of Hieron’s reign in the 3rd century BC and later peri- tinuity, indeed the encouragement of traditional norms, ods, notably the 2nd and 1st centuries BC? And finally, in the form of local military activities and their insti- what do gymnasia contribute to the current vivid debate tutional concomitants, in particular the gymnasion”.1 about the urban and cultural development of Hellenistic Consequently, the importance of the gymnasion should Sicily? be reflected in the archaeological record, both in quan- While the archaeological evidence of gymnasia in tity and typology: one could expect to find a func- Sicily recently received some attention in scholarship, tional standard type, developed and systematically prop- important remains are still unpublished and a compre- agated under Hieron and then adopted by the Roman hensive study is missing, so far.4 This gap can certainly rulers, a kind of model kit gymnasion. Accordingly, J. not be filled here. Instead, complementing E. Mango’s Prag recently assumed that all 65 cities of Late Repub- recent assessment of gymnasia in western Sicily,5 focus lican Sicily provided a gymnasion.2 With view to the is here on gymnasia in eastern Sicily, more particularly astonishingly scarce archaeological remains of gymna- even those in Hieron’s realm. Space allows only for a dis- sia, L. Campagna argued, however, that the epigraphic cussion of those cities where archaeological evidence of evidence of gymnasiarchs would not necessarily require gymnasia has been identified and is still being debated. corresponding monumental built complexes. The office These include Syracuse, Morgantina, Megara Hyblaea, of the gymnasiarch may have been “più genericamente Neaiton, and Akrai. In contrast, sites such as Taormina, onorifico e liturgico e meno connesso con gli aspetti where identification of a gymnasion has already been specifici del training atletico e militare.”3 Gymnasion convincingly refuted,6 and Cava d’Ispica where recently structures could have been simple, lacking a distinct ar- discovered evidence is not yet sufficiently published,7 chitectural design that makes them safely identifiable to- will be omitted. day. A clearly recognizable building type ‘gymnasion’ Discussion of the sites is mainly based on published (or palaistra) may only have been introduced during the literature and on visits to the sites. For easier reference monumental restyling of Sicilian cities in the late Hel- and comparative overview, the main data of the dis- lenistic period. cussed sites are summarized in a table (Tab. 1).8 It is the aim of this paper to critically discuss 1 Prag 2007, 69; cf. also Ferruti 2004; Cordiano 1997. vision of Annamaria Sammito and Vittorio Rizzone, who will provide 2 Prag 2007, 93. full publication in the near future; meanwhile for a brief preliminary as- 3 Campagna 2006, 31. sessment, see Sammito and Fiorilla 2013, 212–214; Sammito and Rizzone 4 Archaeological remains are discussed, in varying detail by Ferruti 2004; 2014, fig. 8 pl. IX. I am very much indebted to Annamaria Sammito for Lehmler 2005, 103, 119, 159–161; Campagna 2006, 29–31; Prag 2007; showing these caves to me in April 2017, for generously sharing informa- Fiorentini 2009; Mango 2009; Wilson 2013, 112; Mistretta 2013; A. Mis- tion and publications with me, and for inspiring discussions about this tretta has submitted a PhD dissertation about Gymnasia in Sicily at the highly unusual site and monument. While there is compelling evidence University of Hamburg in 2012, which is not yet published, however, for identifying the complex of caves as a gymnasion and while it provides and was not accessible to me. an intriguing comparison to the complex in Noto, the remains of Cava 5 Mango 2009. d’Ispica cannot be discussed in any detail here. 6 Ferruti 2004, 198–203; Campagna 2006, 31. 8 For comparison, this table also includes the sites of Taurome- 7 Trigilla 2011, 100–101 briefly relates that archaeologists identified a nion/Taormina and Solunto, but not the yet unpublished example in newly discovered complex of several grottoes under the grotto of S. Cava d’Ispica. Maria as a gymnasion. These grottoes were excavated under the super- 44 Site Epigraphic evidence Literary evidence Palaistra / Rooms Paradromis/ Race Bathing facilities / Size Date track Water supply Akrai x, 2nd half of 2nd c - x, courtyard with at least Unknown Laconicum, 2 Insula ca. 56 × 80– 2nd c BC? (typology BC one portico or probably cisterns 85 m = 4480– only) peristyle courtyard with 4760 m2? rooms on at least one side Megara Hyblaia - - ?, courtyard with at least one ?, adjacent main street Well 25 × 34 m = 850 m2 3rd c BC or later? portico and rooms on at (no conclusive evi- least 2 sides dence) Morgantina - - - - - - Neaiton/ Noto x, 3rd c BC? - ?, 5 rock cut rooms ?, on terrace Cistern, channel Caves 1–3, 7–8 = 3rd c BC? (inscrip- antica system ca. 100 m2; terrace tion only) 28 × at least 80 m? = at least 2240 m2 Solunto x, mid-1st c BC or - x, peristyle courtyard sur- ?, adjacent main street Laconicum, cis- 24 × 42 m = 2nd c BC (relative AD? rounded by rooms on 3 terns 1008 m2 chronology; built af- sides ter the theater, over earlier residential structures) Syracuse ?, fragmentary in- For at least 3 differ- 1) ?, peristyle courtyard next 1) ?, integrated into 1) Swimming pool 1) Courtyard 1) 2nd half of 3rd c scriptions of un- ent gymnasia, from to altar of Hieron area of altar/ “palais- 2) Unknown with porticoes BC or later? (archi- known date 4th–1st c BC 2) ?, 1st phase of “Roman tra” 174 × 40.90 m = tecture vs. stratigra- gymnasium”,peristyle court- 2) unknown 7.117 m2 phy) yard / quadriporticus 2) 76 × c. 66 m = 2) Late Hellenistic 2 5.016 m (stratigraphy) Tauromenion/ x, referring to 3rd c - ?, peristyle courtyard Unknown 2 cisterns (channel Peristyle section Hellenistic (3rd c Taormina BC onwards (“tav- (9.50 × 7 m), with rooms and conduits c. 24 × 17 m = BC according to ole finanziarie”,not on at least one side, and at possibly outside 408 m2; upper ter- stucco inscriptions?) found in the peri- least 2 rooms on a higher the building) race c. 22 × 13.5 m style building) terrace; one of these rooms = 297 m2; total = at (or entire building) = library least 705 m2 gymnasia in eastern sicily according to painted stucco inscriptions Tab. 1 Sites in Sicily with identified gymnasia/palaistrai (x = securely identified; ? identification questionable and debated). 45 monika trümper While the terminology of structures for athletic and ties in gymnasia were found all over Syracuse and linked educational activities is debated, the generally accepted with the gymnasion in the Tyche quarter.14 identification is followed here: confined buildings with Interestingly, none of the Syracusan gymnasia can a courtyard and rooms are referred to as palaistrai, com- safely be linked with the patronage of Hieron II, al- plexes that include space and structures for running are though he is particularly known as a builder of tem- called gymnasia.