The Civil Basilica of Aphrodisias in its local and wider settings

This dissertation presents research on a large and important building, conventionally known as the Civil Basilica, which was constructed in the heart of the ancient Graeco-Roman town of Aphrodisias (in modern Turkey) in the late first century A.D. It survives today as one of the three best-preserved basilicas in the Roman Empire, including those at Pompeii in Italy and Lepcis Magna in Libya. The combination of the Basilica's well-preserved and historically significant architecture, sculpture and inscriptions is unparalleled in the archaeological record of Roman basilicas, and this is why it warrants a comprehensive study and publication. The Basilica of Aphrodisias and other basilical halls like it in western Asia Minor interestingly combined Greek and Roman elements, which seems to have been a conscious effort on the part of their builders and patrons. As hybrid structures, these basilicas respected Greek traditions, while at the same time introducing a prestigious building type from the Roman West. The dissertation begins with discussion of the Basilica's urban setting, construction date, and history of study and excavation. The second chapter describes the archaeological remains and reconstructs the building in drawings, while the third chapter interprets its architectural planning, structure, and decoration. The fourth chapter presents the state of research on the Basilica's function and building history. The concluding chapter considers the Asiatic basilicas as a regional form of the Roman basilica, which fills in a missing chapter in the architectural history of the building type.