This grant will enable Jon M. Frey to make significant progress toward the publication of a monograph on the Roman Bath at the Sanctuary of Poseidon at Isthmia, which will appear as a volume in the series dedicated to excavation of the site. Discovered in 1954 and excavated in the 1970s to 1990s, the baths at Isthmia consist of an interconnected cluster of heated and unheated rooms that were a requisite part of the bathing experience in the Roman period. The construction of this monument in the 2nd c. AD was part of a major renovation of this Greek athletic sanctuary that also included improvements to the temple temenos and theater.
Excavation of the bath at Isthmia has revealed a number of important details that contribute to many ongoing discussions in the art and archaeology of the classical world. The bath’s overall design and decorative program, which featured a large (8m x 20m) bichrome mosaic with a marine scene reminiscent of the Baths of Neptune at Ostia, combine elements of eastern and western architectural traditions, which is fitting given the location of the site on the Isthmus of Greece. Additionally, the construction of this building directly atop the remains of a classical period plunge pool offer insight into the relationship of Roman to Greek bathing practices. Lastly, the presence of unique assemblages of artifacts such as a deposit of later Roman lamps, and concentrations of “Slavic” style pottery, make the publication of the artifact assemblages of particular interest to a wider community of scholars who study artistic, social and political developments in the eastern Mediterranean more generally.
Through this grant, Frey will complete a study of the excavation stratigraphy and synthesize his results with contributions of other authors to complete this edited volume. Because it has been delayed several times over the past few decades, this publication project also serves as an important example of the shift away from past traditions of archaeology that were focused primarily on excavation and toward a more recent effort to utilize archives as a primary source of evidence.
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