Emergency Safeguarding and Exploratory Work at the Temple of Hadrian on the Curetes Street

The restoration activities at the Temple of Hadrian can be understood as the continuation of an extensive analysis of the inventory and state of preservation of the temple, work which was carried out in 2010 within the framework of a project of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), »The Temple of Hadrian on the Curetes Street in Ephesos« (Project No. P20947-G02). The anastylosis, which is over 50 years old, displays multiple symptoms of damage over the entire area, not only in the ancient materials but also in the modern materials which were employed. In general the structure is in a poor state of preservation. From the standpoint of conservation, there is an urgent need for treatment in many respects.

Goals of the 2011 campaign were:

1. The emergency safeguarding of stone blocks in danger of collapsing
2. The carrying out of exploratory work for a future treatment of the various materials, within the framework of an extensive restoration campaign

Emergency Safeguarding

The areas containing stone fragments which are in danger of collapsing are the following: the eastern architrave of the facade (040A), the eastern corner block of the gable (053G), and the rear face of the tympanon relief of the cella portal (095L, 098D und 099D). In addition, the lintel of the cella door (166Te), made out of ferro-concrete, clearly reveals damage, and fist-sized pieces of broken concrete threaten to fall down. The reason for this can be traced back to the number of iron elements contained in the construction, which have experienced a significant increase in volume in the course of weathering. This is visible in the stone around it, in the form of cracks and the creation of clumps. Thus the picture of damage of the eastern architrave (040A) can be clearly connected to the iron supports employed on its underside.

Deriving from this, the following focal points of the restoration measures have emerged: careful removal of the broken stone elements in danger of collapse, treatment of the iron elements with a multi-stage procedure, measures for the deceleration of the progress of damage, and the concluding reattachment.

A deceleration of future damage should take place above all through the controlled discharge of rain water, which requires the treatment of the surroundings. The extent of the work in these measures includes the removal of all restorations which have brought about damage, the application of new restoration materials, in particular in the structural joints, as well as the consolidation of visible cracks and gaps.

Exploratory Surfaces

So-called exploratory surfaces were laid down, in order to be able to define appropriate conservation and restoration measures at the Temple of Hadrian. Exploratory surfaces should aid in identifying the optimal methods of preservation, as well as in estimating the time required to carry these out and the future appearance afterwards. The division of the exploratory surfaces took place amongst the different materials of marble and concrete, as well as within the structural entity of the drystone wall construction.

The exploratory procedures for each of the steps of the work were carried out above all in the area above the damaged architrave 040A. The list following here gives an overview of the individual steps:

•  Removal of damaging restorations and adhesive materials
• Reduction of biogenic layers
• Reduction of the formation of crust deposits
• Consolidation of damaged marble joints
• Jointing and supplementation
• Bonding
• Bonding of cracks
• Treatment of the iron elements

Financial Support

ÖAI

Contact

Sabine Ladstätter

Martin Pliessnig