The dark colour of the Ploutonion at Hierapolis of Phrygiae (Turkey)

The dark colour of some excavated architectural elements of the Ploutonion, in the archaeological site of Hierapolis of Phrygiae (Turkey), was investigated. The Ploutonion, visited by numerous ancient writers, such as Cicero and Strabo, was a sanctuary dedicated to Pluto and Kore, constructed during...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inArchaeometry Vol. 61; no. 2; pp. 296 - 308
Main Authors Vettori, S., Cantisani, E., Chelazzi, L., Cuzman, O. A., Gatta, G. D., D’Andria, F.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oxford Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.04.2019
Subjects
Architectural elements
birnessite
Color
dark colour
Fluorescence
Gases
Hierapolis
Hot springs
Microscopy
Mn oxides
Ploutonion
ranciéite
Spring water
X‐ray diffraction
Hierapolis
Turkey
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Summary:The dark colour of some excavated architectural elements of the Ploutonion, in the archaeological site of Hierapolis of Phrygiae (Turkey), was investigated. The Ploutonion, visited by numerous ancient writers, such as Cicero and Strabo, was a sanctuary dedicated to Pluto and Kore, constructed during the early Imperial period above the entrance to a natural cave, from which thermal waters and poisonous gases emerge. It was used for sacred rituals: sacrifices, incubation and healing. A multi‐analytical approach (X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray fluorescence, optical and electronic microscopy, and chemical analyses of the thermal spring water) was used in order to define the composition and origin of darkening phenomena of some architectural elements of the Ploutonion.
ISSN:0003-813X
1475-4754
DOI:10.1111/arcm.12416