Side Müzesi'ndeki sigma formlu tabla

Abstract

At Side Museum is a sigma (horseshoe) shaped table is on display and it was put together to a great extent from its fragments. The bottom part of the table is broken and missing; the border is decorated with figurai and floral motifs following the contour of the frame. These motifs include engraved sea creatures and plants. In the center of the table is an engraved cross, and a double handled vessel, only top part of which can be seen, is seen to its right. In the middle of the frame is an antithetic composition with two dolphins flanking a trident; this composition is repeated in the areas corresponding to the arms of the cross. In between this repeating composition are various sea animals and plants. The incomplete Greek inscription on the cross means something like "partnership, comradeship or friendship of jewelers". It is generally accepted that scenes related with the sea and marine beings refer to comfortable, sunny and peaceful life. Used as a symbol of good luck as of the 4 th century BC, scenes of sea and marine beings were particularly used on sarcophagi and on the floor mosaics of private baths in the Roman art. Traditional iconography with the same themes continued in some floor mosaics, handicrafts, silver works, amphorae and Christian sarcophagi in Late Antiquity - Byzantine period. These scenes seem to have been appropriated by the Christians as well due to their symbolism of felicity, good luck, merry life, and the paradise which promises comfort and peaceful life. An item that depicts such scenes in late periods are the tables used on top of tables. With regards to the theme of decoration, the table at Side Museum depicts sea animals and plants while the others depict an imaginary sea world with imaginary beings and gods and goddesses. The iconography of the repeating antithetic composition of a trident and two dolphins is quite interesting. In Christian faith the dolphin is the king of the fish and symbolizes the sea beings. It is accepted that the protector title of the dolphin symbolizes Christ. Whereas some scholars explain the presence of dolphins in Christian art with regards to its symbolism of the sea, love, trust and good luck or its escorting the souls on their journey to the other world, as in antiquity, some other scholars consider that this is only decorative as a mythological form. Before the Christian period sigma-shaped tables were used in both domestic and religious buildings, serving as dining table at homes and sacrificial tables in the cult of the dead. The Christians assumed both functions. The domestic table, at which Christ and his apostles had the last supper, transformed to the Christian altar of the Eucharist. Geometric or figurai decoration in the central field of these tables does not reveal any hard evidence for their actual use. A table with religious theme could have been used at a Christian home or in an annex to the church with tables decorated with neutral or pagan themes found their way into the churches for their aesthetic reasons or value. The inscription suggests that this sigma-shaped table was a votive offering and possibly presented to a church as gift. However, it is very curious why jewelers ordered a marble table from stone masters instead of manufacturing a metal one displaying their skills. Perhaps this was related with the content of the votive offering. Another likelihood is that this table decorated with sea theme on its outer frame originally belonged to a profane table but when it was decided to present it to a church the inscribed cross in the middle was added accordingly. In spite of examples with relief decoration at the capital, the Side example's decoration is engraved and therefore, this can be considered a local production. This sigma-shaped table was placed on top of a table or altar and is an interesting example of local production among similar examples from the Early Christian - Byzantine period when considered together with its stylistic features of the figures on its top and iconographic aspects.