Templi romani giganteschi in Asia Minore: Problemi di costi e di finanziamento

The Roman marble giant temples at Cyzicus and Tarsus, both probably connected with the Imperial provincial cult (neokoria), have been recently object of excavation and research that make now possible a more detailed exam on the quantity of marble used for their building. Cyzicus in Mysia, on the Propontis coast, was very important in Roman times, as a merchant city and a port, as like as for its position near the marble quarries of Proconnesus. Ancient sources relate of a large dipteral temple, whose construction began in Hadrian age, continuing until late Antonine and Severan age: it was one of the most important temples in the Roman world, but only scanty remains are still on site. Most scholars believe that it was dedicated to emperor Hadrian deified, but there are also other opinions on its dedications. The very tall columns (about 70 roman feet) of the temple rose on a substruction of large underground parallel galleries, in local stone and opus caementicium. It had also a crepidoma in marble, and a peristasis of two rows of columns, 8 on the front and 16 on the long sides. The cella length and structure, not excavated yet, can be assessed only with the help of Renaissance travelers who saw the site before its spoliation in the last three centuries, leaving some literary descriptions and drawings; their interpretation is not easy, though.