Geç Antik Dönemde Arykanda Büyük Hamam’ın Dönüşümü

The ancient city of Arykanda, as one of the most remarkable settlements of the Lycian Region, has an important place in urban architecture during the Roman and Late Antiquity periods with its seven bath structures built in different periods. The focus of this study is the Great Bath, one of the most monumental structures of the city, and the VII. Bath, which was built in the context of the transformation process that this structure went through in the Late Antiquity. At least three structural phases have been identified in the Great Bath. In its first phase, it was built in the 1st century AD as a structure that planned to include a gymnasium and a bath together, and in its second phase, it was converted into a double bath, and remained idle for a long time after the earthquake in 240 AD. The VII. Bath, added to the southern part of the structure in the Late Antiquity Period, allowed the structure to regain its function, but this was achieved through the construction of a completely new structure rather than a renovation or spatial reduction. In this context, the VII. Bath was shaped by using the existing walls of the Great Bath and adding to them, and this structural change ensured the functional continuity of the bath. This situation is considered as one of the important examples of structural innovations and adaptation processes in the ancient period. In the article, the construction and transformation processes of these unique exemplary structures in Arykanda are discussed based on the architectural understanding, socio-cultural conditions and economic requirements of the period, and the role of such structural changes in the life of ancient cities is discussed.