Stamped Amphora Handles from Magarsus

The region bordered by Korakesion (Alanya) to the west, Alexandreia Kat’Isson (İskenderun) to the east, the Taurus Mountains to the north and the Mediterranean to the south was called Cilicia in antiquity. Magarsus was a port city established in the plain part of this region. During the excavations of the Roman theater of this city, 23 stamped amphora handles and one stamped amphora base were found. These are classified as from Rhodes, Rhodian Peraea, Knidos and Chios. The origin of only one example (a stamped base) can not be determined. Among these finds, the majority are the Rhodian amphora stamps. This is due to Rhodes’ intense commercial relations with centers within the Eastern Mediterra­nean geography. It has been determined that a similar situation exists in other cities of Cilicia. The number of other amphora stamps from Magarsus is as follows: one from the Rhodian Peraea, one from Knidos and one from Chios. It has been seen that the amphora stamps found in Magarsus generally date to different phases of the Hellenistic period. These archaeological finds, providing epigraphic evidence, provide some information about the maritime trade of Magarsus during the Hellenistic Period. The am­phora stamps examined in this article were carried or dragged into the Roman theatre of Magarsus. The stamped handles were found concentrated in the cavea and stage sections of the theatre and, in consequence these stamped handles do not come from any safe stratigraphy.