Paolo Verzone (1902-1982) A Journey in Time and Space |
Archeology-2: Side
"Arif Müfid Mansel ...director of the excavations has asked me to conduct the survey and make an ideal reconstruction of the monument" (P. Verzone)
The ancient Hellenistic-Roman port city of Side in Pamphylia (on the southwestern coast of Turkey) was rediscovered in the 19th century by European travellers. In 1890 the published report of Lanckoronsky’s expedition contains a detailed illustration of the ruins at the site and the monumental Nympheum, thanks also to the survey conducted by . In 1947, the Turkish archeologist undertook an important archeological mission which would focus on the town plan and the architectonic emergencies in the old marine metropolis; the results obtained by the Mission are illustrated in numerous papers collected in the volume Die Ruinen von Side, edited in Berlin in 1963 by Mansel himself.
From 1952 to 1956 took part in the works of the Mission in charge of examining the great Nympheum outside the city walls and the monumental Mausoleum of the western Necropolis.
"Paolo Verzone, former professor of History of Architecture at Istanbul Technical University and his assistants and , took part in our projects for many years. His knowledge of ancient architecture and his advice on the direction of the excavations provided impetus for the works on the Nympheum" (A. M. Mansel)
To crown his activity in Side, wrote a review and designed a hypothetical reconstruction of the Nympheum, which is only now being published posthumously; from this same article, Mansel derived the description of the monument published in the volume of 1963.
The manuscript found in the Verzone Fund, in its various steps of preparation, bears annotations in the margins handwritten in Turkish by Mansel himself.
In parallel with the excavations of the Nympheum, studied the grand Mausoleum of the western Necropolis and he designed the reconstruction together with the help of architect . The figures were sketched in autumn-winter 1954 and finished in the summer of 1956, as indicated by the intense correspondence between the Professor and his assistant. The sketches formed the basis of the hypothetical reconstruction published by Mansel.
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Side, Nymphaeum, 1953-54.
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From left to right: Arif Mufid Mansel, Paolo Verzone and their assistants Mükerrem Usman and Enrica Fiandra, Side, 1953-54.
Photo: E. Fiandra
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Decorative fragments from Nymphaeum, Side, 1953-54.
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Façade of the Nymphaeum, Side by Paolo Verzone.
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Relief sketch of the Nymphaeum, Side, 1953-54.
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