»Das Märchen von den drei Märkten«

Bauten merkantiler Funktion und die städtebauliche Entwicklung des hellenistischen Milet

Abstract

Ever since the publication of the works of Armin von Gerkan in the 1920s Miletus has been considered an example for the growing importance of trade and economic affairs that went together with the decline of political independence of the Greek poleis at the end of the Hellenistic period. The aim of this paper is to re examine von Gerkan’s theory on its material basis with market buildings being identifi ed on a typological basis. As a material orientated approach can show, the majority of market buildings where built at a much earlier stage of Milesian history than is usually thought, i. e. at the late 4^th/early 3^rd century B.C. Finally, with their construction being prior to that of many other public buildings, the importance of market facilities for the local economy and their impact on the urban development are discussed.