The monumental fountain structure, which was excavated in 2015, was called the “South Nymphaeum” in publications prior to the excavation. Due to the inscriptions and statue group found during the excavations, the structure was renamed the “Traian Nymphaeum”.

The Monumental Fountain structure was unearthed at the south end of the 5th western portico during the work on Stadium Street and borders the street and the portico connected to it at the south end. Traian Nymphaeum is also a square fountain overlooking the rectangular Traian Square located at the south end of Stadium Street. The square, whose floor is paved with travertine blocks, has an Atrium Administrative Building on its southern border and was planned together with the Nymphaeum Square. The rectangular Traian Nymphaeum Square is 23,07 m in the north-south direction, 14,0 m in the north and 15,45 m in the south in the east-west direction. In the Early Byzantine Period (4th century AD), marble floor blocks were laid on the original travertine floor of the square due to the arrangements made in the square and the surrounding structures. The marble floor created in the late period was heavily damaged due to its use as a quarry after the city was abandoned.

Laodicea Works in its 15th Year – Armored Trajan Sculpture Group, Celal Şimşek

Laodicea Water Law

The inscribed block containing the law was found in front of the monumental fountain dedicated to Emperor Trajan (2015-98 AD) in a semicircular form, which was unearthed in the excavations on Stadium Street in 117. At the beginning of the prepared law, a petition submitted to the Governor of the Province (Ephesus-Efes) for approval by an embassy delegation from Laodicea is mentioned. The person mentioned in the inscription is Aulus Vicirius Martialis, Governor of the Province of Asia (Anatolia) in 113/114 AD. In the next section, the decision of the egregi, the proconsul and his ambassador, is recorded. Although the ambassador Saenius Sabinus was not a previously known person, it is estimated that the person mentioned is the great Roman historian of the proconsul, Cornelius Tacitus (112/113 AD?). The records were kept by Julius Claros, the strategòs of Laodicea at the time (112/113 AD?) and later curator aquarum (114/115 or 115/116 AD). Following the legal proceedings of the aforementioned officials, Aulus Vicirius Martialis must have sent an edict to Laodicea, as he had done at Ephesus, against the misuse of public water. After a long introduction in which the provincial governor (or, less likely, his envoy) is introduced, the decisions of his predecessors are quoted and the edict he issued is recorded in the inscription.

The inscription reads as follows: "I command that, by this decree which is mine, no one may remove or disperse the water from the city fountains or pipes under any pretext."

§ 1 (ll. 7-9) For the prohibition of the detention (apagein) or diversion (metocheteuein) of water coming into the city and for the allocation of water for public use.

§ 2 (ll. 9-11) Whoever divides the water belonging to the city for his own personal use or damages the water must pay 5000 denarii-dinars to the imperial treasury. «5000 denarii must be paid to the treasury of Trajan Caesar, 1/8 of this money must be given to the person who made the report, and the person who committed the crime must be deprived of the city's water.

§ 3 (ll. 11-12) It is forbidden to take city water free of charge or to donate it to private persons by an official. (A fine of 5000 dinars and the decision of the official is considered null and void)

§ 4 (ll. 12-14) Those who purchase water may not violate the Edict of Vespasian: «I permit the city to bring and use only its own water, whether in houses or gardens, baths or farms. In the event of violation, a fine of 5000 dinars is imposed.

§ 5 (ll. 14-15) People who collect water in designated suitable areas must build castelli (water tanks) and supply water from these structures through pipes of diameters certified and sealed with bronze meters. The diameter of these pipes must be one or half fingers.

§ 6 (ll. 15-16) A fine of 5000 dinars is imposed on anyone who damages water or water pipes (by digging under water pipes or in other ways).

§ 7 (ll. 16-19) By order of the governor, a loan of up to 30000 dinars was allowed for the protection of the city's aquaducts and the covering of water pipes with roofs. It is necessary to provide protective roofs for the water pipes in the city, from the water tanks to the upper floors of the fountains.

§ 8 (ll. 19-20) If a magistrate, official or citizen removes water main pipes for any work, he must pay a fine of 12500 dinars.

§ 9 (ll. 20-22) The Governor's Office appoints the two most honorable citizens, elected by the city each year, as curators to ensure the safety of the water supply.

§ 10 (ll. 22-23) A committee in the parliament supervises the execution of these works.

§ 11 (ll. 23-25) The governor orders the regular managers of the aquaducts and three people from the population to receive salaries. These people supervise the water safety of the city center and the countryside. Those who commit fraud in these matters are punished according to the decree of the ambassador Saenius Sabinus.

§ 12 (ll. 25-27) In order for the water of the "Most Magnificent City" to be used in the most correct way by the Laodiceans, "the most just person in the city must be chosen to ensure that the water to be sold is distributed fairly."

§ 13 (ll. 27-28)? With this law, no one who has land close to aquaducts can use the water for agriculture or irrigate their fields with this water.

§ 14 (ll. 28-30) (The last part of the inscription is related to the writing of this text). The governor orders that this text be inscribed on the buildings mentioned in the inscription. «Elected rulers of the most magnificent city of the Laodiceans, engrave my decree on the steles and let the people clearly see these laws that concern them».

Laodicea Water Law, Celal Simsek

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