Abstract:

The subject of this study is the bronze oil lamps dating from the Roman and Late Antique Periods, today in the Konya Archaeological Museum. It is known that from early periods that oil lamps were used in daily life to illuminate homes and in the course of official and religious ceremonies, and were also placed within tombs as gifts for the dead. In our study, 33 bronze oil lamps in the Konya Archeology Museum collection acquired through purchase and from confiscation are discussed. Due to the fact that bronze is a material that can be melted and reused, bronze oil lamps have survived in fewer numbers than terracotta oil lamps. The production of bronze oil lamps become widespread from the Ist century A.D. onwards. The bronze oil lamps of this period resembled the terracotta oil lamps of the Late Hellenistic period. Beginning from the IVth-Vth century A.D., Christian symbols were added to the stylistic features of ancient oil lamps and production of oil lamps suitable for religious and daily use became widespread. This change is observable in the collection of Roman and Late Antique Age oil lamps in the Konya Archaeological Museum. The oil lamps examined in this study are grouped according to their forms and discussed in detail under the subheadings of the Roman period and Late Antique Period. The related similar artifacts in museums and private collections in Turkey and abroad were identified and dating suggestions were made accordingly.

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