Slipper lamps: Difference between revisions

Line 5: Line 5:

==Types==

==Types==

===”Candlestick” lamps or ”luchnaria”===

===”Candlestick” lamps or ”luchnaria”===

[[File:Thameenantique (52).jpg|right|thumb|200px|Byzantine period “candlestick” lamp with the typical palm-menorah motif. Found in the village [[Fandaqomiya]] (Pentacomia).]]

[[File:Thameenantique (52).jpg|right|thumb||Byzantine period “candlestick” lamp with the typical palm-menorah motif. Found in the village [[Fandaqomiya]] (Pentacomia).]]

“Candlestick” lamps are so called because they were so named by [[R. A. Stewart Macalister]] who identified the palm-branch motif on the specimens he examined as a [[menorah]].<ref name=Rosen>Rosenthal and Sivan, p. 116.</ref> The same motif appears used in conjunction with Greek inscriptions praising Jesus Chris, prompting later scholars, like Eugenia Nitowski, to challenge that identification, and advocate using ”luchnaria”, the plural form of ”luchnarion”, first introduced to describe these particular lamps by [[Charles Simon Clermont-Ganneau]]in the 19th century.<ref name=Woj>Brillowski and Wakowicz, pp. 37-38.</ref> Nitowski uses “radiated” to describe the palm-menorah motif and “inscribed” to indicate those with inscriptions.<ref name=Nitowski>Nitowski, 1974.</ref>

“Candlestick” lamps are so called because they were so named by [[R. A. Stewart Macalister]] who identified the palm-branch motif on the specimens he examined as a [[menorah]].<ref name=Rosen>Rosenthal and Sivan, p. 116.</ref> The same motif appears used in conjunction with Greek inscriptions praising Jesus Chris, prompting later scholars, like Eugenia Nitowski, to challenge that identification, and advocate using ”luchnaria”, the plural form of ”luchnarion”, first introduced to describe these particular lamps by [[Charles Simon Clermont-Ganneau]]in the 19th century.<ref name=Woj>Brillowski and Wakowicz, pp. 37-38.</ref> Nitowski uses “radiated” to describe the palm-menorah motif and “inscribed” to indicate those with inscriptions.<ref name=Nitowski>Nitowski, 1974.</ref>

These “candlestick” lamps or ”luchnarion” have come to be called slipper lamps in general, and are broadly divided into two main types or categories, first delineated by [[Ovid R. Sellers]] and [[Dmitri Baramki]] in 1953, and then built upon by Renate and Rosenthal, with several variants sub-types as well. The first broad group is associated with the specimens found at [[‘Ain Yabroud]] and were produced between the 4th and 6th centuries, and are smaller, devoid of linguistic inscriptions, and characterized by the palm-menorah markings at the end of the nozzle. The second group consists of larger lamps, with more variations in decoration, including Greek and pseudo-Greek inscriptions, and spans a longer production period, from the 5th to 8th centuries. They are found all over Palestine (and beyond) and especially abundant in [[Jerusalem]].<ref name=Woj/>

These “candlestick” lamps or ”luchnarion” have come to be called slipper lamps in general, and are broadly divided into two main types or categories, first delineated by [[Ovid R. Sellers]] and [[Dmitri Baramki]] in 1953, and then built upon by Renate and Rosenthal, with several variants sub-types as well. The first broad group is associated with the specimens found at [[‘Ain Yabroud]] and were produced between the 4th and 6th centuries, and are smaller, devoid of linguistic inscriptions, and characterized by the palm-menorah markings at the end of the nozzle. The second group consists of larger lamps, with more variations in decoration, including Greek and pseudo-Greek inscriptions, and spans a longer production period, from the 5th to 8th centuries. They are found all over Palestine (and beyond) and especially abundant in [[Jerusalem]].<ref name=Woj/>

[[File:Byzantine oil lamp.jpg|Byzantine_oil_lamp|right|thumb|Byzantine period slipper lamp. Found in the village [[Fandaqomiya]] (Pentacomia). In this specimen, a Cross replace the palm motif near the origin of the nozzle.|300px]]

[[File:Byzantine oil lamp.jpg|Byzantine_oil_lamp|right|thumb|Byzantine period slipper lamp. Found in the village [[Fandaqomiya]] (Pentacomia). In this specimen, a Cross replace the palm motif near the origin of the nozzle.|]]

Inscribed lamps of this type generally contain the following phrase in [[Byzantine Greek]] “φως Χριστον φαινει πασιν” (“The [[Light of Christ]] Shines for All”)<ref name=Vicenz>de Vicenz, p. 115.</ref> Lamps dated to the 7th and 8th centuries with this inscription are also seen with [[Arabic language]] inscriptions as well, praising God (“Allah”).<ref name=Sussman>Sussman, p. 146. (See also, “List of Figures”, “Figure A (1) Lamp bearing both a cross and a full inscription in praise of the savior (2-3) The inscription bears also the name of Allah in Arabic script (from the Jerusalem [[Ophel]])”</ref> Another example from this period carries two Greek inscriptions, with the cruder one etched on the base being a personalized dedicated, reading, “Lord [[Jesus Christ]], remember Alphios, Aianos and Abdela, [his] son, Amen.”<ref name=Segni>Di Segni et al., p. 190.</ref>

Inscribed lamps of this type generally contain the following phrase in [[Byzantine Greek]] “φως Χριστον φαινει πασιν” (“The [[Light of Christ]] Shines for All”)<ref name=Vicenz>de Vicenz, p. 115.</ref> Lamps dated to the 7th and 8th centuries with this inscription are also seen with [[Arabic language]] inscriptions as well, praising God (“Allah”).<ref name=Sussman>Sussman, p. 146. (See also, “List of Figures”, “Figure A (1) Lamp bearing both a cross and a full inscription in praise of the savior (2-3) The inscription bears also the name of Allah in Arabic script (from the Jerusalem [[Ophel]])”</ref> Another example from this period carries two Greek inscriptions, with the cruder one etched on the base being a personalized dedicated, reading, “Lord [[Jesus Christ]], remember Alphios, Aianos and Abdela, [his] son, Amen.”<ref name=Segni>Di Segni et al., p. 190.</ref>

Slipper lamps are mould-made clay oil lamps produced in Syria and Palestine primarily during the era of Byzantine and early Islamic (Umayyad and Abbasid) rule there. They were produced using two plaster or limestone molds, pressed together, and are characterised by their almond/ovoid shape and a nozzle integrated into the body.

There are several different sub-types (and myriad typological systems) used to categorize and distinguish them, by their markings/inscriptions or particular place of production. Slipper lamp is often used as a synonym for “candlestick” lamps (or luchnaria), but can include other types of lamps of the same form, and has been applied to an identical form that reemerged in the Ayyubid and Mamluk eras.

Types

“Candlestick” lamps or luchnaria

“Candlestick” lamps are so called because they were so named by R. A. Stewart Macalister who identified the palm-branch motif on the specimens he examined as a menorah.^[1] The same motif appears used in conjunction with Greek inscriptions praising Jesus Chris, prompting later scholars, like Eugenia Nitowski, to challenge that identification, and advocate using luchnaria, the plural form of luchnarion, first introduced to describe these particular lamps by Charles Simon Clermont-Ganneauin the 19th century.^[2] Nitowski uses “radiated” to describe the palm-menorah motif and “inscribed” to indicate those with inscriptions.^[3]

These “candlestick” lamps or luchnarion have come to be called slipper lamps in general, and are broadly divided into two main types or categories, first delineated by Ovid R. Sellers and Dmitri Baramki in 1953, and then built upon by Renate and Rosenthal, with several variants sub-types as well. The first broad group is associated with the specimens found at ‘Ain Yabroud and were produced between the 4th and 6th centuries, and are smaller, devoid of linguistic inscriptions, and characterized by the palm-menorah markings at the end of the nozzle. The second group consists of larger lamps, with more variations in decoration, including Greek and pseudo-Greek inscriptions, and spans a longer production period, from the 5th to 8th centuries. They are found all over Palestine (and beyond) and especially abundant in Jerusalem.^[2]

Inscribed lamps of this type generally contain the following phrase in Byzantine Greek “φως Χριστον φαινει πασιν” (“The Light of Christ Shines for All”)^[4] Lamps dated to the 7th and 8th centuries with this inscription are also seen with Arabic language inscriptions as well, praising God (“Allah”).^[5] Another example from this period carries two Greek inscriptions, with the cruder one etched on the base being a personalized dedicated, reading, “Lord Jesus Christ, remember Alphios, Aianos and Abdela, [his] son, Amen.”^[6]

A Nabatean version of the candlestick lamps found at sites like Petra is described as smaller, with a vestigial knob handle and sides that are almost concave between the wick hole and the filling hole.^[7]

Jerash lamp

While Jerash lamps are generally treated as a separate category of oil lamps, due to their own localized production and development, there are Jerash lamps that are mould-made and considered to be slipper lamps as well due to their ovoid form and Christian iconography. These were produced in the Gerasa Hippodrome workshop in the late Byzantine period.^[8][9]

Islamic mould-made lamps

These lamps date between the 7th and 9th centuries and are generally not not considered slipper lamps, though they are mould-made and share the same ovoid shape of their predecessors and clearly build upon the same tradition. Unique aspects are the pronounced tongue shaped handles, channel like grooves between the filling and wick holes, greater flowery ornamentation and solely Arabic inscriptions. after the 9th century, oil lamps in Palestine ceased being made in moulds (for at a few centuries) and returned to being produced in potters’ workshops on the wheel in a saucer-like shape.^[10]

References

Bibliography