A group of locally produced lamps from Laodikeia ad Lycum

Abstract

Asopos Hill, where the earliest levels of Laodikeia exists, is situated in the northwestern part of the city, in a high altitude, in the eastern bank of the Asopos River. During the excavations of the Asopos Hill, in Level III, a workshop complex dating from Late Hellenistic-Early Roman Empire period, which consisted of a pottery kiln, water channels and walls were unearthed. A group of lamps, which has been found inside the pottery kiln, is one of the most important proofs for the local pottery production in the city .Examples of the same type of lamps have been found in the North Agora, in the Eastern Portico area and the Northeastern Necropolis. Analysis on sherds and also on complete examples of lamps derived from the kiln have shown that the paste and slips of them are very similar to each other and proved that the kiln has been destroyed during the firing process. These lamps are mould-made and in the middle of their double convex shaped discus the ring shaped oil hole with ribbed contours is situated. Around this oil hole in the discus, there are three air holes and on the end of the rostrum part, which is curving upwards, there is the oval wick hole. Complete examples of these lamps are bearing a relief decoration of masque in their discus parts. On most of the examples, under the chin of these masques, there is a rectangular hole. Rectangular shaped ears on both lateral sides of the body are decorated with string of pearls on the inside and with ionic-kymathion on the upper side. On top of the strap handle, which has been modeled as a double strap with a groove in the middle, there is a string. In each example, a raw of ionic-kymathion is seen on the shoulder, and sometimes this motif is bordered with rows of dotes near to discus. Laodikeian lamps which have been named as the Ephesos or Pergamon Type in previous publications, have some similarities with those types and also with Knidian lamps. However, some differences in details, which are due to the local workshop production, prove that they have been produced in Laodikeia. The fact that similar examples of this type have densely been found in Hierapolis, Aphrodisias, Tripolis and other cities close to Laodikeia indicate that the production center is not far from this region. Considering these facts, potters from Laodikeia have been inspired by lamps produced by the Pergamonian, Ephesian and Knidian workshops and created local lamps, special to the city. The earliest and latest production date fort these lamps should be the last quarter of the 2nd century BC and the 1st quarter of 1st century BC.