ГЛИНЯНЫЕ СВЕТИЛЬНИКИ ИЗ ГРЕКО-РИМСКОГО МЕМФИСА

Abstract

The article explores 15 terracotta oil lamps found during the archaeological excavations of the Centre for Egyptological Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences at Kom Tuman (Memphis, Egypt). The majority of these lamps were made in moulds, and only one — on potter’s wheel. Various types of local Egyptian clays were used for the production of the lamps. Many of the lamps are decorated with various ornaments, such as palms, dolphins, torches, and, possibly, the ‘Macedonian shield’. Similar lamps were widespread in all the territory of Egypt; equally, such lamps appear among archaeological finds in the countries neighbouring with Egypt. The Memphite lamps under study were found in mixed layers and, therefore, we have compared them with analogous lamps from other locations in order to obtain more secure dating. Based on the parallels, we date the lamps to the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods (3rd century B.C. — 3rd century A.D.). The archaeological context of the lamps indicates their possible use in households and/or in temples for illumination of indoor spaces. The lamps are archaeological evidence for the existence of active everyday life at Kom Tuman in Graeco-Roman Period which is also confirmed by other sources. The study of archaeological pottery and of papyri found in the city of Memphis and in adjacent necropoleis shows that even after the foundation of the new Ptolemaic capital Alexandria, Memphis was not abandoned but continued for centuries to be a major administrative and cultic centre. The article includes the catalogue of 15 lamps with descriptions and illustrations.