Lucerne di periodo arabo (VII-IX sec.) rinvenute negli scavi di Umm al-Rasas – Kastron Mefaa e della regione del Nebo in Giordania

Abstract

This concise study deals with the oil lamps and the pieces of oil lamps, found during the excavations carried out by the archaeologists of the SBF in and around Umm al-Rasas – Kastron Mefa‘a and in the area surrounding Mount Nebo in Jordan. Specifically it deals with the finds from the Umayyad and the Abbasid contexts. In general, the common typology during these periods is relatively identifiable, despite the fact that its origin is more or less directly related to the Byzantine models, especially the well-known “candlestick” oil lamps, very widespread during the 5th and 6th centuries, used throughout the following centuries, during the entire 7th century and up to the first decades of the 8th century. The contexts are all quite well identifiable from a chronological and stratigraphical point of view. The attempt to trace an evolutionary journey of the oil lamps of the Arabic period beginning with the specimens from the excavations at Umm al-Rasas and the surrounding area, has allowed for the evaluation of the various formal and decorative typologies, showing that beginning with the common “candlestick” oil lamp of Byzantine origin, later different types developed that were clearly characteristic of the Umayyad period, in particular the “rays and dots” type, followed by the Abbasid models: first of all the “vine spirals” that in their variants IIa and IIc of the classification of Arndt, is well documented in the last phase of Umm al-Rasas. More in-depth study and the publication of other excavations will undoubtedly allow for greater clearness of this chronological-typological course, described here as a general outline.