Some Hellenistic and late Roman terracotta lamps in the Sinop Archaeological Museum in northern Turkey

Abstract

The paper presents some terracotta lamps recovered from the recent rescue excavations carried out by the museum of Sinop in ancient Sinope. The material has been divided into chronological groups, ranging from the 2nd century BC to the 7th century AD, and by typological characteristics describing different types. The most common finds are local late Hellenistic (1st century BC) and late Roman (4th–5th centuries AD) mold-made lamps attesting to the operation of lamp-maker’s workshops in Sinope. Some of the late Hellenistic lamps are important for their connection with Ephesian and other Asia Minor fabrics. These finds are from the domestic contexts of Hellenistic and late Roman Sinope; but we also have lamps from funerary and commercial contexts. Data on production techniques, fabric and use distribution serves to examine the socio-cultural structure of this ancient site in eastern Paphlagonia.