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Journals / Anadolu Araştırmaları / 2025 / Issue: 33

Miniature Oil Lamps in the Antalya Museum Collection and Their Possible Ritual Contexts

Hakan Gerçek(OSMANIYE KORKUT ATA UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-2101-014X
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-03-13
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

In addition, these lamps, of which there are many examples in sacred areas, allow us to obtain detailed information about the ancient period’s daily life, belief system, and economic parameters.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:The use of oil lamps was quite diverse in antiquity.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Produced primarily to meet the need for lighting, oil lamps were also used as votive instruments in sacred areas and tombs.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:In addition, these lamps, of which there are many examples in sacred areas, allow us to obtain detailed information about the ancient period’s daily life, belief system, and economic parameters.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Miniature Oil lamps · Cult · Grave

Abstract

The use of oil lamps was quite diverse in antiquity. Produced primarily to meet the need for lighting, oil lamps were also used as votive instruments in sacred areas and tombs. There were some differences between these lamps and those used in daily life. The reason for the differences was related to the purpose for which they were used. In the examples used as votive offerings, the oil lamp’s mission was more important than the need for illumination. However, the use of miniature artifacts in sacred spaces was not limited to oil lamps. Various objects, such as terracotta figurines or miniature examples of ceramic vessels, were used as votive offerings. In this article, based on a group of miniature wheel-made oil lamps acquired by the Antalya Museum, the use of oil lamps as cult and votive objects in sacred areas and tombs is evaluated, especially the examples of miniature oil lamps used for this purpose. The lamps, which are among the artifacts used as votive objects, differ from the normal-sized examples in both size and the fact that they have never been used. In addition, these lamps, of which there are many examples in sacred areas, allow us to obtain detailed information about the ancient period’s daily life, belief system, and economic parameters.

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Cite This Article

Gerçek, H. (2026). Miniature Oil Lamps in the Antalya Museum Collection and Their Possible Ritual Contexts. Anadolu Araştırmaları, Issue: 33. https://doi.org/10.26650/anar.33.1508319

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