The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

In his publications on Byzantine pottery lamps, Stanislao Loffreda discusses a number of lamps with inscriptions, some of them referring to saints. The lamps are usually of 'slipper' or 'channel-nozzle' type and the inscriptions are on the top surface, around the hole. Almost all of these lamps were found during excavations and can be dated to the late 5th - early 8th centuries. Di Segni suggested that they could have been distributed by churches as eulogiae ('blessings'), or at some special feasts. Traces of burning indicate that they were used by their owners.

A new re-assessment of the formulas put onto those lamps is offered by Leah Di Segni in the Corpus Inscriptionum Iudaeae Palaestinae (2012), while the classic reference works is "The Greek inscriptions on the Byzantine lamps from the Holy Land" by Loffreda (1990). Some of the recorded inscriptions are completely unintelligible and require extensive editorial interventions (so some of the interpretations offered by Loffreda must be treated with caution).

In contrast with clay lamps from Upper Egypt (see $EXXXX), which mention many obscure saints with names that rarely occur in the epigraphic record, those from Jerusalem bear only the names of Elijah (presumably the Old Testament Prophet) and Mary, Mother of Christ:

1) τοῦ ἁγίου Ἠλία/'Of Saint Elias' (CIIP 1/2, no. App. 54*[h])

2) τῆς Θεοτόκου/'Of the God-Bearer' (CIIP 1/2, no. App. 54*[i])

3) εὐλογία τῆς Θεοτόκου μεθ' ἡμῶν/'Blessing of the God-Bearer is with us' (CIIP 1/2, no. App. 54*[j])

This phrase seems to be a variation of the saying ὁ θεὸς μεθ' ἡμῶν/'God is with us', which is a literal translation of ἐμμανουήλ/emmanouel.

For a lamp bearing this formula, see Loffreda 2010, no. 4 (L2008.2). Acquired from a dealer in antiquities in the old city of Jerusalem by the Museum of the Franciscan Biblical Institute (SBF) in 2008. Unlike other lamps, this one is round (in Loffreda 2001, 41 round lamps with eulogiae of Mary are tagged as 'most probably of Syrian origin'). Diameter 7.15 cm. H. 3.56 cm. The handle is lost. The inscription runs in two concentric circles around the hole. The outer circle contains an invocation of the blessing of Mary, literally: ΕΥΟΛΑ ΤΗΣ ΟΕΟΤΟΚ ΛΝΕΘΗΗΩΝ. The inner band bears probably a reference to the potter who made the object. The text reads ΕΤΟΥΑΜΝ ΩΑΝΝΟΩ which is somewhat implausibly interpreted by Loffreda as ἐ(πίγραμμα) τοῦ ἀμν(άμου) Ἰωάννου/'inscription of the descendant of Ioannes'.

For another lamp with this formula, see Loffreda 2010, no. 5 (L2008.3), also acquired by the Museum in 2008, from the same dealer in antiquities. Very slightly elongated. Dimensions 7.72 cm x 7.48 cm. H. 4.69 cm. Small conical handle. Perfectly preserved. Inscription on the outer band: Η ΕΥΛΟΓΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟΚ<Ο>Υ ΜΕΟ ΗΜΩΝ. Inscription on the inner band: ΕΠΙΓΡΑΜ<Μ>Α ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ.

For lamps from the same workshop, found in Syria, see: E01657.

Cult building - independent (church)

Production and selling of eulogiai, tokens

Pilgrimage
Visiting graves and shrines

Ampullae, eulogiai, tokens
Contact relic - other

Oil lamps/candles

Bibliography

Images

Lamp with Formula 3 (L2008.2). From: Loffreda 2010, 368, Lamp no.4.

Lamp with Formula 3 (L2008.3). From: Loffreda 2010, 370, Lamp no.5.