Ricerc@Sapienza

A Khurasanic 12th century oil lamp made in cast and engraved copper alloy preserved in the Louvre Museum (Inv. OA 7890) includes a rare iconography. The unique feature is a charioteer holding a pair of horses by the reins, made in the form of a large thumb-rest for the lamp. This image could be reminiscent of the sun chariot and, consequently, of a solar symbolism, connected to the Qur’ānic concept of sirāj, i.e. the burning lamp representing the sun.

This paper deals with the rare iconography of the thumb-rest of an oil lamp in copper alloy, consisting of a charioteer holding a pair of horses for the reins. The lamp comes from Khurasan (north-eastern Iran), dates back to the 12th century and is preserved in the Louvre Museum. This image could recall the solar chariot and, therefore, a solar symbolism connected to the Koranic concept of the sirāj, that is the burning lamp representing the sun.