Lighting Mediterranean Routes. Byzantine Lighting Devices in Sicily

Recent scholarship has explored the arrangement of artificial lighting in Byzantine churches, delving into the interplay between material remains and textual references. This comprehensive approach has yielded insights into the emotional impact of light in sacred spaces, as well as its theological implications, practical function, and role in ritual. The present study focuses specifically on a series of metal lighting devices from Sicilian museum collections, mainly located in eastern Sicily. Through an analysis of their morphological, technical, and decorative features, and by adopting a comparative perspective that considers similar finds from all over the Mediterranean, the research aims to uncover their plausible chronology, origin, use, and context of production. Furthermore, it will shed light on the role of local workshops in the import-export exchange along the Mediterranean trade routes, taking into account the dynamics of Sicilian craft production between the 6th and 9th centuries.