Parthian Lamp

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CMNH 4306 Seleucia, Iraq Parthian, 1st - 2nd century CE Unearthed by the University of Michigan's excavations in the early 1930s, this lamp was uncovered under the guidance of Dr. Leroy Watermann as part of a comprehensive exploration into the ancient metropolis of Seleucia in modern-day Iraq. Built by Seleucus I Nicator, successor to Alexander the Great and founder of the Seleucid Empire, in 305 BCE upon the Tigris River, this capital city served as a major power center until its conquest by the Parthian Empire in 141 BCE. Competing with Rome for control over several centuries, the Parthian Empire utilized oil lamps as a primary source of artificial lighting throughout the ancient world. To gain further insight into the Seleucid and Parthian Empires: Fowlkes-Childs, Blair. “The Parthian Empire (247 B.C.–224 A.D.).” Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/part/hd_part.htm Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “The Seleucid Empire (323–64 B.C.).” Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/sleu/hd_sleu.htm