სევსამორას ტერიტორიაზე აღმოჩენილი ბატილუმის განსასაზღვრად

Abstract

This study focuses on the bronze batillum (incense shovel) discovered near Sevsamora, within the territory of the Kingdom of Kartli (Caucasian Iberia). However, only four batillum have been identified in Kartli to date − two from Dedoplis Gora, one from Tbilisi, and one from Sevsamora. The latter presents unique features that allow it to be classified as a classic example. Although the available material dates to Late Antiquity, the visual evidence suggests that the ritual use of the batillum did not emerge suddenly during this period. Alternatively, its form and symbolic associations appear to preserve elements of earlier ritual traditions that are present in both Jewish and Roman religious contexts. When examined archaeologically, the batillum should therefore be understood not only as a cultic symbol, but also as an object shaped by prolonged contact between different religious communities, reflecting the movement of ideas, practices, and identities across wider cultural networks.

The archaeological study of the batillum absolutely shows us that this cultic instrument is representative of global cultural exchange and the expression of religious identities. Its form, function, and geographical distribution reflect the diversity of its ritual significance. Indeed, this single ritual object allows us to journey across time, offering a tangible link to the cultural landscapes of the main the main objective of the presentation is to reveal the developmental stages of the batillum (incense shovel) and its functional diversity, which entails tracing the transmission of form ideas through cultural exchange and identifying their adaptation within different societies, including in the context of the Kingdom of Kartli (Caucasian Iberia). Archaeological research on the batillum clearly demonstrates that this cultic instrument expresses global interactions, cultural exchange, and religious identities. Its form, function, and distribution attest to the multiplicity of religious meanings − indeed, a single ritual instrument takes us on a journey into the past. By analyzing Batillum’s discovery in comparison with other archaeological excavations and written evidence, the study suggests that these artefacts in Caucasian Iberia may have been employed by local Jewish groups, potentially associated with prominent religious figures who found shelter in Iberia after Roman suppression. More broadly, the research highlights the cultural and ritual significance of incense shovels in the Caucasian context, viewing them as symbols of identity and continuity within Jewish religious traditions in the diaspora.  Finally, the study of incense shovels in Caucasian Iberia contributes to a more nuanced understanding of Jewish life in the region during Late Antiquity. Rather than viewing ritual instruments as passive imports, the archaeological evidence allows us to see how archaeological objects were integrated into local religious rituals and reinterpreted within specific historical circumstances. In this way, the Batillum serves as a small but meaningful indicator of broader cultural processes, linking Kartli to the wider religious and cultural networks of the ancient world. We believe that perhaps these Batillums were used to place incense products and carry them to the altar, or to a place where fragrant essences were poured onto the heated ground, and certain ritual regulations were performed. It is quite possible that the Batillum located on the territory of the Kingdom of Kartli belonged to representatives of the high social circle, high priests, who survived Roman repression and took refuge in the Caucasian Iberia.