In the Light of the Past: A Chronology of Illumination Panel

We invite everyone interested in exploring the historical journey of illumination to join our panel.

Rezan Has Museum will host a panel on Thursday, October 8, 2026, as part of the exhibition “In the Light of the Past: A Chronology of Illumination”. The panel will explore the development of lighting devices from their earliest examples through the Byzantine Period.

The panel will open with remarks by Prof. Sümer Atasoy and will be moderated by Prof. Özgü Çömezoğlu Uzbek at Fener Hall, Kadir Has University. Consisting of two sessions, the panel will bring together the exhibition consultant Prof. Sedef Çokay Kepçe, along with Prof. Yelda Olcay Uçkan, Prof. Zeliha Demirel Gökalp, and Assoc. Prof. Meryem Acara, who will discuss ceramic, glass, and metal lighting devices across different historical periods. The event will conclude with a Q&A session followed by a guided tour of Rezan Has Museum.

Bringing together distinguished academics in the field, the panel will examine the historical development of lighting devices and offer a multifaceted perspective on the history of illumination.

*The digital, open-access exhibition catalogue, which provides a comprehensive overview of the historical development of the artifacts featured in the exhibition, is available at www.rhm.org.tr/en/.

Event Information

Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026
Time: 13:00
Venue: Fener Hall, Kadir Has University, Cibali, Fatih / Istanbul

Visitor Information

• Museum visiting hours: 09:00 – 18:00 (Open daily)
• Closed days: The first day of religious holidays, and January 1st
• Website: www.rhm.org.tr/en
• Instagram: @rezanhasmuseum / Twitter: @RezanHasMuzesi

Kadir Has University
Corporate Communications Directorate
Tel: +90 212 533 65 32 / 1228
E-mail: basin@khas.edu.tr

Program

Opening Speech
Prof. Sümer Atasoy

Moderator
Prof. Özgü Çömezoğlu Uzbek
Istanbul University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Art History

Session I
13.30 – 14.00
Prof. Sedef Çokay Kepçe
“The Use of Ceramic Oil Lamps in Lighting”
Istanbul University, Faculty of Letters, Head of the Archaeology Department

14.00 – 14.30
Prof. Yelda Olcay Uçkan
“Glass Lighting Devices in Late Antiquity and the Byzantine Period”
Anadolu University, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Art History

14.30 – 15.10
Break

Session II

15.10 – 15.40
Prof. Zeliha Demirel Gökalp
“Metal Oil Lamps”
Anadolu University, Faculty of Humanities, Head of the Art History Department

15.40 – 16.10
Assoc. Prof. Meryem Acara
“Metal Lighting Devices in the Byzantine Period”
Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Art History, Head of the Division of Byzantine Art

16.10 – 16.30
Q&A

16.30 – 17.20
Rezan Has Museum Tour

Participation is open to everyone and free of charge.

*The event language is Turkish.