New Observations on the Relationships of Eros-Psyche and Psyche Relief Blocks with Necropolises at the Şanlıurfa Museum

In the Roman tomb context, mythological figures transformed and carried an allegorical meaning. Eros, the god of love and the son of Aphrodite, transformed into a sleeping figure in a sleep from which one would wake up to pass on to eternal life. Eros and Psyche, depicted embracing each other, pointed to the attainment of eternal life and immortality through love. Psyche, which means soul, is the personification of the human soul in its grave context. The content of the study consists of nine reliefs exhibited at the Şanlıurfa Museum. Two of these are Eros-Psyche and seven are Psyche reliefs. The Eros-Psyche and Psyche reliefs belonging to the Edessa/Osrhoene region were first discussed in Şehrazat Karagöz's study published in 2002. Later, it was included in the doctoral thesis prepared by Dilek Çobanoğlu in 2023. The aim of this study is to re-evaluate the archaeological and artistic functions of the Eros-Psyche and Psyche relief blocks, as well as to determine their usage inside and outside the burial chambers in necropolises in light of new data. In this context, previous studies on the works in question heve been reviewed, and the definitions, dimensions, catalogue information and visuals of the reliefs have been presented. Eros-Psyche and Psyche depictions were compared with similar examples. A new impression has been presented with data on the purpose, where and how the blocks were used inside or outside the burial chamber in terms of their function in the necropolises.