Early Christian Terracotta Oil Lamp - Eastern Roman/Byzantine, Circa 425-500 AD
Mould made terracotta oil lamp with impressed designs. The primary design in the discus is a Vase and two doves – an early Christian Symbol. Two filing holes are pierced in the discus. Surrounding the shoulder is a series of geometric devices. Excellent condition, with some deposits.
A high quality lamp of distinctive dark red clay, made in northern Africa -Tunisia, likely at Carthage (which had a Roman mint c 296-307 and Byzantine mint c. 533-695 AD) or Thysdrus /El Djem.
This is a rare lamp with Byzantine Christian symbolism. A similar lamp with this design motif is depicted in Harvard Divinity School, 2002 “Light from the Age of Augustine”, # 40. Other lamps with similar shape and origin are in British Museum Catalog III, #Q1789-1816.
In the villas, palaces and shops of the Greek, Roman and Byzantine Empires terracotta oil lamps were the primary means of artificial lighting. They were usually filled with olive oil and held a wick - linen was the most often used material.
Length: 4 3/4 inches
