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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Antiquities| ▸ |Antiquities by Type| ▸ |Oil Lamps||View Options:  |  |  | 

Ancient Oil Lamps

The major use of the ancient lamp was illumination of homes, shops and public buildings. At Pompeii, around 500 lamps were used on one commercial street to light the shops. At religious festivals and games, an enormous number of lamps might be used and large quantities of lamps were used as votive offerings to the gods in temples. Many lamps are found in tombs where they were intended to light the way of the departed. The ancient lamp is an highly collected artifact. All but the most desirable and very finest ancient lamps are priced under $400 and an attractive historical collection can be acquired for a reasonable amount of money.

Roman, Egypt, Silenus Head Terracotta Lamp, c. 2nd Century A.D.

|Oil| |Lamps|, |Roman,| |Egypt,| |Silenus| |Head| |Terracotta| |Lamp,| |c.| |2nd| |Century| |A.D.|
The Getty Museum lamp is slightly larger and a little finer style, but this lamp is very very similar and certainly worthy of any collection. See it here.
AL23908. Silenus Head Terracotta Lamp; cf. Getty Museum p. 440, 600; Kestner Lamps p. 417, 405, Fantastic type in nice collectible condition, handle and tip of nozzle missing, a few small bumps and chips, soot marks, length 8.5 cm (3 1/8") long, c. 2nd Century A.D.; mold made, red clay, in the shape of the head of Silenus, with mustache, knit eyebrows, smiling, crown of leaves and fruit alluding to Bacchus, large filling whole at top of head, nozzle at chin, ribbon handle (missing), raised oval ring base; ex Griffin Gallery of Ancient Art (Boca Raton FL); $730.00 (€686.20)
 


Judaean Kingdom, Hasmonean Dynasty (Maccabees), Miniature Archaic Style Oil Lamp, c. 167 - 37 B.C.

|Oil| |Lamps|, |Judaean| |Kingdom,| |Hasmonean| |Dynasty| |(Maccabees),| |Miniature| |Archaic| |Style| |Oil| |Lamp,| |c.| |167| |-| |37| |B.C.|
This tiny Hasmonean era lamp imitates a shape and high base of pinched-rim stepped base oil lamps used in the Kingdom of Judah during the Iron Age IIC, 720 - 586 B.C. During the Hasmonean era, archaic imitative lamps were popular in Jerusalem and the surrounding area. They reconnected the Jewish people to the golden age of the Davidic dynasty centuries before. This particular specimen is particularly small, less that half the size of most of the Hasmonean imitatives and would fit inside of the bowl of most similarly shaped Iron Age lamps. Click here to see an example of a Kingdom of Judah prototype.
AA78096. Hasmonean Judaea Archaic Style Folded Buff Oil Lamp; Tushingham fig. 22, 7 (larger and without high base), Choice condition, tiny chip in base; 5.2cm (2") long, 4.0cm (1 5/8") wide, 2.7cm (1 1/8") high, buff clay with chalk inclusions, strongly pinched spout forming an elongated channel and U-shaped spout, near vertical saucer walls, rounded turned-out rim, thick flat "stump" base; ex Mera Antiq (Yossi Eilon) Tel Aviv, found in Israel; $400.00 (€376.00)
 


Judaean Kingdom, Hasmonean Dynasty (Maccabees), Archaic Style Folded Buff Oil Lamp, c. 167 - 37 B.C.

|Oil| |Lamps|, |Judaean| |Kingdom,| |Hasmonean| |Dynasty| |(Maccabees),| |Archaic| |Style| |Folded| |Buff| |Oil| |Lamp,| |c.| |167| |-| |37| |B.C.|
This Hasmonean era lamp imitates the style of much earlier Bronze and Iron Age pinched rim oil lamps. During the Hasmonean era, these archaic imitative lamps, more finely made and smaller than most of the originals, were popular in Jerusalem and the surrounding area. They reconnected the Jewish people to the golden age of the Davidic dynasty five centuries before. See our Pinched| Rim| Oil| Lamps| page in NumisWiki.
AL78082. Hasmonean Judaea Archaic Style Folded Buff Oil Lamp; Tushingham fig. 24, 9, Choice condition, tiny chip in nozzle, 7.2cm (2 7/8") long, 4.7cm (1 7/8") wide, 3.3cm (1 1/4") high; buff clay, wheel made then folded, soot on nozzle, ex Barakat Antiquities (Old City Jerusalem), found in Israel; $360.00 (€338.40)
 


Judaean Kingdom, Hasmonean Dynasty (Maccabees), Archaic Style Folded Buff Oil Lamp, c. 167 - 37 B.C.

|Oil| |Lamps|, |Judaean| |Kingdom,| |Hasmonean| |Dynasty| |(Maccabees),| |Archaic| |Style| |Folded| |Buff| |Oil| |Lamp,| |c.| |167| |-| |37| |B.C.|
This Hasmonean era lamp imitates the style of much earlier Bronze and Iron Age pinched rim oil lamps. During the Hasmonean era, these archaic imitative lamps, more finely made and smaller than most of the originals, were popular in Jerusalem and the surrounding area. They reconnected the Jewish people to the golden age of the Davidic dynasty five centuries before. See our Pinched| Rim| Oil| Lamps| page in NumisWiki.
AL78083. Hasmonean Judaea Archaic Style Folded Buff Oil Lamp; Tushingham fig. 22, 7, Superb condition, 8.3cm (3 1/4") long, 4.5cm (1 3/4") wide, 3.5cm (1 3/8") high; buff clay, wheel made then folded, soot on nozzle, ex Archaeological Center (Robert Deutsch, Tel Aviv, Israel), auction 53 (4 Oct 2012), lot 125; found in Israel; $360.00 (€338.40)
 


Judaean Kingdom, Hasmonean Dynasty (Maccabees), Hellenistic Style Local Lamp, c. 200 - 30 B.C.

|Oil| |Lamps|, |Judaean| |Kingdom,| |Hasmonean| |Dynasty| |(Maccabees),| |Hellenistic| |Style| |Local| |Lamp,| |c.| |200| |-| |30| |B.C.|
Most Palestinian lamps of the second and first centuries B.C. were of local workmanship and style. Some lamps, such as this type, "show general pan-Hellenistic features, but their origin is beyond doubt because of provenance, comparative material and fabric." -- Rosenthal, R. & R. Sivan in Ancient Lamps in the Schloessinger Collection.
AL78087. Judaea, Hellenistic Style Local Lamp; cf. Qedem 8 322; Sellers 1933 p. 51, fig. 42; Revel Collection 48, Choice condition, tiny chips in rim, soot on nozzle, 7.9cm (3 1/8") long, 5.2cm (2") wide, 3.4cm (1 3/8") high, c. 200 - 30 B.C.; pink-orange clay, cream slip, round body with rounded sides, high tapering rim on filling hole, elongated nozzle, low string-cut disk base; ex Mera Antiq (Yossi Eilon, Tel Aviv, 22 Jul 2009), found in Israel; $240.00 (€225.60)
 


Late Roman - Byzantine, Holyland (Syria Palaestina), Miniature "Candlestick" Oil Lamp, c. 350 - 500 A.D.

|Oil| |Lamps|, |Late| |Roman| |-| |Byzantine,| |Holyland| |(Syria| |Palaestina),| |Miniature| |"Candlestick"| |Oil| |Lamp,| |c.| |350| |-| |500| |A.D.|
The pattern on the nozzle, branches issuing from a central ridge, is often called a "candlestick," meaning it is a representation of the menorah. Some authorities believe it is a palm branch and it is sometimes indecisively called a a palm-menorah. The strongest evidence that the palm-menorah actually is a menorah is a variation of this lamp with a cross on the nozzle. This suggests that Jews and Christians used the same type of lamp, differentiated only by their respective religious symbol, a phenomenon also encountered on North African Red-Slip Lamps. The type is found across Israel but most commonly in Jerusalem and within 50 kilometers of Jerusalem. See our |Candlestick |Lamps page in NumisWiki. This is the smallest example of this type known to FORVM.
AL78095. Miniature "Candlestick" Oil Lamp; Adler type BYZ.1; Alder 905 (7.4cm); Qedem 8 477 (8cm); Sussman Late 1553 (7.7cm), Choice, complete and intact, mild wear, 6.6cm (2 5/8") long, 4.5cm (1 3/4") wide, 2.2cm (7/8") high, c. 350 - 500 A.D.; grey-buff light clay, chalk inclusions, tear drop shape from above, no handle, double rim around filling hole, decorative radiating pattern around shoulder continues on the nozzle with six branches from a central ridge (palm-menorah), ring base; $240.00 (€225.60)
 


Byzantine, Palaestina Secunda, Imitative Beit Natif Lamp, 5th - 6th Century A.D.

|Oil| |Lamps|, |Byzantine,| |Palaestina| |Secunda,| |Imitative| |Beit| |Natif| |Lamp,| |5th| |-| |6th| |Century| |A.D.|
Sussman and Adler identify the type as a northern imitation of Beit Natif lamps. Sussman calls this handle type, which was not used at Beit Natif, "wing-shaped."
AL78101. Imitative Beit Natif Lamp; Adler type BN.6, cf. 952; Sussman Late p. 50, fig. 33, near Choice, handle broken otherwise complete and intact, attractive, 8.8cm (3 1/2") long, 5.5cm (2 1/8") wide, 2.9cm (1 1/8") high, 5th - 6th century A.D.; reverse Bet Shean, Byzantine Palaestina Secunda, Imitative Beit Natif Lamp, 5th - 6th Century A.D.; mold made, buff-gray clay, red-orange slip, elongated shape, large bow rim nozzle decorated with an ornate basket or amphora and small dotted annulets around, high rim around large filling hole, herringbone wreath around shoulders, large rectangular handle rising diagonally ornamented with a palmette, low ring base; $225.00 (€211.50)
 


Byzantine, Palaestina Secunda, Bet Shean Lamp, 5th Century A.D.

|Oil| |Lamps|, |Byzantine,| |Palaestina| |Secunda,| |Bet| |Shean| |Lamp,| |5th| |Century| |A.D.|
Bet Shean, in the Beit She'an Valley in northern Israel, is about 120 m (394 feet) below sea level. It is one of the oldest cities in the region. During the Hellenistic period, it was named Scythopolis. Under Rome it held imperial free status and was the leading city of the Decapolis. In the Byzantine period, Bet Shean was primarily Christian, as attested to by the large number of churches, but evidence of Jewish habitation and a Samaritan synagogue indicate established minority communities. The pagan temple in the city center was destroyed, but the nymphaeum and baths were restored, and walls were built. In 409 it became the capital of Palaestina Secunda. After the Arab conquest and following a series of devastating earthquakes (most notably in 749), the city lost its prominence, and became a medium-sized country town. See our Bet Shean |Lamps page in NumisWiki.
AL93910. Bet Shean Lamp; cf. Adler type S.5, 823; Qedem 4, Hadad type 19, group 1, 127; Sussman Late 3158, Choice, earthen encrustation, soot on nozzle, 9.0 cm (3 1/2") long, 5th century A.D.; mold made, pinkish-brown clay, piriform biconvex shape, handle rising diagonally, crowded ornamentation that leaves no space empty: ring around filling hole, framed row pellets around filling hole and framing nozzle and flanking handle, herringbone on shoulder, rectangular geometric pattern on nozzle, lines on handle; $140.00 (€131.60)
 


Late Roman - Byzantine, Syria-Palestina, Beit Nattif Imitative Ovoid Lamp, c. 270 - 500 A.D.

|Oil| |Lamps|, |Late| |Roman| |-| |Byzantine,| |Syria-Palestina,| |Beit| |Nattif| |Imitative| |Ovoid| |Lamp,| |c.| |270| |-| |500| |A.D.|
The size and form of this lamp is similar to the Beit Nattif ovoid lamp type, but differs in decorative details. Beit Nattif Lamps are named after the site in the Judean Foothills in south-central Israel where a workshop for the type was found. The type was, however, imitated throughout Israel. This lamp is not a very close to match to any of the many examples published in our references. We believe it is an imitative made by a small workshop somewhere other than Beit Nattif that produced for local use. Beit Nattif| Lamps| page in NumisWiki.
AL93882. Beit Natif Imitative Ovoid Lamp, Adler 4.3, BN.1, 482 (decorations differ); Sussman Late LR2, 1162 (same), Choice, complete and intact, encrustations; 7.5 cm (3") long, c. 270 - 500 A.D.; mold made, buff-gray clay, traces of a brown slip(?), biconvex piriform shape, large filling hole with double rim, arches patterns on shoulder, tab handle ornamented with lines, slightly pinched nozzle with round tip, ring base; $100.00 (€94.00)
 







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REFERENCES

Adler, N. Oil Lamps of the Holy Land from the Adler Collection. (Israel, 2004).
Adler, S. Adler Collection Website: http://www.steve-adler.com/OilLampsMain.htm
Alicu, D & E. Nemes. Roman Lamps from Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa. BAR 18. (Oxford, 1977).
Amiran, R. Ancient Pottery of the Holy Land From its Beginning in the Neolithic Period to the End of the Iron Age. (New Brunswick, 1970).
Bailey, D. A Catalogue of Lamps in the British Museum. (British Museum, 1975-96).
Bailey, D. Excavations at Sidi Khrebish Benghazi (Berenice). Vol. III, Part 2: The Lamps. (Tripoli, 1985).
Bailey, D. Greek and Roman Pottery Lamps. (Portsmouth, 1963).
Barag, D. Hanita, Tomb XV: A Tomb of the Third and Early Forth Century CE. Atiqot 13 (1978).
Baur, P. The lamps, The excavations at Dura-Europos conducted by Yale University and the French Academy of Inscriptions and Letters. Final report 4, pt. 3. (New Haven, 1947).
Broneer, O. Corinth, Vol. IV, Part II: Terracotta Lamps. (Princeton, 1930).
Broneer, O. Isthmai, Vol. III: Terracotta Lamps. (Princeton, 1977).
Bussière, J. & B. Wohl. Ancient Lamps in the J. Paul Getty Museum. (Los Angeles, 2017).
Dejean, H. Lampes Antiques à travers les Ages: Le Corpus. (La Gaude, France, 2012).
Djuric, S. The Anawati Collection, Ancient Lamps From the Mediterranean. (Toronto, 1995).
Ennabli, A. Lampes chrétiennes de Tunisie (Musée du Bardo et de Carthage). (Paris, 1976).
Frecer, R. Gerulata: The Lamps, A Survey of Roman Lamps in Pannonia. (Prague, 2014).
Goethert, K. Römische Lampen und Leuchter. Auswahlkatalog des Rheinischen Landesmuseums Trier (Schriftenreihe des Rhein. Ldesmus. Trier, 14). (Trier, 1997).
Hayes, J. Ancient Lamps in the Royal Ontario Museum - I: Greek and Roman Clay Lamps. (Toronto, 1980).
Howland, R. The Athenian Agora IV: Greek Lamps and their Survivals, American School at Athens, 1958.
Israeli, Y. & U. Avida. Oil-Lamps from Eretz Israel - the Louis and Carmen Warschaw collection at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem. (Jerusalem, 1988).
Kehrberg, I. "Selected lamps and pottery from the Hippodrome at Jerash Syria" in Archéologie, Art et histoire, 1989.
Kennedy, C. "The Development of the Lamp in Palestine" in Berytus Archaeological Studies 14 (Beirut, 1963), pp. 67-115.
Lafli, E. (ed.). Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Bronzes from Anatolia and Neighbouring Regions. Bar 3038. (Oxford, 2021).
Lyon-Caen, C. & V. Hoff. Catalogue des Lampes en terre cuite Grecques et Chretiennes. Muse´e du Louvre. (Paris, 1986).
Menzel, H. Antike Lampen im Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum zu Mainz. (Mainz, 1954).
Mlasowsky, A. Die antiken Tonlampen im Kestner-Museum Hannover. (Hannover, 1993).
Osborne, A. Lychnos et Lucema. Catalogue raisonné d'une collection de lampes en terre cuite trouvées en Egypte. (Alexandria, 1924).
Ostrasz, A. & Kehrberg-Ostrasz, I. The Hippodrome of Gerasa: A Provincial Roman Circus. (Oxford, 2020).
Petrie, W. Ehnasya and Supplement. (London, 1904 - 1905).
Petrie, W. Gerar. (Vienna, 1928).
Perlzweig, J. The Athenian Agora VII: Lamps of the Roman Period, First to Seventh Century After Christ. (Princeton, 1961).
Rosenthal, R. & R. Sivan. Ancient Lamps in the Schloessinger Collection. Qedem 8. (Jerusalem, 1978).
Schäfer, S. & L. Marczoch. Lampen der Antikensammlung. (Frankfurt am Main, 1990).
Sellers, O. The Citadel of Beth-Zur. (Philadelphia, 1933).
Shier, L. Terracotta Lamps From Karanis, Egypt, Excavations of the University of Michigan. (Ann Arbor, 1978).
Slane, K. Corinth, Vol. XVIII, Part II: The Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore, The Roman Pottery and Lamps. (Princeton, 1990).
Sussman, V. Greek and Hellenistic Wheel- and Mould-Made Closed Oil Lamps in the Holy Land, Collection of the Israel Antiquities Authority. BAR 2015. (Jerusalem, 2009).
Sussman, V. "Lamps - mirror of the sea" in Sefunim (Bulletin) of the National Maritime Museum Haifa, 8, 1994, pp. 80-100.
Sussman, V. Late Roman to Late Byzantine/Early Islamic Period Lamps in the Holy Land: The Collection of the Israel Antiquities Authority. (Oxford, 2017).
Sussman, V. Oil-Lamps in the Holy Land: Saucer Lamps: From the Beginning to the Hellenistic Period: Collections of the Israel Antiquities Authority. BAR 1598. (Jerusalem, 2007).
Sussman, V. Ornamented Jewish Oil-Lamps From the Destruction of the Second Temple Through the Bar-Kokhba Revolt. (Jerusalem, 1972).
Sussman, V. Roman Period Oil Lamps in the Holy Land: Collection of the Israel Antiquities Authority. BAR 2447. (Oxford, 2012).
Sussman, V. "Samaritan Lamps of the Third-Fourth Centuries A.D." in Israel Exploration Journal, vol. 28, no. 4 (1978), pp. 238 - 250.
Stanislau, L. Light and Life: Ancient Christian Oil Lamps of the Holyland. (Jerusalem, 2001).
Szentléleky, T. Ancient Lamps. (Amsterdam, 1969).
Tushingham, D. Excavations in Jerusalem, 1961-67, Vol. I. (Toronto, 1985).
Walters, H. Catalogue of the Greek and Roman Lamps in the British Museum. (British Museum, 1914).
Westenholz, J. (ed.). Let There Be Light – Oil-Lamps from the Holy Land. (Jerusalem, 2004).

See Lamp in NumisWiki for additional references.

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