Beit-Shearim Lamps, Roman, Galilee, Syria Palestina, c. 200 - 350 A.D.
(aka Palmettes Pattern Lamp)
By Joseph Sermarini
A work in progress...
This
type is called a Beit-Shearim (or Beth Shearim)
Lamp, where most similar
lamps have been found, or a Palmettes Pattern
Lamp, after the impressed decoration that identifies the
type. There are many variations but all are decorated with impressed heart shaped palmettes and some have impressed bars, circles, and/or pellets in circles. In addition they are often decorated with incised lines, sometimes forming ladder patterns or a
stylized branch. Many of the
lamp varieties have a conical lug
handle decorated with a "nail-form" inclusion - a line with a
circle like the
head of a nail at the base near or on the discus. Beit She'arim National Park is 20 km east of Haifa in the southern foothills of the Lower Galilee. The park includes an extensive necropolis of rock-cut tombs and some remains of the ancient Jewish town. The site is managed by the National
Parks Authority. The Beit-Shearim finds date to the first half of the 4th century, but similar finds elsewhere in western Galilee and southern Lebanon date to the third century.
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References
Adler, N.
Oil Lamps of the Holy Land from the Adler Collection. (Israel, 2004), p. 78,
type N.1, 458.
Avigad, N.
Beth She'arim: Report on the Excavations During 1953-1958, Vol. III: Catacombs 12-13. (Jerusalem, 1976), pp. 186-188, pl. LXX, 14-26, fig. 92: 5, 6
Bagatti, B.
Excavations at Nazareth, Vol. 1: From the Beginning till the XII Century. (Jerusalem, 1969), pp. 302, 304, 320; fig. 234: 7, fig. 235: 17-18, 20
Elgavish, J.
The Art of Lamps in Israel in the Roman and Byzantine Periods. (Jerusalem, 1962),
type 30.
Hajjar, J. "Un hypog
ée Romain à Deba'al dans la r
égion de Tyre" in
Bulletin du Musée de Beyrouth XVIII (1965), pp. 104, pl. XXXI: 473, 480.
Iliffe, J. "A Tomb at el Bassa, c. A.D. 396"
QDAP III (1934), pp. 86, figs. 11, 13.
Israeli, Y. & U. Avida.
Oil-Lamps from Eretz Israel - the Louis and Carmen Warschaw collection at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem. (Jerusalem, 1988), 326 - 327.
Kennedy, C. "The Development of the
Lamp in Palestine" in
Berytus Archaeological Studies 14 (Beirut, 1963).
Makhouly, N. "Rock-cut tombs et al Jish" in
QDAP VIII (1938), pp. 45 - 50, pl. XXX, 1:a.
Mazar, B.
Report on the Excavations during 1936-1940. Volume I: Catacombs 1-4. (New Brunswick, NJ, 1973), pp. 213-218, fig. 24: 1-5.
Rosenthal, R. & R. Sivan.
Ancient Lamps in the Schloessinger Collection.
Qedem 8.
(Jerusalem, 1978), pp. 110-111, nos 448-449.
Sussman, V.
Late Roman to Late Byzantine/Early Islamic Period Lamps in the Holy Land: The Collection of the Israel Antiquities Authority. (
Oxford, 2017). -
Roman, Galilee, Syria Palestina, Palmettes Pattern Beit-Shearim Lamp, c. 200 - 350 A.D.
This
type is called a Beit-Shearim (or Beth Shearim)
Lamp, where most similar
lamps have been found, or a Palmettes Pattern
Lamp, after the impressed decoration that identifies the
type. A very similar
lamp was excavated at Hanita Tomb XV, one of twenty rock cut tombs near Khirbet Hanuta, in Galilee, 6 km from the coast, equidistant from Tyre and Acre. This tomb was pagan, not Jewish. The nine rooms of the tomb were used by a Hellenic population in western Galilee from the reigns of
Elagabalus to Constantine (218 - 337 A.D.) and again from the reigns of
Valens to
Theodosius II (378 - 423 A.D.). It was plundered in antiquity and excavated in 1964. Finds include
glass, utensils,
lamps,
pottery,
jewelry, and coins. The identification of Khirbet Hanuta with the Rabbinic High Hanuta seems certain. --
Barag, D.
Hanita, Tomb XV: A Tomb of the Third and Early Forth Century CE.
Atiqot 13 (1978).
AM32799. Palmettes Pattern Beit-Shearim
Lamp, cf.
Anawati 259,
Barag Hanita 86,
Choice,
complete and
intact, 8.9cm (3 1/2") long, c. 200 - 350 A.D.; mold made, buff clay, olive-brown slip,
piriform, small concave discus, small filling hole, conical lug
handle, nail-form inclusion on
handle with
circle at the bottom, sloping shoulder curving inward on nozzle, impressed pattern of palmettes tips outward on shoulder, incised lines on shoulder separating nozzle, incised lines on top of round nozzle; from the collection of
Alex G. Malloy, former dealer in antiquities for 40 years, found in Israel
AL32801. Palmettes Pattern Beit-Shearim
Lamp; cf.
Anawati C260,
Barag Hanita 86,
Choice, tiny chips, soot on nozzle, nice clear ornamental impressions, 8.9cm (3 1/2") long,
reverse sloping shoulder curving inward on nozzle, impressed pattern of palmettes tips outward on shoulder, incised lines on shoulder separating nozzle, incised lines on top of round nozzle; from the collection of
Alex G. Malloy, former dealer in antiquities for 40 years, found in Israel; mold made, buff-brown clay,
piriform shape with nozzle incorporated into the body, small concave discus, small filling hole, conical lug
handle, nail-form inclusion on
handle with
circle at the bottom, impressed pattern of palmettes and circles around shoulder, impressed circles on discus, incised branch on top of nozzle, plain base; from the collection of
Alex G. Malloy, former dealer in antiquities for 40 years, found in Israel
AM32800. Palmettes Pattern Beit-Shearim
Lamp, cf.
Anawati 259,
Barag Hanita 86,
Choice, chip at wick hole, soot on nozzle, 9.0cm (3 1/2") long; mold
made, brown clay,
piriform shape with nozzle incorporated into the body,
small concave discus, small filling hole, conical lug
handle, nail-form
inclusion on
handle with
circle at the bottom, sloping shoulder curving
inward on nozzle, impressed pattern of palmettes tips outward on
shoulder, incised ladder patterns on top of nozzle on shoulder
separating nozzle from the body, incised lines on top of round nozzle,
bull's eye pattern on base; from the collection of
Alex G. Malloy,
former dealer in antiquities for 40 years, found in Israel
Roman, Galilee, Syria Palestina, Palmettes Pattern Beit-Shearim Lamp, c. 200 - 350 A.D.
This
type is called a Beit-Shearim (or Beth Shearim)
Lamp, where most similar
lamps have been found, or a Palmettes Pattern
Lamp, after the impressed decoration that identifies the
type. Beit She'arim National Park is 20 km east of Haifa in the southern foothills of the Lower Galilee. The park includes an extensive necropolis of rock-cut tombs and some remains of the ancient Jewish town. The site is managed by the National
Parks Authority. The Beit-Shearim finds date to the first half of the 4th century, but similar finds elsewhere in western Galilee and southern Lebanon date to the third century. The almond shaped discus is an unusual characteristic of this variety.
AA78098. Palmettes Pattern Beit-Shearim
Lamp;
Qedem 8 448 (also with almond shaped discus);
Warschaw 326 (same);
Anawati C258;
Barag Hanita 86;
Choice,
complete and
intact, soot on nozzle; 9.2cm (3 5/8") long, 6.5cm (2 5/8") wide, 3.5cm (1 3/8") high, c. 200 - 350 A.D.; mold made, buff clay, traces of cream slip, nozzle incorporated into the
piriform body,
almond shaped convex discus, small filling hole, conical lug
handle, nail-form inclusion on
handle with
circle at the bottom, punch impressed pattern of palmettes and circles around shoulder, groove between discuss and wick hole, inscribed branch (potter's mark) on the bottom, ex
Bruce Munday (Australia, 2027), found in Israel.
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