| |
Roman Oil Lamp
This little lamp can be carried around the house in the palm of the hand. A small lamp like this would have been used with many others to give some light to a Roman home.
A circular dish holds olive oil and is covered by a decorated lid called the discus. This discus stops the fuel from spilling. A wick coils inside the lamp and comes out of the spout. This wick could be made of anything fibrous, such as linen. To make light, the wick - like in a candle - is lit. As it burns, it has to be pulled forward to keep it from falling back into the oil.
The lamp was made in two parts, both moulded in clay. The holes for the wick and the filling hole were cut, and the clay then fired in a kiln.;please handle with great care
|
|
|
|
Dimensions: Length: 11cm |
|
|
|
