The factory lamp, so named because it was produced in such vast numbers, seems to have been popular with the Roman military. They originated at the time of the Flavian emperors, perhaps when manufacturers needed to produce as many as possible, as quickly as possible.
The maker’s mark signifies that his particular lamp was made by Strobili – Strobilus, roman potter and/or owner of a pottery workshop. Strobilus has been referred to as the “Father of the Firmalampe” and is considered that he may have invented the shape in the late sixties or early seventies of the first century AD. The workshop was situated in North Italy, perhaps near Magreta in the vicinity of Modena. Provincial lamps bearing his name have been found in many areas and the relationship between these and the North Italian workshop is unclear. Strobilus probably moved to Egypt in the late first century AD or a little later.
To discover more about oil lamps in Antiquity, please visit our relevant blog post: Lighting The Way.
