The Byzantine Empire existed as a continuation of the Roman Empire in its eastern provinces, meaning that the form of these oil lamps shows strong similarities to the Roman style. Christianity was the predominant religion in the Byzantine world, and this is reflected in the decoration of the lamp, which could have been used for either domestic or ceremonial purposes. Early Holy Land lamp decoration during the Byzantine period became more abstract, featuring lines, crosses, dots, and geometric shapes. Oil lamps such as this example are highly reminiscent of the Beit Nattif types discovered in Gezer, Beit Shean and Transjordan.
To discover more about Byzantine art, please visit our relevant blog post: The Byzantine Empire, Art and Christianity.
To discover more about oil lamps in Antiquity, please visit our relevant blog post: Lighting The Way.
