The elongated nozzle with a flat top and the side lug are both particular characteristics of Hellenistic period lamps. It is during the Hellenistic period that we see the transition from wheel-made lamps to mould-made lamps, which were made in two halves, each of which comprised a layer of damp clay, impressed in a mould before the two halves of the mould were pressed together. This new method allowed for mass reproduction of oil lamps, as well as greater versatility in their size, shape, and decoration. The old fashion of decorating with ornamentation or drawings was replaced by the new form of decorations in relief, created either by stamping or engraving.
To discover more about oil lamps in Antiquity, please visit our relevant blog post: Lighting The Way.
