In Antiquity, a lamp was originally called a lychnus, from the Greek λυχνος, with the oldest Roman lamps dating back to the third century BC. During the Roman Empire, it became commonplace to use lamps in funeral ceremonies and for public purposes. The vast trade networks set with the expansion of the Roman Empire allowed this item to be spread across Europe, Eastern Asia and Northern Africa, which led to the development of several provincial variations.
The particular lamp is a variant of Broneer XXIX, group 4, which is characterised by a lack of nozzle channel. Striations such as those seen here were a common decorative feature also. They were made in Asia Minor, especially from Ephesus.
To discover more about oil lamps in Antiquity, please visit our relevant blog post: Lighting The Way.
