Roman Redware Lamp with Serapis

$315.74

A Roman redware oil lamp, its discus decorated with the bust of the god, Serapis. The lamp has three ranges of circular arc, and the centre features an oil filling hole to each side of the bust. There is a solid rear handle and a volute nozzle.

Date: Circa 400-500 AD
Condition: Very Fine condition; complete and intact.

SOLD

SKU: AS-3228 Category: Tag:

Across the Roman Empire, 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. Over time, the manufacture of lamps increased, and so did the variation in decoration, which depended mainly on the shape and size of the lamp. Common decorative themes depicted on the discus were entertainment scenes (such as gladiators in combat), common myths, and animals.

Serapis or ‘Sarapis’ was a Graeco-Egyptian god. The cult of Serapis was popularised during the 3rd century BC on the orders of Ptolemy I of Egypt, in order to unify the Greeks and Egyptians in his realm.

To discover more about religous syncretisms in Antiquity, please visit our relevant blog post: Religious Syncretisms in the Ancient Mediterranean Region.

Weight 127.2 g
Dimensions L 11.5 cm
Culture

Greek Mythology

Region

Pottery and Porcelain

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