Roman oil lamps, called ‘lychnus’, from the Greek ‘λυχνος’, are thought to have originated from the Greek colonies of Southern Italy, with the oldest Roman oil lamp dating back to the 3rd century BC. During the Roman Empire, it became commonplace to use lamps in funeral ceremonies and for public, ceremonial, or domestic purposes, and this continued well into the Byzantine Empire. 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. Gladiatorial scenes were an immensely popular depiction for oil lamps, and they give insight into how gladiator sport appealed to everyday Romans. Gladiators, victorious in fights, gained celebrity-like status. Lamps honouring successful victors bear their name, the particular gladiator displayed in his appropriate attire. Plastic lamps were also made in specific shapes associated with gladiatorial equipment, for example in the shape of helmet.
The characteristic feature of Loeschcke Type V oil lamps is the style of the volutes upon the nozzle. Known as “shoulder volutes”, they develop seamlessly from the shoulder to a single knob, rather than one at each end. The lamps otherwise bear great resemblance to Loeschcke Type IV, with flat shoulders, a biconical body and a flat base with a circular groove.
To discover more about oil lamps in Antiquity, please visit our relevant blog post: Lighting the Way
