These particular lamps might be identified as the so-called Samaritan type, characterised by its ovoid body, a relatively long nozzle with a channel and geometric designs which typically include ladder-like or herringbone patterns. The Samaritans, who still exist as a minority group today, are an ethnoreligious group from the Middle East. They occupied the region of modern-day Tel Aviv to Haifa. Their numbers grew the most during the Byzantine Period and by the 6th century numbered in their millions. Revolts against the Byzantine Empire caused their numbers to dwindle as the Eastern Roman Empire crushed their uprisings, decreasing their numbers to just thousands. From excavations undertaken it is known that there were large Samaritan communities in Caesarea and Beit Shean.
To discover more about oil lamps in Antiquity, please visit our relevant blog post: Lighting The Way.
