Introduction

Introduction

The major use of the ancient lamp was illumination of domestic, commercial, and public buildings. At religious festivals and games, lamps were used on a large scale. Thousands of lamps were used during the secular games in 248 A.D. presented by Philip I. At Pompeii, around 500 lamps were used on a commercial street to light the shops. Lamps were used in large quantities as votive offerings to the gods in temples. Many lamps are found in tombs where they were intended to light the way of the departed.

Residential oil lamps and the small jugs which carried additional oil provided light and fire that was portable. They were ubiquitous in every home in the Middle East and beyond. Oil lamps are an often used metaphor in the Bible. Consider: King David, God, the tribe of Judah, Scripture, God's commands, man's perspective on life, John the Baptist, and Jesus are all called "lamps". (See 2 Samuel 21:17, 2 Samuel 22:29, 1 Kings 11:36, Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 6:23, Proverbs 21:4, Luke 11:34, John 5:35, Revelation 21:23.).

The oil lamp and oil jug reminds one of the major theme in Scripture of the interplay between light and darkness. Thanks be to God, the Light has come into the world - and his name is Jesus, blessed is He.

Most of the lamps and jugs illustrated were excavated in our around Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

It goes without comment that the date and origin of the first oil lamp is unknown--albeit one of the greatest inventions ever known to mankind.

The terracotta items in my collection represent examples of ancient oil lamps found in the homes and tombs of the common man. There were more expensive and larger examples produced.

One man who also collects oil lamps said this about his collection, which I echo: "I was fascinated to be able to see and hold an artifact from Israel that is older than any Biblical coin, and I have since acquired many more lamps, including a few that are quite a bit older than the earliest struck coinage. Although no coins existed during the time of Abraham, Moses, or Elijah, these men all used oil lamps, and some of the lamps in my collection would have been familiar to them."

I would only add that it is a moving experience to hold in one's hand something made by another man thousands of years ago. My lamps which are not for sale are to the best of my ability arranged in descending order of antiquity along with notes and other antiquities in my collection. GRL3

Middle Bronze Age

This is my oldest lamp. It is circa 4,000 years old. Note the carbon deposit in the left most spout.

One of the things we learn from this lamp is that in the time of Abraham the price of oil was low. People were able to afford to keep four wicks going at one time.

Large numbers of four-spouted lamps were made in the MB I period (2250-2000 BCE). These four-spouted lamps are among the earliest pottery vessels specially made to serve as lamps.Four-spouted lamps continued to be made until about 1750 BCE.

Middle Bronze Age - Oil Jug

12 cm

Oil jugs were used to carry additional oil for the lamp when traveling or to have about the dwelling. Jesus spoke of such jugs in the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13).

More elaborate jugs were used in ritual anointing.

Middle Bronze Age

Note the carbon deposit in the spout.

Lamp has narrow ledge formed by the folding out of the rim.

Notes

According to Jewish tradition, an oil lamp is one of the items that a husband is obliged to provide for his wife (Tosefta, Ketubot 5:8). An individual who lacked a lamp was in desperate straits: To be “in want of all things” meant “in want of lamp, of knife, and of table” (Avot de-Rabbi Nathan, version A, ch. 20). -- Eretz

Iron Age II - Israelite Monarchy - Northern Kingdom

Roman Period Spear head

23 cm (9 inches)

Roman Period Herodian bronze spear head

25 BCE - 45 CE

Found in Israel

The Greek poet, Homer, tells how Achilles speared Hector through the neck with a pole heavy with bronze. Ancient Roman spear points have played an important part in the military history of Rome.
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Notes on the Roman spear (The Verutum)

The verutum, or plural veruti (Latin: spit) was a short javelin used in the Roman army from around 300 BC onwards. During the early Republican period, this javelin was used by the Roman light infantry known as velites who would carry seven veruta into combat, proving to be quite effective weapons, even against war elephants as proven in the battle of Zama (202 BC).

After 107 BCE the verutum would be used by the Auxilliae, local irregular troops who would be used to fulfill the roles of archers and skirmishers. The verutum's shaft was about 1.1 meters long, and its point measured about 13 centimeters long.

Early Bronze Age

Early Bronze Age, circa 1050 BCE

14 cm height

Small Oil Jug

Small Oil Jug on Metal Stand

5 cm

330 - 63 BCE

Excavated near Jerusalem

Small Oil Flask

11.5 cm

63 BCE - 330 CE

Excavated in Jerusalem

Large Cooking Pot

Large Cooking Pot

17 cm

50 BCE - 150 CE

Excavated near Jericho

Hellenistic Era

Hellenistic Era - this wheel made lamp dates between 4th to 2nd century BCE. It is made from very fine clay. Note in image #2 and #3 that the Hellenistic lamps often had a pedestal.

Roman - Byzantine Era

Roman - Byzantine Era lamp, sometimes called Herodian lamp, dated between 2nd and 7th century CE. Note from side view that there is no pedestal on this type of lamp. A careful look at the lamp will evidence modest decoration.

"Herodian lamps were made on a potter's wheel, so with careful inspection one can usually see circular striations in the clay. The potter obliterated most of the striations when he rubbed the bottom and sides of the lamp to burnish it and close the pores. However, the potter could not burnish the interior of the lamp, so a spiral design can often be seen in the floor of the lamp as viewed through the filling hole. More minute circular striations can be found on the shoulders and on the rim and ledge around the filling hole of Herodian lamps."

"Nautical archaeologist Shelley Wachsmann found a Herodian oil lamp in association with the 1st century Sea of Galilee fishing boat that he excavated in 1986. Negev and Gibson remark, "This find is important because it indicates that clay lamps were a part of working on the Sea of Galilee. It further suggests that fishermen had worked in the early morning and in the evenings when lighting would have been necessary." See Matthew 5:4-5 and John 21:3 for gospel accounts of night fishing." -- Holyland Oil Lamps

Byzantine Period

Byzantine Period - Christian lamp. This lamp is dated between 5th to 7th century CE. Note, especially clear in the second photo, the cross decorating the lamp. There is soot on the lamp indicating use.

Byzantine lamps, many with Christian symbols, began to appear in the fifth century.

Samaritan

This lamp is dated c. 4th cent., CE. It is a particularly interesting lamp because it is Samaritan and because of the extensive fire damage on the lamp. The soot evidences use - and apparently on one such use the lamp itself caught fire.

Samaritan-type oil lamps of the fourth through seventh centuries have been found in large numbers in Samaria-Sebaste and other areas where Samaritan communities were concentrated. They were sold with a sealed fillinghole (which was broken by the purchaser), possibly to ensure ritual purity

Islamic lamp

This Islamic lamp, dated c. 1000 CE is highly decorated - note the detail especially in image #2,