Object Description
A Byzantine moulded terracotta oil lamp produced in the Holy Land, possibly by the Samaritans. It features an ovoid body with a central filling hole marked by an encircling groove. A raised ridge frames the filling hole and extends towards the tapering nozzle, forming a channel. The shoulders are decorated with a geometric design in relief. The design is composed of a herringbone pattern to either side of the channel, followed by two square vignettes, each containing a wheel-like motif with a dot in each corner. The remaining field is filled with diagonal lines and a central column of chevrons. A further vertical raised ridge enriches the channel in the middle. The rear of the lamp features a conical knobbed handle, now unfortunately chipped. The reverse is flat and remains undecorated.
Date: Circa 5th-7th century AD