Object Description
A beautifully mould-crafted red terra sigillata Roman oil lamp, featuring a long canal nozzle, a short handle and two filling holes to the discuss. The discuss is decorated with the depiction of a male figure, a hunter, also known as venator in Latin, shown running right, while holding a long spear. The figure is shown wearing a detailed short vest, emphasising his anatomical features. The flat shoulders are decorated with a geometric design, comprising spirals and concentric triangles.
During the Roman Empire oil lamps were extremely popular artefacts used in funeral and religious 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, common myths, and animals.
Date: North Africa, Circa 3rd-5th century AD
Provenance: From the collection of Arno Jumpertz, Leverkusen, Germany, 1924-1984. Much of the collection was exhibited at Neus museum, 1985.