Roman oil lamp
Everyday light in antiquity: a small lamp of fired clay with a nozzle for the wick.
Lamps like this were made by the million throughout the Roman Empire and burned olive oil. They were mass products and often carry the maker’s name. They are in almost every archaeological museum, including the British Museum.
Materials: Fired clay (terracotta)
Manufacture: Pressed in two halves in plaster moulds and joined; the decoration on the top came from the mould.
The nozzle for the wick and the round top with a filling hole.
The relief on the top and often a workshop stamp underneath.