Lamp

The wick hole is situated on the rounded snout of this oil lamp, the second hole on the top served as a pouring hole for the oil. The disc has been decorated with a cross and is clearly Christian. The oil lamp comes from a North African lamp manufactory that had its heyday in the 4th and 5th century CE. A typical feature of these so-called African lamps is the bulbous shape and the unperforated handle. They are often adorned with Christian symbols. Oil lamps are considered to be mass-produced goods. They were used in the home, but were also featured as grave goods. Adorned with an image of the cross, this lamp was discovered during the Baden excavations in the Coptic cemeteries in Karara.