Terracotta oil lamp

Unknown

1st half of 1st century CE · Terracotta · Greek and Roman Art

Loeschcke Type 1A. Mold-made. Discus: a rhinoceros stands, facing right, tossing with its horn a large cat, probably a lion, while a small animal, possibly meant to be a baby rhino, hides in a tree behind and above; a single filling hole below the rhinoceros's belly, with a band of lines and grooves around edge. Volutes flanking angular nozzle. Raised base ring, outlined by two incised circles, and a flat base with the marker's mark impressed across it, reading in Latin: FAVSTI. Intact. On the discus a rhinoceros is shown tossing with its horn a large cat, probably a lion, while a small animal, possibly meant to be a baby rhino, hides in a tree behind. The rhinoceros, unknown in the Mediterranean world before Roman times, is only rarely depicted in Roman art and on coins; it is shown, for example, on the Roman mosaic from Lod, Israel. The base is inscribed FAVSTI ([of the lamp maker] Faustus); he seems to have worked in Italy, Egypt, and Petra (Jordan), as well as Cyprus.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1st half of 1st century CE

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Roman, Cypriot

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76