Terracotta oil lamp

Unknown

4th–5th century CE · Terracotta · Greek and Roman Art

Vessberg Type 18. Unpierced handle. Mold-made. Discus: victorious racehorse running left and wearing ornate collar, with palm branch above head, flanked to either side by herringbone wreath. Above horse: indistinct letters, perhaps OΛH; below horse: in retrograde, YΓIA. Two large filling holes above and below horse. On shoulder, vine tendril with stylized bunches of grapes. Rounded nozzle with large wick hole. Undefined, deep concave base, with large faint letters in relief arranged around edge, probably reading: EYTYXHTOC. Top of handle worn, slight cracking on shoulder. Sooting around nozzle. Reddish buff clay.

Artist

Unknown

Date

4th–5th century CE

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Roman, Cypriot

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76