Holy Land Pottery Oil Lamp

Umayyad Empire, Early Byzantine Period, c. 400-500AD, Holy Land.

This superb mold-made terracotta oil lamp is a striking example of ancient artistry and utility. Its ovoid shape features a sharply carinated body with an angled ridge encircling both the wick and filling holes, emphasizing its refined design. A border of vertical lines and raised dots adds texture and visual interest around the filling hole, while the large triangular handle is adorned with a high-relief depiction of a stylized male head, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship. The flat base, complete with a slightly raised ring foot, ensures stability. Residual soot near the wick hole offers a tangible connection to its functional use in antiquity.

Small terracotta oil lamps like this were indispensable in ancient daily life and rituals. They illuminated homes, temples, churches, synagogues, and mosques using a simple wick made from plant fiber or linen and fueled with castor or sesame oil. Frequently decorated with symbolic and religious motifs, these lamps bridged practicality and spiritual significance.

This type of lamp, often recovered from sites such as Khirbet el-Mefjer near Ain el-Sultan, Jericho, reflects the rich cultural narrative of the Holy Land. Though their prominence peaked during the Umayyad Empire (c. 661–750 AD), this example’s design, dating to the Early Byzantine period, highlights the evolving material culture that would later shape the region’s artistic and functional heritage. An exceptional artifact, this lamp not only serves as a testament to the craftsmanship of its era but also offers an intimate glimpse into the lives and traditions of those who created and used it.

Good condition. Age-related wear and heavy abrasion. Rich earthen deposits. Gorgeous patina. Size approx. 10,8cm x 5,6cm x 5,0cm.

Provenance: Danish private collection. 

References and further reading:

Light and Life: Ancient Christian Oil Lamps of the Holyland (Studium Biblicum S.) Stanislao Loffreda, Franciscan Printing Press, 2001.