Ptolemaic oil lamp with relief decoration of cupids holding torches
Medium:Mould-made earthenware
Geography: Made in Egypt in lower Nile Valley region; found in al-Fayyūm, Egypt
Date: about 250-200 BC or slightly later
Period: Hellenistic period
Dimensions:2.3 x 8.4 x 6.4 cm
Object number: 916.1.281
Credit Line: The Walter Massey Collection
Gallery Location:Gallery of Greece
DescriptionThis lamp is made of deep brown clay with fine gold mica (biotite)
particles indicating that it came from the lower Nile Valley. It has
been created in a two-piece mould which created the relief decoration on the top of beaded and palmette patterns and a pair of naked cupids holding tall torched. There is slight burning around the nozzle indicating that it was used.
