{"product_id":"ancient-judaean-herodian-terracotta-oil-lamp-2nd-3rd-century-ce","title":"Ancient Judaean Herodian Terracotta Oil Lamp in Presentation Display Case | 2nd–3rd Century CE","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistorical Context \u0026amp; Origin\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRegion:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Judaea\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Terracotta\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 2nd–3rd Century CE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eType:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Herodian-type oil lamp\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDescription\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis ancient \u003c\/span\u003eterracotta oil lamp from Judaea is identified as a Herodian type and dates to approximately the 2nd–3rd century CE.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lamp has an oval body with a broad central filling hole and a short projecting nozzle. The wick hole at the end of the nozzle retains visible blackening, consistent with use of the lamp for burning oil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFormed from pinkish terracotta, the surface is largely undecorated and displays extensive whitish mineral deposits, burial encrustation, and age-related wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts straightforward functional design reflects the practical ceramic lighting vessels used in ancient Judaea, where small terracotta lamps provided portable illumination in domestic and other everyday settings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lamp is preserved within a later custom presentation case with a blue velvet mount, acrylic cover, and engraved brass plaques. The commemorative plaque records its presentation by the Dena Trust – 1993 National Women's Division United Jewish Appeal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeatures\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOval body\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWide central filling hole\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShort projecting nozzle\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlackened wick hole indicating ancient use\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePinkish terracotta fabric\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhitish mineral deposits\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLargely undecorated surface\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArchaeological burial encrustation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePresented in a later commemorative display case\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCultural Significance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTerracotta oil lamps were essential objects of daily life throughout ancient Judaea and the wider Near East. Filled with oil and fitted with a wick through the nozzle, they provided a simple and effective source of household illumination.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis example's form has been identified by the specialist as \u003c\/span\u003eHerodian type, while the surviving blackening around the wick hole provides physical evidence of its original functional use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe later presentation case adds a separate element to the object's modern history, documenting its association with the Dena Trust and National Women's Division United Jewish Appeal in 1993.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAncient archaeological condition with \u003c\/span\u003esurface wear, whitish mineral deposits, burial encrustation, and minor abrasions throughout. The oval body, filling hole, short nozzle, and wick opening remain readily identifiable. Blackening survives around the wick hole.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe later presentation case exhibits minor age-related wear but remains presentable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions (Approximate)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLamp\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLength: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e3 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWidth: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2.5 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDisplay Case\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLength: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e5.25 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWidth: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e5.25 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHeight: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e4.2 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAge (Approximate)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1,700–1,900 years old\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Palm Beach, Florida estate collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccompanied by a custom presentation display bearing the inscription:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“DENA TRUST – With Sincere Appreciation – 1993 National Women's Division United Jewish Appeal.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe display suggests the lamp was presented as a commemorative or appreciation gift associated with the Dena Trust and the National Women's Division of the United Jewish Appeal in 1993.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe piece was later examined by Luca Salvaggio, an Italian archaeologist and specialist in ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern material. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma from the Italian Archaeological School at Athens (IASA) and is accredited for preventive archaeology by the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC). Salvaggio identified the object as a Herodian-type terracotta oil lamp from Judaea, dating to the 2nd–3rd century CE, based on its oval body, wide filling hole, short nozzle, blackened wick opening, pinkish clay fabric, and largely undecorated surface. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLearn More\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore the history and development of ancient Mediterranean oil lamps through \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.mpm.edu\/index.php\/research-collections\/anthropology\/anthropology-collections-research\/mediterranean-oil-lamps\/description-and-history-oil-lamps\" title=\"Description and History of Mediterranean Oil Lamps – Milwaukee Public Museum\"\u003eMilwaukee Public Museum\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrowse our curated \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/relicandrarity.com\/collections\/roman-greek-artifacts-ancient-relics\" title=\"Roman and Greek Artifacts Collection – Relic \u0026amp; Rarity\"\u003eRoman and Greek Artifacts Collection\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Relic \u0026 Rarity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54516398227778,"sku":null,"price":600.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0955\/1803\/2194\/files\/Ancient-Roman-Byzantine-Terracotta-Oil-Lamp-i-3490.png?v=1787445257","url":"https:\/\/relicandrarity.com\/products\/ancient-judaean-herodian-terracotta-oil-lamp-2nd-3rd-century-ce","provider":"Relic \u0026 Rarity","version":"1.0","type":"link"}