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This ancient lamp might have burned in
the Holy Land at the height of the
Israelite monarchy. Judging by its
thickened, pedestal base, this lamp
probably derives from the Southern
Kingdom of Israel during the period of
the Divided Kingdom. Its simple, pinch
pot construction is a tribute to the
antiquity of the design, likely having
Canaanite origins. Made of terra cotta,
this simple item would have held olive oil
and probably a wick of plant fibers or
textile, allowing it to provide light for a
few hours perhaps. This lamp of open-
bowl design would later give way to more
elaborate, enclosed lamps of the
Hellenistic and Roman periods.
A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for
hope, for life itself, lamps have
illuminated the path of civilization for
centuries. They have shed light on
mundane and extraordinary events alike,
guiding great thoughts through the night,
and standing vigil with lonely passions. In
the presence of this simple object, we
are in touch directly with a vanished
world, with the rooms and shrines once
warmed by its glow, with the people who
drew comfort from its light. Today it
remains as an enduring symbol of man's
desire to conquer the darkness.
- (SP.377)
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