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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.378)
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