They had a rounded body and nozzle, a large pour hole where the oil was added , and were often covered with a black slip glaze. The telltale spiral marks of wheel-thrown pottery can be seen in the body's interior enhanced detail at upper left ; the nozzle and strap handle were hand-formed and attached separately. The whitish patches are mineral deposits that can accumulate on pottery buried in - or in contact with - the ground. Sidon, Lebanon ca. The use of molds allowed mass-production of elaborate designs.
A design, such as the two winged cupids shown here enhanced detail at right , would only need to be carved once, for the archetype. Plaster or clay molds made from the archetype could then be used to make multiple copies.
Common designs included animals, mythological beings, gladiators, and erotic scenes. Traces of a colored slip glaze are visible on this lamp, and is decorated with a musician playing some type of wind instrument. The tops and bottoms of lamps were formed in separate molds that were then joined together prior to firing.
Initially major factories were located in Northern Italy, but later they spread to the provinces, including North Africa. Often these lamps were stamped with the mark of the factory or maker; however, this one is anonymous.
Note the channel running down the length of the nozzle, which helped divert spilled oil back into the body of the lamp. Egypt ca. It is characterized by the bulbous kidney-like shape and abstract frog design the shape of the folded legs can be seen at top center.
Frogs held a special significance in Egypt, appearing as they did after the annual flooding of the Nile, which sustained all life. Oil lamp was widely used until kerosene lamp took over somewhere in the 18th century but are still used in religious ceremonies and as an ambient light. Through the history, oil lamps had many uses.
They were used indoors and outdoors when the night falls, for work in dark places like mines which was dangerous because of explosive natural gases and even as a major light source in lighthouses. They also had, and still have, their place in the rituals of many religions.
In the time of the ceremony called Liknokaia which was held in honor of goddess Naiff, Ancient Egyptians used oil lamps to decorate their houses, public places and temples. Ancient Romans, before the prayer to goddess Vesta, lit an oil lamp that would symbolize her. Oil lamps were one of the most common household items of ancient times. Lamps made of stone or shell were used as early as the Stone Age. Ceramic lamps like this one were used all over the Mediterranean area from B.
They were used to burn oil, usually a plant oil such as olive oil that was abundant. Archaeologists find fewer lamps in areas like Britain, because oil was scarce and expensive there.
The lamp used a wick, made from fibers such as linen or papyrus, that was inserted into the body of the lamp. The end of the wick rested in the nozzle. As the industry developed so did the materials of which the oil lamps were made as well the fuel. First oil lamps of manmade materials were found in the Egypt, Greece and Rome and are considered probably the first mass produced objects in history.
They were made from terracotta, bronze, stone and alabaster, in a shape of a dish that would hold oil and a place for a wick that would prolong burning and prevented the whole surface of the oil to catch fire.
They were easier and safer to carry than torches, they were reusable and left less residues to differ from candles. Olive oil was used as a fuel as well as sesame oil, fish oil, whale oil and beeswax.
0コメント