FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board
Antiquities Discussion Forums => Oil Lamps => Topic started by: v-drome on January 16, 2022, 08:40:52 pm
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Hi, all. Here is a terracotta fragment, possibly from an oil lamp discus, with a standing, facing figure. He appears to be cuirassed, with a shield on left arm, holding an unknown object or weapon in the lowered right hand. Any ideas, corrections, or elaborations to my description, including potential place of origin and lamp type, would be appreciated. I found one possible parallel for the motif on a Roman volute lamp in an online article from the Milwaukee Public Museum, pictured below. Thanks, again, V-drome
BCC CG26
Decorated Oil Lamp Discus with Gladiator?
Caesarea Maritima
1st-2nd Century CE
Fragment of an Early Roman oil lamp? consisting
of the central part of a discus decorated with a
standing figure, possibly a gladiator. Cuirassed, shield
on left arm, right arm lowered holding unknown object.
Underside has traces of faint fingerprint and smear from
pressing into the mould. Fabric: Medium fine grained, light
tan clay with traces of black slip or perhaps blackened from
a reduction firing. Manufacture: Mould made.
Origin: ?
Dimensions: 2.7 x 2.3 x 0.45cm. Weight: 2.07gm.
Surface find Caesarea Maritima, 1976
(click for larger pic)
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Certainly looks like it.
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Here's another one, somewhat similar, from the Met's collection. Unfortunately the discus is not photographed from above, so it's difficult to tell if it's an exact match. Two links to the lamp - Met's page and the same lamp posted at Artstor.org (I'm not sure if the direct linking to Artstor will work):
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/241721
https://library.artstor.org/#/asset/SS7731421_7731421_11549198;prevRouteTS=1642385245204
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Thank you Jay, and Robert, for the additional example!