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This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy
Land at the height of the Israelite monarchy.
Judging by its low, flat base, this lamp probably
derives from the Northern Kingdom of Israel
during the pre-Exilic Period, though it bears the
hints of a thickened, pedestal base common to
Southern Israel during the Divided Kingdom
period. 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.423)
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