DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4377#0066
396 TEMENOS OE DEMETER, PERSEPHONE,
The upper surface of the lamp is usually orna-
mented with some figure or pattern in relief, form-
ing a circular medallion between the handle and
the mouth. This class of lamps is very commonly
found in tombs of the .Roman period.
Although several hundreds of these lamps were
found, the reliefs exhibit little variety of subject.
The designs are generally grotesque figures, pairs
of gladiators fighting, animals, or birds.
Great numbers of lamps were found without any
pattern in relief.
Some few of this class have more than one
mouth. They average 3^" in length.
The majority are without handles. Some few
have a potter's name stamped at the bottom, but
most of them have only a zigzag line, in imitation
of letters, or a human foot incuse.
Fragments of some lamps, ornamented with
horses' heads, were found in the same ground.
These, probably, had several mouths, and must
have been much larger than those described above.
The numerous lamps found in this spot outside
the inclosures were probably deposited round the
base of some statue. We learn from Pausanias
that lighted lamps were offered to Persephone,
and let down into trenches or chasms, 0&'(3po/, con-
secrated to the infernal deities.1'
Among the terracotta figures are several mo-
delled with much freedom and vigour.
They generally represent draped female figures,
probably, in most cases, Demeter or Persephone.
'' Pausan. ii. 22, § 4.
The upper surface of the lamp is usually orna-
mented with some figure or pattern in relief, form-
ing a circular medallion between the handle and
the mouth. This class of lamps is very commonly
found in tombs of the .Roman period.
Although several hundreds of these lamps were
found, the reliefs exhibit little variety of subject.
The designs are generally grotesque figures, pairs
of gladiators fighting, animals, or birds.
Great numbers of lamps were found without any
pattern in relief.
Some few of this class have more than one
mouth. They average 3^" in length.
The majority are without handles. Some few
have a potter's name stamped at the bottom, but
most of them have only a zigzag line, in imitation
of letters, or a human foot incuse.
Fragments of some lamps, ornamented with
horses' heads, were found in the same ground.
These, probably, had several mouths, and must
have been much larger than those described above.
The numerous lamps found in this spot outside
the inclosures were probably deposited round the
base of some statue. We learn from Pausanias
that lighted lamps were offered to Persephone,
and let down into trenches or chasms, 0&'(3po/, con-
secrated to the infernal deities.1'
Among the terracotta figures are several mo-
delled with much freedom and vigour.
They generally represent draped female figures,
probably, in most cases, Demeter or Persephone.
'' Pausan. ii. 22, § 4.