Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (15.2003(2004))

MARINA EL-ALAMEIN

EGYPT

MARINA EL-ALAMEIN
SOME ANCIENT TERRACOTTA LAMPS
FROM MARINA
Iwona Zych

The commonplaceness of terracotta oil lamps in everyday life in Antiquity makes them an
interesting object of study, whether as a reflection of individual tastes, fashionable trends or
evidence of commercial trade patterns. Like the Wedgwoods or Rosenthals of another age, the
oil lamps of Antiquity could have been transported over long distances as an exclusive product
intended for sale or carried in people's luggage as a memento of home or of better times.
Polish archaeological excavations and conservation work carried out at the site since 1987
have brought to light some 70 more or less complete lamps and many more fragmentary
examples. Another 70 or so whole or almost whole lamps were picked up during fieldwalking
of the site or were found during rescue digs carried out by the Egyptian antiquities authorities
(unstratified finds). Being acquainted closely with most of the material, Prof. W.A. Da-
szewski, who discovered the site and has been excavating it for the past sixteen years, believed
it instructive to set up a project for the study of the entire collection. At his inspiration and with
permission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt, I was able to proceed with the
first part of the project, spending three weeks in March 2003 in the stores of the Greco-Roman
Museum in Alexandria, where all the material from Marina collected between 1990 and
1996 is kept. B Altogether, I saw 35 lamps out of a total of 49 and was able to document them
in drawing and photography in addition to describing macroscopically the fabric with a view
to identifying imports wherever possible. Added to this set were 11 whole and fragmentary oil
lamps from Egyptian excavations at Marina el-Alamein (registered in the Alexandria
Museum collection), to which the Director of the Graeco-Roman Museum in Alexandria,
Dr. Ahmed Abd El Fattah, kindly drew my attention.2'1
The following is a preliminary presentation and discussion of this group of lamps
(reference numbers refer to Egyptian records), from which I have excluded the pieces excavated
by the Polish mission, preferring instead to concentrate on material unpublished in any way
whatsoever so far.
1) To complete the project a similar study has to be conducted on the assemblage (about 50 pieces) kept in the stores at
Tell Basta Zagazig, for which, hopefully, permission from the SCA will be forthcoming.
2) I would like to thank Dr. Ahmed Abd El Fattah, Director of the Greco-Roman Museum in Alexandria, for his kind
assistance, and Madame Nadya Taha of the Museum, attached as Inspector to the project. The study would have never
proceeded without Prof. W. A. Daszewski, who suggested the subject and encouraged me to work on the material from
Marina el-Alamein. Dr. Grzegorz Majcherek of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology of Warsaw University has
patiently helped in surmounting all the formal obstacles. The Centre also kindly provided for accommodations and overall
logistical assistance during my stay in Alexandria. Messrs. Artur Blaszczyk and Mariusz Burdajewicz kindly rendered my
pencil drawings in a more presentable form.

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