DOI issue:
Egypt
DOI article:Zych, Iwona: Marina el-Alamein: some ancient terrakotta lamps from Marina
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41371#0080
MARINA EL-ALAMEIN
EGYPT
EARLY ROMAN VOLUTED LAMPS
Possibly the oldest in this group are
voluted lamps E 368 and E 3924 {Fig. 1),
representing two different, late 1st century
types. E 368 is Loeschcke Type IB with an
air slit on the nozzle top and a raised base
with a Romanesis inscription incised
within it. The fabric is a reddish yellow
with red semi-glossy slip. The rosette on
the discus is a very common motif and it
was apparently very popular in Marina as
well. British Museum lamp Q 2656, said
to come from Cyprus, but definitely of
Cnidian production, appears to be a very
close parallel, although clearly not in the
same series; it is dated to AD 70-80.
The other lamp, E 3924 {Fig. 1), repre-
sents another highly popular type identi-
fied as Loeschcke Type IV. Lamps of similar
overall form and with the scallop-shell mo-
tif on the discus have been found in Cyprus
and Carthage to mention but two exam-
ples.The fabric of our example is dark
brown with a glossy red-brown slip. The
lamp should be recognized as an import1' in
Fig. 1. Early Roman voluted lamps
(Photo I. Zych; drawing A. Blaszczyk after 1. Zych)
3) Donald M. Bailey, A Catalogue of the Lamps in the British Museum, iii. Roman Provincial Lamps (British Museum
Publications: London 1988), 327, 333 and pi. 74, fig. 128.
4) Bailey iii, op. cit., Q 2435; also J. Bussiere, Lampes antiques d'Algerie, Monographies Instrumentum 16 (Montagnac 2000),
Type Bill 1, 72-75 and fig. 6; J. Deneauve, Lampes de Carthage (CNRS: Paris 1974), Type V B, cat. nos. 536, 538, 539 (the
latter two with handles).
5) Archaeological writers are slow to admit the generally unscientific procedures employed in distinguishing locally
produced lamps from imports; hence I have refrained from anything stronger than a suggestion of foreign origin, based simply
on macroscopic examination.
78
EGYPT
EARLY ROMAN VOLUTED LAMPS
Possibly the oldest in this group are
voluted lamps E 368 and E 3924 {Fig. 1),
representing two different, late 1st century
types. E 368 is Loeschcke Type IB with an
air slit on the nozzle top and a raised base
with a Romanesis inscription incised
within it. The fabric is a reddish yellow
with red semi-glossy slip. The rosette on
the discus is a very common motif and it
was apparently very popular in Marina as
well. British Museum lamp Q 2656, said
to come from Cyprus, but definitely of
Cnidian production, appears to be a very
close parallel, although clearly not in the
same series; it is dated to AD 70-80.
The other lamp, E 3924 {Fig. 1), repre-
sents another highly popular type identi-
fied as Loeschcke Type IV. Lamps of similar
overall form and with the scallop-shell mo-
tif on the discus have been found in Cyprus
and Carthage to mention but two exam-
ples.The fabric of our example is dark
brown with a glossy red-brown slip. The
lamp should be recognized as an import1' in
Fig. 1. Early Roman voluted lamps
(Photo I. Zych; drawing A. Blaszczyk after 1. Zych)
3) Donald M. Bailey, A Catalogue of the Lamps in the British Museum, iii. Roman Provincial Lamps (British Museum
Publications: London 1988), 327, 333 and pi. 74, fig. 128.
4) Bailey iii, op. cit., Q 2435; also J. Bussiere, Lampes antiques d'Algerie, Monographies Instrumentum 16 (Montagnac 2000),
Type Bill 1, 72-75 and fig. 6; J. Deneauve, Lampes de Carthage (CNRS: Paris 1974), Type V B, cat. nos. 536, 538, 539 (the
latter two with handles).
5) Archaeological writers are slow to admit the generally unscientific procedures employed in distinguishing locally
produced lamps from imports; hence I have refrained from anything stronger than a suggestion of foreign origin, based simply
on macroscopic examination.
78