Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (18.2006(2008))

TELL LARAMA

EGYPT

4th centuries AD, also with a leaves and
clusters pattern and parallel discus form
(Perlzweig 1961: 1515, 1516 PI. 28, 146).
The Pelusium lamps may have been local
copies of a well-liked model (Vine-and-ray
type), e.g. example from Benghazi (Cyre-
naica), dated to the 3rd through early 4th
century AD (Bailey 1985: 197,
PI. 16.III 9). A similar lamp, also recog-
nized as a local copy, was found in a late
4th century AD pottery deposit from Kom
el-Dikka in Alexandria (Mlynarczyk
1995). The pattern of horizontal bars at the
base of the nozzle seems to be a variation
typical of the Egyptian material
(Mlynarczyk 1995). To my mind, the motif
could have originated from the frog-type
lamps, a long-lived and well-liked
Egyptian form (e.g., Shier 1978: PI. 3 and
21, 25-27, Type 5.1 and A.5.2c frog
lamps).
PL 06/2/202 [Fig. 4]
Sector 2, loc. IV.
Creamy-beige fabric, unslipped. Mould-
made. Two rings around discus with
rosette of curving petals; characteristic
“double knot” at base of nozzle.
Fragmentary.
The “double knot” at the base of the
nozzle is parallel to a 2nd/3rd century AD
lamp from Moharem Bey, Alexandria (Tran
Tam Tinh, Jentel 1993: Fig. 56, PI. 15,
81). Analogies exist also in a group of
lamps from the 4th century AD deposit on
Kom el-Dikka (Mlynarczyk 1997: 134,
Fig. 2.g, 138). The motif appears to be
characteristic of Alexandrian 3rd-4th
century AD lamps. The dating of a similar
lamp from Alexandrian excavations,
considered as Egyptian or Palestinian, to
the 2nd century AD (Elaigne 1998:
Fig. 10, 87, 98) appears to be too early.

PL 06/3/25 [Fig. 4}
Sector 3, floor level.
Light beige fabric, unslipped. Mouldmade.
Shoulder pattern consisting of double
spirals and stamped dots; herringbone
wreath next to discus rim. Fragmentary.
A ornament and handle of this
fragment resembles 2nd/3rd century AD
lamps from the Greco-Roman Museum in
Alexandria (Tran Tam Tinh, Jentel 1993:
Figs 44, 48, especially Fig. 30, 16,
Fig. 168, 169), incidentally all with
Serapis images on the discus. However,
similar fragments from Kom el-Dikka
have been found in a late 4th century AD
deposit (Mlynarczyk 1995, Fig. 5.d).
PL 06/3/18 [Fig. 4}
Sector 3, floor level.
Brown fabric, unslipped. Mouldmade.
Base fragment. Two concentric base rings
and five or six rows of globules on the
lower body wall. Fragmentary.
The decoration and base form revealed
by this fragment resembles mid-3rd
century AD lamps from the Athenian
Agora (Perlzweig 1961: 1259, PI. 25,
138), as well as some 4th century AD
forms (Perlzweig 1961: 1272, PI. 37, 138).
It is also the only lamp fragment from the
Roman house without strict analogies in
the Alexandrian material.
In summary, it should be emphasized
that a study of the lamp assemblage from
the four seasons of excavations at Pelusium
has verified earlier chronological deter-
minations concerning the deposits in both
the theater and the Roman house with
mosaic. The deposits in the theater have
been confirmed as chronologically mixed,
while the assemblage from the Roman
house is generally of 4th century AD or
slightly earlier date.

123