The replica ancient oil lamps in this section represent clay lamp styles used in ancient Egypt in the Greek Hellenistic to Roman and Roman Christian period. Several of these clay lamps are molded directly from original ancient Egyptian oil lamps.
While exhibiting an Egyptian flavour,this style is likely an invention of 19th century artisans for the tourist trade. Examples have appeared in collections since Victorian times, but archaeologically excavated examples have yet to be published so far as I know. If you see one of these on a popular internet auction site- assume with confidence its not actually ancient.This example was created from an example acquired from an Egyptian marketplace.
An Egyptian lamp of Hellenistic or Roman period style featuring a face popularly called aHathorlamp.
All lamps on this page are $9.95 (USD) each.
This style also falls into the frog lamp category. While many of these lamps had very abstract frogs, this one appears to be more of a floral pattern than anything. A pleasing lamp, very Egyptian looking, and a good representation of the original.
Theglobular body of this uniquely Egyptian lamp features a stylized relief of a frog, the symbol ofHeket, who, in Egyptian religion, was associated with childbirth and the renewal of life. The use of the frog on lamps by Egyptian Christians is also well documented and probably also served as a symbol of renewal, in the Resurrection. This was probably an extension of the appearance of frogs connected with the rise and fall of the waters of the Nile. The find location of this lamp is unfortuantely, unknown, but similar ones have come from Abydos, Edfu, and Cairo.Molded directly from the original.(3 by 2.5)
Although included with Egyptian lamps as it has a general body shape like the frog lamps above, this style is also found in Judea and many of the Roman provinces.
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