A Byzantine moulded terracotta oil lamp produced in the Holy Land. It features a circular body, with a large central filling hole, now chipped, with a lug handle to the back. Around the filling hole, the sloping shoulders are decorated with two rows of circular depressions with varying decorative motifs. The base of the lamp is decorated with a design of concentric circles. Earthly encrustations and signs of wear as consistent with age, such as surface pitting, chips. Burn marks around the wick hole. The Byzantine Empire existed as a continuation of the Roman Empire in its eastern provinces, meaning that the form of these oil lamps shows strong similarities to the Roman style. Christianity was the predominant religion in the Byzantine world, and this is reflected in the decoration of the lamp, which could have been used for either domestic or ceremonial purposes. Early Holy Land lamp decoration during the Byzantine period became more abstract, featuring lines, crosses, dots, and geometric shapes. Measurements: (circa) L 8.7cm x W 6.1cm Provenance: Ex Scottish collection, 1970s.