Please note: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid. Extremely rare Roman votive miniature lamp made of lead. The lamp is decorated at the bottom with circular dots and a zoomorphic figure, the top is decorated with straight lines. The bottom under the filling hole is open, giving the impression it could be worn as a pendant. Size: ± 33,7 x 23,2 mm Condition: good and solid condition. Signs of wear consistent with age and use. See images. Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format). In religious contexts, oil lamps served the simple utilitarian function of lighting temples and shrines, and they served a number of ritualistic functions, as well. Many of the religious practices in ancient Rome involved some form of ritual sacrifice or offering. Because light was considered a blessing, oil lamps were frequently dedicated at temples and shrines as votive offerings. They were also a common component in burial practices, and lamps were often buried with the dead in order to light the way into the afterlife and beyond.