Ancient Roman, Empire Terracotta Lucerna - 90 mm

Terracotta lamp with a Cupid on a dolphin from the 1st–2nd centuries AD, an essential piece for creating an atmosphere of seduction, desire, and love.

And that precise ritual began when in the bedroom the linen wick soaked in perfumed olive oil burned, and its scent impregnated the sheets dyed purple or saffron, colors associated with luxury and sensuality, in addition to the smell of incense or myrrh that came from a small brazier.

Also garlands of roses and ivy leaves (a symbol of exaltation and loyalty) to invoke the god of love, and beside the bed, the necessary tray of oils that were applied to different parts of the body to maximize the sensory effect as a gesture of immediate intimacy, note:

- thyme for the hair
- mint on the arms and thyme for the legs
- nard for the chest

All of this fostered an intimate and joyful atmosphere essential to invoking the presence of the god of love. The lamp itself, with the engraving of Cupid mounted on a dolphin, was a talisman-light to invoke the divine force of uncontrollable and irrational desire, legitimizing and blessing the union.

From there, with this disk lamp, they had 8 hours to share an intimate moment, 480 minutes of light equivalent to a modern 40 W bulb, more than enough to stimulate the senses…

That is why they were very popular during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, because in addition to lighting, they were indispensable narrative supports for classical myths, for example:

● Cupid and Hercules: Reclining on his club, it symbolizes that love can conquer brute force and the strongest hero;

● Cupid and the myth of Psyche, a tale that narrates the life of the aristocrat Lucius who by accident becomes a donkey and experiences the harsh reality of slaves, saved by the goddess Isis;

● Cupid with a torch: when lit, it signified the flame of desire, and when inverted, unrequited love;

● Cupid with a double flute atop a dolphin symbolized the triumph of love over the elements of nature.

In fact, it bore a bow and arrows that, if they struck you as a mortal: the gold ones generated irresistible love, while the lead ones provoked rejection.

Ultimately, an indispensable piece made by professionals, especially in Italy, Spain, and North Africa, who mastered the clay refining technique and the firing at 1000 ºC, invoking the presence of the god of love to reinforce the atmosphere of intimacy and pleasure.

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