A finely modelled Late Roman-Early Byzantine terracotta 'slipper' type oil lamp, featuring an oval body, pointed towards the nozzle, sitting on a raised ring foot. The shoulders are decorated with raised slanted ridges. A pronounced ridge surrounds the large filling hole. Slight blackening to the nozzle from use and erosion of clay. In Antiquity, a lamp was originally called a ‘lychnus‘, from the Greek ‘λυχνος’, with the oldest Roman lamps dating back to the third century BC. It is thought that the Romans took the idea for lamps from the Greek colonies of Southern Italy. Lamps of this type derived from the Holy Land and were in use predominantly from 7th – 10th centuries. Decoration was an eclectic mix of geometric patterns, Greek inscriptions and Christian iconography. Measurements: W 6.5cm x H 3cm Provenance: From an ex SM collection, acquired 1970-1999