The Roman oil lamp as an everyday object
Oil lamps as a mass product belong to the Roman everyday life. Their mirror (top of an oil lamp) is decorated with various motifs. The motifs include, for example, portraits of gladiators, plants, fruits, professions, animals, signs of the zodiac, emperors and kings. Oil lamps are usually made of clay or ceramics by so-called lamp manufacturers. If the bottom is stamped with the manufacturer's mark, it is called a firma lamp.
Zodiac - Zodiac sign Sagittarius - Roman oil lamp
Our oil lamp Zodiac zodiac sign Sagittarius is made of a ceramic casting.filled the lamp through the small hole above the lettering "Sagitari". In the center of the oil lamp mirror is the image of a Centaurus. At the long end of the lamp is an opening for the wick. You could carry our oil lamp with the help of a coaster or by grasping the lamp at the front, opposite troughs with thumb and forefinger. Terracotta look and the fine decorations on the edge and the zodiac sign Sagittarius give the lamp its special effect.
Zodiac- Zodiac oil lamp Sagittarius
- Material : ceramic
- Color: terracotta / black
- Dimensions: length: ca.10,9 cm x width: ca. 7,7 cm
- in the middle the picture of a Centaurus
- to the right of it the filling hole for the oil, to the right of this hole is an inscription : Sagitari ( Sagittarius )
- this image is made up of two lines running in a circle
- at the bottom is the large hole for the wick, a smaller hole is above it for the air circulation
- at the bottom of the wick are two hollows (for thumb and forefinger) for carrying the oil lamp
Oil lamp - important artificial light source
In certain regions, oil lamps were used as an artificial light source as early as 8000 BC. In the early days, they were flat, open stone bowls with a small groove on the rim for the wick. These oil lamps were filled with animal fat. The wick was made of plant fibers or cloth scraps. The first innovation, which was considered revolutionary, was the use of vegetable fuels (fat, tallow, oil). The lamps could now be used covered and the fuel was protected from contamination. Oil lamps were used, among other things, as night lamps in houses, taverns and brothels. If the wick starts to burn, the fuel runs out and can be refilled immediately.
Unique luminous atmosphere
Oil lamps emit their warm light evenly in dark rooms, mysterious and natural. Together with your students, set up a room with the idyllic ambiance of burning oil lamps. Feel together this tranquil atmosphere.
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