Ancient Egyptian oil lamp from Naukratis dated 30 BC – AD 395

Beige and black pottery oil lamp, with a circular reservoir with a central hole in the top with a concentric ring modelled around it. The top of the reservoir is decorated with an incised frog and corn design. The spout projects from the body, and has incised markings, a series of lines which are ladder like. There is blackening over much of the item, and salt efflorescence. The base of the lamp is friable, and flakes of the pottery surface have fallen away. The centre of the base originally had an ring shape surrounding a maker’s mark but little is now visible.

Ancient Egyptian oil lamp from Naukratis dated 30 BC – AD 395

Object details

  • Reference: BOLMG:1886.31.4
  • Material: pottery
  • Period: Roman Period
  • Excavator: E.A. Gardner W.M.F. Petrie
  • Dated: 30 BC - AD 395
  • Object name: oil lamp
  • Dimensions: Length: 80mm , Width: 70mm , Depth: 38mm
  • Published references: Petrie W M F Naukratis 1 1886
  • Site: Naukratis
  • Latitude: 30.901111
  • Longitude: 30.5925