Gift of the Betty and Max Ratner Collection, 1981-75
In the year 70 CE the Roman Empire conquered Jerusalem, destroying the second Jewish Temple and solidifying a period of Roman rule that lasted more than seven centuries. Jewish communities continued to live in the region and gradually incorporated aspects of Roman material culture in their daily lives, including lamps like this one. This ancient lamp, with its eight wick sockets, is an unusual early version that may align with the Hanukkah custom of kindling eight lights. The now-standard Hanukkah lamp with eight lights plus a shamash (helper light), however, did not appear until the Middle Ages. Lamps like this one were likely used for daily illumination and holiday]
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https://collections.thejewishmuseum.org/collection/583-lamp
[display description](https://i.ibb.co/HLRRMWrv/20251115-121757.jpg)
[48
Lamp, 250-500 CE
Eastern Mediterranean
Mold-formed, slipped, and fired clay
Gift of the Betty and Max Ratner Collection, 1981-75
In the year 70 CE the Roman Empire conquered Jerusalem, destroying the second Jewish Temple and solidifying a period of Roman rule that lasted more than seven centuries. Jewish communities continued to live in the region and gradually incorporated aspects of Roman material culture in their daily lives, including lamps like this one. This ancient lamp, with its eight wick sockets, is an unusual early version that may align with the Hanukkah custom of kindling eight lights. The now-standard Hanukkah lamp with eight lights plus a shamash (helper light), however, did not appear until the Middle Ages. Lamps like this one were likely used for daily illumination and holiday]