Roman Lamp, Cucufate, Portugal

Clay lamp (lucerna) from roman villa of S. Cucufate, Alentejo, Portugal. High Roman Empire (2nd century AD). Lamps fueled with olive oil and other vegetable oils were very common in the Roman world to provide artificial light. This specimen has a shoulder decorated with an undetermined motif (maybe pearls or ovules) and separated from the disk by a two-line frame. The filling-hole appears in the center of the disc (discus). The specimen presents 2,3 cm in height and 7 cm in long. Currently it is exposed in the permanent exhibition of the museum of S. Cucufate (Vila de Frades, Vidigueira). Catalog No. CUC. 81 203.