Terracotta lamp
In antiquity, most interior lighting was provided by oil lamps set on stands or suspended by chains or cords. Drinking parties, which were always held at night after dinner, would have been brightly lit by flickering flames. This simple type of lamp has a narrow handle that could be used to hang the lamp from a peg when it was not in use.
Artwork Details
- Title: Terracotta lamp
- Period: Classical
- Date: 5th century BCE
- Culture: Greek, Attic
- Medium: Terracotta; black-glaze
- Dimensions: Overall: 7/8 x 3 1/8 x 4 5/16 in. (2.2 x 8 x 11 cm)
- Classification: Vases
- Credit Line: Gift of Dietrich von Bothmer, 1947
- Object Number: 47.129
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Greek, South Italian, Campanian
4th century BCE
Greek, Attic
late 10th–early 9th century BCE
Greek, Attic
mid-4th century BCE
Greek, Attic
late 6th century BCE
Princeton Group
ca. 540–530 BCE
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.