An "achtformige" bronze lamp from Ptuj/Poetovio

Abstract

This research highlights an open-shape copper-alloy lamp to be used with tallow (type Loeschcke XXV), recently discovered at Poetovio, among a huge number of standard imported Roman oil lamps. This form, together with its clay counterpart (type Loeschcke XI), are typical of the northern Roman limes provinces, where they were produced and used almost exclusively. Finding such a lamp so far south merits note, hence the discussion of the distribution of known parallels, made of different metals, as well as a brief consideration of a very eclectic clay variant, which is marginal almost everywhere except at Trier, where it constitutes by far the most numerous type of Roman lamps found in situ.