Terracotta lamp with maker’s mark, Rome Alison E. Cooley AEC/ASHL AN1896-1908 EF.C.196.xml Oxford Ashmolean Museum AN1896-1908 EF.C.196 AshLI 418

An oil lamp of fired clay, circular in form, with a handle, and a lug on either side of the discus. The discus is decorated with the image of the goddess Magna Mater, richly draped and wearing her mural crown and veil, enthroned and flanked on either side by a lion. She is holding what appears to be a patera (libation-dish) in her right hand. An air-hole is pierced near the edge of the discus. It is in excellent condition.

Lamp: length, 0.124; height, 0.03/ 0.05 (including handle)

On the underside is the maker’s mark within a single circular groove, with an ivy leaf below.

 Letters: 0.005. Rome AD 100-150 (Bailey 1980: p.101) Its provenance is recorded in ink just above the nozzle, as Rome 1882. It is currently on display in the Rome Gallery. Photograph: top Photograph: base Photograph: profile
SERGiusPRIMus

Sergius Primus (made this)

Sergius Primus was a lamp-manufacturer in central Italy (Bailey 1980: p.101)

Bailey D.M. 1980 Catalogue of the Lamps in the British Museum. Vol.2, Roman Lamps made in Italy 2 London British Museum