Getty Museum

Lamp

Date

1st century A.D.

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Roman

Department

Implements

Institution

Getty Museum

Description: Moldmade. Both incense-burner and lighting device are in the shape of a four-sided altar, its front divided into three parts of an architectural nature, resting on a three-stepped platform. Central arched niche with enthroned Jupiter, bare-chested with mantle over left shoulder; drapery fastened at waist, several folds around and between legs; he is bearded and wears a diadem; his right hand holds a patera; sandaled feet on footstool; the throne has a high backrest and elaborately carved front ends: opposed curled volutes and rosettes. The central niche is flanked by two pilasters with horizontal moldings; one figure stands in front of each, turning toward center; at left, nude Mercury with caduceus, winged sandals, and mantle(?) hanging behind him from the shoulder; at right, a helmeted Minerva, Gorgoneion on chest, leans on a spear.The upper section of the artifact consists of a central rectangular basin for burning incense; its front is decorated with an eight-pointed star in the middle, flanked by two resting eagles looking in opposite directions. Lamp on top of pilaster on each side of incense-burner of Loeschcke type IV with voluted ogival nozzles and solid truncated handles; concave discuses decorated with shell. Back side of the altar is plain with a big round hole in the center, required for the firing process of the clay. On each side of the hole is an unclear coarse drawing incised during molding, before slipping and firing: at left a spool-shaped sketch with outer and inner markings (fish[?]); at right a branch. Underneath, incuse inscription in Greek: EYKTHPO/NOY (made by or belonging to Eukteronos), which may be a restoration of unknown date. The lamp lacks a bottom and is completely hollow.

The authoritative record is held by Getty Museum. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.