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Israeli officials recently announced the discovery of an unusual oil lamp dating back to the fourth century, just in time for Hanukkah.
In a Facebook post published on Thursday, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) explained that the oil lamp, which dates back to the late Roman Empire, was found during a recent excavation near the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.
The artifact appears to refer to the Second Temple, although it was made more than 200 years after the temple was destroyed in 70 AD. Archaeologists have discovered depictions of an incense shovel, menorah and the lulav, the date leaves used to celebrate Sukkot, carved into the lamp.
“The exquisite craftsmanship of the lamp, which was found complete, makes it extraordinary and extremely rare,” IAA Director of Excavations Michael Chernin said in a statement. “The menorah, incense shovel, and lulav are symbols associated with the Jewish connection to the Temple.”
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The oil lamp, approximately 1700 years old, dates back to the fourth century. (Israel Antiquities Authority)
The lamp also contains traces of soot from its last use, almost two millennia ago.
“This unique find, which, judging by the soot marks on its nozzle, was used for lighting around 1,700 years ago, provides a fascinating insight into Jewish cultural and religious life during that period,” the IAA said.
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The lamp was found near the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem. (Israel Antiquities Authority)
During the late Roman Empire, Christianity became the favored religion and Roman polytheism was largely abandoned. There were still a significant number of Jews in Israel, where they faced persecution by the Romans.
Chernin added that the oil painting is “particularly surprising” because very little is known about the Jews who lived in Jerusalem in the fourth century.
“After the Roman emperor Hadrian put down the Bar Kokhba rebellion in 135 AD, the Jews were expelled from the city,” the historian explained. “The lamp on the Mount of Olives is one of the few material traces of the Jewish presence around Jerusalem in the 3rd and 5th centuries AD.”
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The find was “particularly surprising” because fourth-century Jewish artifacts are hard to come by near the Mount of Olives, officials said. (Israel Antiquities Authority)
IAA Research archaeologist Benjamin Storchan said the craftsman who made the lamp “put a lot of time and effort into decorating it”.
“The lamp was made using delicately and intricately carved limestone molds using drill bits and chisels,” Storchan noted. “The molds were made in two parts, upper and lower. To make a lamp, the potter pressed clay into the molds and then joined them together.”
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Storchan also said the lamp probably belonged to a Jew who “bought it because of its religious affiliation and its memorial to the Temple.”
The lamp shows religiously significant details, such as the menorah and lulav. (Israel Antiquities Authority)
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The lamp is on public display at the newly constructed Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for Archeology in Jerusalemwhere it will be open to the public through the Festival of Lights.
