The Greek Oil Lamp from Egan Bronze Greek and Roman Oil Lamps

The Greek Lamp from Egan Bronze classical oil lamps cast in bronze with patina

$450
Limited Edition 300
Antique Greek
H. 2" W. 4" L. 5 ¹/₈"

Select color choice below to order your lamp Ordering Info

With the Greek lamp (4^th and 3^rd centuries BC), came the end of the so-called “open body” lamps, and the introduction of the “closed body” lamp with a new function influence- a protrusion on the side of the lamp. This nodule or pierced lug had two important usages. It provided a convenient thumbhold for the slippery clay lamp, and, more importantly, it could be hung when not in use to prevent mice from drinking the olive oil, which apparently happened so often that it is mentioned in The Battle of Frogs and Mice, a parody of Homer's Iliad.

During this battle, Zeus asks Athena if she will help the mice, and the goddess refuses, “I would never go to help the Mice when they are hard pressed, for they have done me much mischief, soiling my garlands and spilling my lamps too, to get the oil.”

The potters who made these innovative “closed body” lamps did so in order to conserve fuel by preventing spillage, which was for commercial incentive and important for better home economics. The Greek lamp has a deep body and a long nozzle, and the walls of the lamp are keel shaped or carinated.

Greece, Rhodes - 1^st half of 3^rd cent. BC
Patinaed bronze

Classic Mediterranean Man image

©
Frank Egan 1999 - 2003

707.746.5746
971 Jackson St.
Benicia, CA USA 94510
(Studio open by appointment only)
Contact webmaster



		With the Greek lamp (4^th and 3^rd centuries BC), came the end of the so-called “open body” lamps, and the introduction of the “closed body” lamp with a new function influence- a protrusion on the side of the lamp. This nodule or pierced lug had two important usages. It provided a convenient thumbhold for the slippery clay lamp, and, more importantly, it could be hung when not in use to prevent mice from drinking the olive oil, which apparently happened so often that it is mentioned in The Battle of Frogs and Mice, a parody of Homer's Iliad. During this battle, Zeus asks Athena if she will help the mice, and the goddess refuses, “I would never go to help the Mice when they are hard pressed, for they have done me much mischief, soiling my garlands and spilling my lamps too, to get the oil.” The potters who made these innovative “closed body” lamps did so in order to conserve fuel by preventing spillage, which was for commercial incentive and important for better home economics. The Greek lamp has a deep body and a long nozzle, and the walls of the lamp are keel shaped or carinated. Greece, Rhodes - 1^st half of 3^rd cent. BC Patinaed bronze

©	Frank Egan 1999 - 2003
	707.746.5746 971 Jackson St. Benicia, CA USA 94510 (Studio open by appointment only) Contact webmaster