A rare ceramic oil lamp which dates back to the late Roman period that holds images of items used in the Second Temple was discovered in Jerusalem, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Thursday.
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| Rare ceramic oil lamp dated to the late Roman period that bears images of items used in the Second Temple discovered in Jerusalem. Photo: SCREENSHOT/YOUTUBE/ISRAELANTIQUITIESAUTHORITY |
The lamp was a “unique find” and that, judging by the soot marks on its nozzle, it was in use about 1,700 years ago, the Antiquities Authority said.
The Temple symbols that decorate the lamp encompass a depiction of the menorah used in the Second Temple, lulav (date palm branch used in Jewish ritual) and an incense shovel.
Excavation Director, Michael Chernin, said, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority: “The exquisite artistic workmanship of the lamp, which was found complete, makes it outstanding and extremely rare.”
Chernin further said, the symbols on the lamp which connected them to the Temple were “particularly surprising” because there has been “very little evidence of the existence of a Jewish settlement in and around Jerusalem from this period.”
