A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the Holy Land during the Biblical Age. A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the  More »

A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the Holy Land during the Biblical Age. A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries, shedding light on mundane and extraordinary events alike, guiding great thoughts through the night, and standing vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the rooms and temples once warmed by its glow, with the people who drew comfort from its light. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (PF.1707)   « Less

This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land at during the time when the ancestors of the Israelites were still part of the Canaanite tribes that populated the land  More »

This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land at during the time when the ancestors of the Israelites were still part of the Canaanite tribes that populated the land that would become Israel. Judging by its open construction and vaguely pinched wick channel, this lamp derives from the period known as Middle Bronze Age I and is the ancestor of later designs that permeated the culture of the Middle East in Antiquity. Its simple, pinch pot construction is a tribute to the antiquity of the design, likely having Canaanite origins. Made of terra cotta, this simple item would have held olive oil and probably a wick of plant fibers or textile, allowing it to provide light for a few hours perhaps. This lamp of open-bowl design would later give way to more elaborate, enclosed lamps of the Hellenistic and Roman periods.A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have shed light on mundane and extraordinary events alike, guiding great thoughts through the night, and standing vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the rooms and shrines once warmed by its glow, with the people who drew comfort from its light. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (SP.391)   « Less

Origin: Hebron/ West Bank Circa: 1500 BC to 1250 BC Dimensions: 2" (5.1cm) high x 5" (12.7cm) wide Collection: Biblical Antiquities tyle: Late Bronze Age Medium: Terracotta

Origin: Hebron/ West Bank Circa: 1500 BC to 1250 BC Dimensions: 2" (5.1cm) high x 5" (12.7cm) wide Collection: Biblical Antiquities tyle: Late Bronze Age Medium: Terracotta   « Less

This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land during the time of the Hebrew patriarchs, prior to the time of Moses. Judging by its open construction and vaguely  More »

This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land during the time of the Hebrew patriarchs, prior to the time of Moses. Judging by its open construction and vaguely pinched wick channel, this lamp derives from the Late Bronze Age and is the ancestor of later designs that permeated the culture of the Middle East in Antiquity. Its simple, pinch pot construction is a tribute to the antiquity of the design, likely having Canaanite origins. Made of terra cotta, this simple item would have held olive oil and probably a wick of plant fibers or textile, allowing it to provide light for a few hours perhaps. This lamp of open-bowl design would later give way to more elaborate, enclosed lamps of the Hellenistic and Roman periods.A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have shed light on mundane and extraordinary events alike, guiding great thoughts through the night, and standing vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the rooms and shrines once warmed by its glow, with the people who drew comfort from its light. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (SP.399)   « Less

This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land during the time of the Hebrew patriarchs prior to the time of Moses. Judging by its open construction and vaguely pinched  More »

This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land during the time of the Hebrew patriarchs prior to the time of Moses. Judging by its open construction and vaguely pinched wick channel, this lamp derives from the Late Bronze Age and is the ancestor of later designs that permeated the culture of the Middle East in Antiquity. Its simple, pinch pot construction is a tribute to the antiquity of the design, likely having Canaanite origins. Made of terra cotta, this simple item would have held olive oil and probably a wick of plant fibers or textile, allowing it to provide light for a few hours perhaps. This lamp of open- bowl design would later give way to more elaborate, enclosed lamps of the Hellenistic and Roman periods.A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have shed light on mundane and extraordinary events alike, guiding great thoughts through the night, and standing vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the rooms and shrines once warmed by its glow, with the people who drew comfort from its light. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (SP.415)   « Less

Middle Bronze Age Terracotta Oil Lamp - LK.352 Origin: Central Asia Circa: 1900 BC to 1600 BC Dimensions: 4.72" (12.0cm) high x 4.37" (11.1cm) wide Collection: Biblical  More »

Middle Bronze Age Terracotta Oil Lamp - LK.352 Origin: Central Asia Circa: 1900 BC to 1600 BC Dimensions: 4.72" (12.0cm) high x 4.37" (11.1cm) wide Collection: Biblical Antiquities Style: Bronze Age Medium: Terracotta   « Less

Origin: Israel Circa: 1500 BC to 1250 BC Dimensions: 6.29" (16.0cm) high x 6.49" (16.5cm) wide Collection: Biblical Antiquities Style: Late Bronze Age Medium: Terracotta

Origin: Israel Circa: 1500 BC to 1250 BC Dimensions: 6.29" (16.0cm) high x 6.49" (16.5cm) wide Collection: Biblical Antiquities Style: Late Bronze Age Medium: Terracotta   « Less

Origin: Hebron, Judean Hills Circa: 1500 BC to 1250 BC Dimensions: 2.2" (5.6cm) high x 7.50" (19.1cm) wide Collection: Biblical Antiquities Style: Late Bronze Age Medium:  More »

Origin: Hebron, Judean Hills Circa: 1500 BC to 1250 BC Dimensions: 2.2" (5.6cm) high x 7.50" (19.1cm) wide Collection: Biblical Antiquities Style: Late Bronze Age Medium: Terracotta   « Less

Origin: Hebron, Judean Hills Circa: 1600 BC to 1300 BC Dimensions: 2" (5.1cm) high x 4.5" (11.4cm) wide Collection: Biblical Antiquities Style: Middle Bronze Age II Medium:  More »

Origin: Hebron, Judean Hills Circa: 1600 BC to 1300 BC Dimensions: 2" (5.1cm) high x 4.5" (11.4cm) wide Collection: Biblical Antiquities Style: Middle Bronze Age II Medium: Terracotta   « Less

This elegant figure pertains to the Sumerian civilisation, an extremely advanced and complex society situated in modern day Iraq. Lasting for some fourthousandyears,the  More »

This elegant figure pertains to the Sumerian civilisation, an extremely advanced and complex society situated in modern day Iraq. Lasting for some fourthousandyears,the Sumerians were among the first cultures todevelopmostofwhatwenowtakeforgranted, from complex economies to advanced record keeping,literature,internationaltradeand recorded mythologies. In terms of date, we know that it comes from a period known as the ate Uruktothelate Early Dynastic,whichisroughlycontemporarywiththe European Bronze Age. However,wealsohaveagreatdealmoreinformationtoaddcontext.Thanks to the Sumerian habit of recording everything on clay tablets using cuneiform – oneofthefirstcomplexwritingsystemswecaninferagreatdealaboutthesociety,andpostulate further on the significance of this figure. We know that Sumer was characterised by various city-states, running in competition with one another for wealthandconquest,whilesharingsimilarcharacteristicsandmaterialgoods.Theyusedslavelabour,basedaroundlargetemplesandpalaces,andwerekeentoformalliancesandthuspushouttheboundriesoftheirnationinto Central Asiaand Turkey.Theirtradenetworkswereextensive,andcoloniesof Sumerianpeopleshavebeenidentifiedallacrosstheregion.Rulewasbykingship;rulers varied considerable in their methods although extreme cruelty and martial law (such as that exercised under Eannatum of Lagash) was the exception rather than the rule. It is significant to note that many oftherulersof Sumeriancitystatesweredescribedaspriestkings”,whichhintsatthesignificanceofthepriestlyclassinancient Mesopotamia.Theempleswerethemainstayoflocaleconomies.Itwasherethatproducewasbroughtastax,legalproceedingscarriedoutanddealswerestruck.Recordsofthisperiodarealmostexclusivelywrittenbyscribeswholivedwithinthetemplewallsandworkedundertheauspicesoftheadministrators,whowerethemselvesundertheauthorityofthepriests.Itis,therefore,difficulttooverestimatetheimportanceofpriestsintheeyesofthecontemporarypopulation.Stone Sculpture of a Priest AM.0096Origin:Central Asia Circa:3000BCto2500BCDimensions:8(20.3cm)high Collection:Near Eastern Style:Sumerian Medium: Stone   « Less