Ancient Oil Lamps
May 2026
These objects are connected as examples of oil lamps and lighting devices, primarily from ancient Mediterranean civilizations including Roman, Greek, and Byzantine cultures, demonstrating the evolution and geographic spread of lamp-making technology.
225 objects · 5 institutions
Base for an oil lamp
Rijksmuseum
c. 1530 - c. 1539
Black-Gloss Oil Lamp
Cleveland Museum of Art
400s BCE
Bull's-head Lamp
Cleveland Museum of Art
100 BCE–100 CE
Candelabrum
Cleveland Museum of Art
100–1 BCE
Candelabrum in the Shape of a Siren
Art Institute of Chicago
c. 1520
Conical Lamp
Art Institute of Chicago
275–300
Cosmetic jar
Metropolitan Museum of Art
1874–75
Lamp
Art Institute of Chicago
Mid–1st century
Lamp
Art Institute of Chicago
6th/7th century
Lamp
Art Institute of Chicago
2nd-3rd century
Lamp
Metropolitan Museum of Art
ca. 500–460 BCE
Lamp
Cleveland Museum of Art
100–1 BCE
Lamp
Art Institute of Chicago
1st-2nd century
Lamp
Art Institute of Chicago
6th century
Lamp
Art Institute of Chicago
2nd-3rd century
Lamp
Art Institute of Chicago
1st-2nd century
Lamp
GETTY
4th–5th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd–3rd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
perhaps 2nd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
first half of 2nd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
4th century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
5th–6th century
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
second half of 1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
n.d.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
5th–4th century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
A.D. 175–230
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
5th century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd–3rd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–2nd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
late 1st–early 2nd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
5th–4th century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
3rd–2nd century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
5th century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
5th century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd–3rd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–2nd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
500–600
Lamp
GETTY
4th–5th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
n.d.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd–3rd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–2nd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd–3rd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
4th–3rd century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
5th century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
late 1st–early 2nd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
3rd century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
perhaps second half of 2nd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
4th–3rd century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–2nd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
5th century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
150–50 B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
3rd–2nd century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd–1st century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd–1st century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
6th–5th century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd–3rd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
800–600 B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd–3rd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
4th century B.C.–1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–2nd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–2nd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
5th century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
4th–5th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
5th century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
5th–2nd century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
A.D. 450–550
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
early 2nd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
3rd century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
A.D. 175–230
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd–3rd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd–3rd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd–3rd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
5th–4th century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
5th century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd–3rd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
2nd–3rd century A.D.
Lamp
GETTY
5th–4th century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
4th–1st century B.C.
Lamp
GETTY
1st–4th century A.D.
Lamp
Cleveland Museum of Art
late 300s CE
Lamp and Stand
Cleveland Museum of Art
late 300s CE
Lamp and Stand
Cleveland Museum of Art
400s
Lamp in Form of Four-Pointed Star
Art Institute of Chicago
Coptic Period (4th–7th century)
Lamp in the Form of a Thyrsos or Torch
GETTY
25 B.C.–A.D. 79
Lamp with Cross
Art Institute of Chicago
Byzantine Period (about 4th–7th century)
Lamp with Griffin-Head Handle
Cleveland Museum of Art
300s–400s CE
Lamp with Wickholder
Cleveland Museum of Art
300–600 CE
Lantern
Metropolitan Museum of Art
18th century
Mermaid Lamp
Art Institute of Chicago
17th century
Oil Lamp
Cleveland Museum of Art
c. 50 BCE–50 CE
Oil Lamp
GETTY
1st century A.D.
Oil Lamp in the Form of a Sphinx
Art Institute of Chicago
Cast c. 1525
Oil Lamp with Christian Crosses
Art Institute of Chicago
16th/17th century
Phylactery (Reliquary Penant)
Cleveland Museum of Art
c. 500–700
Roman Lamp
GETTY
1st century B.C.–1st century A.D.
Roman Oil Lamp Found in Sri Lanka
Art Institute of Chicago
c. 1st/2nd century
Stand
Cleveland Museum of Art
late 300s CE
Terracotta lamp in the form of a grotesque head
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Terracotta oil lamp
Metropolitan Museum of Art
ca. 40–100 CE
Terracotta oil lamp
Metropolitan Museum of Art
1st century BCE–1st century CE
Terracotta oil lamp
Metropolitan Museum of Art
ca. 40–100 CE
Terracotta oil lamp
Metropolitan Museum of Art
1st century BCE–1st century CE
Terracotta oil lamp
Metropolitan Museum of Art
2nd century CE
Terracotta oil lamp
Metropolitan Museum of Art
1st century CE
Votive Polycandelon (Lamp Holder)
Cleveland Museum of Art
500s