Roman oil lamp depicting Isis and Serapis, Type Atlante III, var. Salomonson H 1

ITEM: Oil lamp depicting Isis and Serapis, Type Atlante III, var. Salomonson H 1
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 3rd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 45 mm x 83 mm x 116 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex French private collection, acquired before 1990s

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Isis and Serapis were two prominent deities in the Roman religious landscape, and their imagery and symbolism were occasionally depicted on Roman oil lamps. Isis was an ancient Egyptian goddess associated with magic, fertility, and motherhood. In the Roman Empire, her worship spread widely, and she was often syncretized with other deities, including Serapis. Serapis was a Greco-Egyptian god who emerged during the Hellenistic period and was worshiped as a deity of healing, the afterlife, and fertility.

On Roman oil lamps, images of Isis and Serapis could be found either individually or together, reflecting the syncretic nature of their cults in the Roman world. These depictions served not only as religious symbols but also as talismans for protection, prosperity, and divine favor. Oil lamps were commonly used in domestic settings for lighting, but they also played a role in religious rituals and ceremonies, where they were used to honor and invoke the blessings of various deities, including Isis and Serapis.

The presence of Isis and Serapis imagery on Roman oil lamps underscores the religious diversity and syncretism of the Roman Empire, where cults and beliefs from different cultures intermingled and influenced one another.