Iron Age, Punic lamp

ITEM: Lamp
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Iron Age, Punic
PERIOD: 7th - 5th Century B.C
DIMENSIONS: 17 mm x 94 mm diameter
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex French private collection, acquired between 1970 - 1990
PARALLEL: DENEAUVE, J., Lampes de Carthage, Pl. XXIV and XXV, Fig 37 to 44

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 4 to 6 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the amount of the sale, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

Punic lamps, primarily associated with the Phoenician and Carthaginian civilizations, were an essential part of daily life and religious practices in the western Mediterranean from the 7th century BCE through the Roman conquest of Carthage in 146 BCE. These lamps were typically made of terracotta and followed a simple, functional design, often consisting of an open or slightly closed bowl with a spout for the wick. Early Punic lamps were hand-formed and resembled Greek and Near Eastern prototypes, but over time, they developed distinct regional characteristics, especially in North Africa, Sardinia, and southern Spain, where Carthaginian influence was strong. Many Punic lamps were wheel-made, while later examples were produced using molds, allowing for more standardized shapes and decorative motifs.

One of the defining features of Punic lamps was their use in both domestic and ritual contexts. In households, they provided essential illumination, burning olive oil or other available fuels. In religious settings, they were frequently found in temples and sanctuaries, often associated with offerings to deities such as Tanit and Baal Hammon, the chief gods of Carthaginian religion. Some Punic lamps bore simple incised or molded decorations, including geometric patterns, rosettes, or stylized symbols linked to religious iconography, such as crescent moons or palm branches. The presence of lamps in funerary contexts suggests they were also used in burial rites, possibly to guide the deceased in the afterlife, a practice common in many ancient Mediterranean cultures.

The production of Punic lamps continued even after the fall of Carthage, as elements of Punic material culture persisted under Roman rule. North African workshops, in particular, remained active in producing oil lamps, blending Punic and Roman stylistic influences. Archaeological discoveries of Punic lamps in diverse locations across the Mediterranean highlight the extensive trade networks maintained by the Carthaginians and their cultural exchanges with neighboring civilizations.