Roman clay lantern from Bijan Island (Iraq)

Abstract

Lanterns are not as commonly represented in published collections of finds from archaeological contexts as could be expected compared to regular oil lamps. These sherds of wheelmade pottery from Polish excavations on Bijan Island on the Euphrates were only recently identified as a lantern in the shape of a kind of naiskos with a zoomorphic figurine above the opening. The article discusses the function of such lanterns, mundane objects providing light in the darkness, but at the same time exemplifying the apotropaic character of the flame in domestic shrine contexts.