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Reference: FY8 / Cat. No.
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Period:
Roman
Origin:
Balkans, probably Dacia or Moesia
Date:
100 – 250 AD
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Description:
Truncated discus.
Base marked ARMEN
Armenius
Manufacture:
Mould made.
Condition:
Handle and tip of nozzle missing.
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Notes:
Cf. Čičikova, 9-10; (mark) Bukina & Ilyina, 24; Topoleanu & Croitoru, Brăila 2015, 27; Topoleanu, Prahova 2010, 1; (truncated discus, IANVARI mark) ibid., 10.
Lamps bearing this mark were found at Tibiscum and Romula (both in Dacia); a workshop has been identified in the latter (Rosenthal-Heginbottom, Strata 2015, p.129).
Comments:
The truncated discus is a fairly common feature of Firmalampen from this region. Here the discus was reduced during manufacture as a pre-emptive measure to enhance the practicality of the product. In regional lamps which originally had a full discus, this was often deliberately broken in antiquity to provide a larger filling aperture. Not only was the lamp easier to keep filled with fuel, a larger aperture also allowed easier access to adjust the wick as it was consumed.
The practical advantage of easy access was especially important in a region where animal fat may have sometimes replaced oil as a fuel (Crnobrnja 2008; Rustoiu 2010) but it is also likely to be the primary reason for deliberately broken discuses in other parts of the Roman world.
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