Coptic Oil Lamp, 7th century, Egypt
Summary
A small clay pot with a hole in the middle, Coptic, Egypt, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
An oil lamp is a lamp used to provide continuous illumination over a period of time using an oil-based fuel source. The use of oil lamps began thousands of years ago and continues to this day, although their use is less common today. They work in the same way as candles, but use fuel that is liquid at room temperature, so an oil container is required. The textile wick falls into the oil and ignites at the end, burning the oil as it rises through the wick.
Tags
Date
0300 - 0699
Source
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Copyright info
Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication ("CCO 1.0 Dedication")