The production of oil lamps in the ancient times

The making and control of fire by humans was one of the important steps in the improvement of human life. When food was cooked or warmed up over the fire, people also began to illuminate their shelters. Fire for a long period of time was a most important weapon employed by humans against wildlife, especially at night. In the past people used resinous wood as torches for illumination and, as time passed, they used and took the advantage of manufactured illumination devices. In brief, an oil lamp is a kind of cup made from stone, clay or other material (metal), forming a simple illuminating device; consisting of a small internal cavity, forming the oil depot, and a nozzle section at the tip of the same object, where a wick is mounted, which is lit to cast a light.

Oil lamps differ in their decoration and shape depending upon their date and place of production. The first oil lamps had the appearance of a small flat plate with a small opening protrusion. They were made by hand from clay and later were formed using a grindstone wheel. Oil lamps were used intensively from the 7th century BC onwards. Early oil lamps providing illumination were formed from two piece moulds, producing an upper and lower part, a method that was practiced from the 3rd century BC until about the 8th century AD. A grinding wheel was used to make oil lamps in the Archaic and Classical periods. Oil lamps made from moulds emerged in the last years of the 4th century BC and continued in production during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

As time passed, the openings in the lamp to the oil depot became smaller. The oil depot of the lamp, called a "discus" was connected to the upper surface via a small hole. Different kinds of ornamentation and relief were made on the surface and around the "discus(es)". The most widespread oil lamp decoration depicted relevant mythological scenes with Gods and Goddesses, gladiators fighting, vegetable motifs and also erotic scenes on the nuptial chamber's oil lamp that was employed to enter the bedroom. An inscription or insignia of the maker of the oil lamp is recorded on some oil lamps. Some bronze oil lamps had decoration of vegetable motifs and the handle and covers have been made in the form of human or animal heads. Some oil lamps were made in the shape of a human or animal, having a statuette-like form.

A widespread type of oil lamp was made from baked clay in the antique period. In the second category are bronze oil lamps. There are also oil lamps made from other metals and from glass. Olive oil was burnt in these oil lamps and oakum dusted with sulfur or the leaves of the papyrus were employed as wicks. It is well known that some salt were added, in order to prevent the burning oil giving off soot and black smoke. A small cup, with a thin and long opening in the shape of nozzle was employed to fill up the oil depot in the lamp and this instrument was called an oil feeder. Oil lamps used in everyday life in houses for illumination were often also given as offerings to tombs and temples.