Lucerne; Rome, 2nd-3rd century AD.

Lucerne; Rome, 2nd-3rd century AD.
Terracotta.
Measurements: 5 x 10 cm.
In this specimen, the presence of the eagle, symbol of power, elevation and connection with the divine in the Greco-Roman world, adds a significant iconographic dimension, transforming an object of everyday use. The term "lucerna" comes from the Greek lychnos, and designates these small lamps originally intended to provide illumination in domestic and public spaces. However, their use soon transcended the purely practical, acquiring also a votive and funerary value in the ancient world.
The technical evolution of their manufacture reflects the improvement of classical ceramics: the first skylights were made by hand, later on a potter's wheel, and from the 3rd century B.C. they began to be produced by means of molds. This system involved the use of two dies, one for the upper and one for the lower part, in which the clay was pressed before joining the two parts, allowing a more uniform and detailed production.