Egyptian "Frog" Oil Lamp

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Egyptian Terracotta Lamp, Late 3rd century CE

0000.00.7045

8.9 cm H x 8.1 cm W x 3.1 cm D

This lamp shape is a good example of the “frog” typology, which includes representations of the hind quarters of “frogs” as decorations on the back of the rim of the lamp. The zigzag patterns that run along the sides of the lamps have been interpreted by Flinders Petrie as depictions of wheat. He also concluded that the combination of the frog and wheat motif could represent some meaning of resurrection. This lamp is made out of micaceous clay and has an “alpha” incised on the base of the lamp. Other lamp examples of the “frog” typology have been found in Memphis, Hermopolis, and Abydos. Similar examples from the Kelsey Museum’s collection include KM 0000.02.2419 and KM 0000.05.2603.

For more, visit: https://diskoproject.kelsey.lsa.umich.edu/object/ceramic-lamp/