Lamp (Front)

This mold-made object presents a man squatting on the ground, barefoot, with his arms between his splayed legs. His nipples, belly button, pectorals and abdominals, as well as arm and leg musculature, are rendered, and he has a broad face with a quizzical brow, a flat nose, and plump lips. His eyes contain large open pupils, and his ears also have openings. There is also a small air hole that is pierced through both sides of the man’s neck. He has a chinstrap-style beard, which terminates in a point, and his head is shaved, except for a small ponytail at the back. This kind of ponytail (cirrus) is a typical feature for boxers or wrestlers who performed in amphitheaters (compare 2007.14), but is also seen on individuals or types whose appearance did not fit the Roman ideal, such as entertainers and enslaved peoples.

On the figure’s upper back is a large holding ring, and directly above this is what appears to be a filling-hole. The figure may have served as a lamp, although the low position of the wick-hole – which takes the form of a large protruding penis – renders this hypothetical. At most, the lamp could only have burned for a brief period, but that may have been sufficient. The position of the figure’s hands suggests that he is masturbating, and beyond any amusement or entertainment value, this could also have had a serious intent. The light of the lamp, the figure’s action, and his physical appearance could all have contributed to this object’s effectiveness as an apotropaion, a device for warding off evil entities.