Lamp (Profile)

Discus Iconography: Plain discus.

Description: Circular body with straight sides curving in toward the foot in the lower part. Shoulder consisting of two flat-topped bands with two thin rills between them. Sunken discus with four thin circular grooves, where most likely a now-lost lid was accommodated. On each side of the basin is an elephant head with upturned trunk, tusks, large ears, and beady eyes (the right eye is higher on both animals); one head and trunk dips down lower than the other. On opposite ends, two flat-topped single-volute nozzles with spade-shaped tips and nearly circular wick-holes; volutes have no ribs underneath and consist merely of rounded protrusions; underneath each nozzle is a relief decor consisting of six long tongues (unusual at this early point, but common on nozzles of lamps from Asia Minor from later periods, see, e.g., 83.AQ.377.311 and 83.AQ.377.387). Raised solid circular base.