Ancient Oil Lamps with a Menorah

This website shows historic oil lamps with menorahs from the second to the fifth century. More Menorah illustrations from all centuries: Ancient Menorahs until the 1st century2nd century, 3rd century, 4th century, 5th century, 6th-10th century, 11th-13th century, 14th century, 15th century, 16th century, 17th century, 18th century19th century20th century, 21st century.  Coins and Medals 

Oil Lamps until the 1st Century AD / CE

Ancient Oil Lamps Menorah 1st Century

2nd Century

Jewish Terracotta oil Lamp Menorah Ancient Israel

2nd-4th century CE. A Jewish terracotta oil lamp with seven-branched menorah flanked by a lulav and an etrog. The flames are marked as 3 or 4 vertical short lines. Two filling holes were carefully perforated at the sides of the stem. Intact and rare. 8.7 cm. Ex S.M. collection, Herzliya Pituah. Archaeological Center. Source: Link

Large ancient Roman clay oil lamp menorah, 100 AD CE

100-200 AD. Large ancient Roman clay oil lamp with menorah. Size: 13 cm x 9 cm. Source: Link

Ancient Judea menorah oil Lamp, late Roman

2nd-3rd century. A late Roman Menorah Discus Lamp. Made locally in Judea. Small round lamp with a knob handle and a extremely small filling hole. The discus is decorated with a large distinct menorah and five dots by the wick hole. Extremely well defined menorah and the whole piece is completely intact. Cf. Alder Collection R.3. Length: 3½"; Height: ¾". Goldbergcoins.com, Lot 1380. Source: Link

Roman period Jewish Oil Lamp Menorah Shofar

2nd-4th century (?). Roman period Jewish oil lamp (terracotta) decorated with Jewish symbols; menorah, shofar (ram’s horn) and insence shovel. mp (terracotta). Photo © Zev Radovan, Bridgeman Images number BLP2973978. Source:  Link1Link2Link3  

Ancient Roman Judaea, Byzantine Terracotta Oil Lamps Menorah

2nd-6th century. Lot of 2 Ancient Roman Judaea, Byzantine Terracotta Oil Lamps. Size 4 - 3 3/4 inches length. Roman Judaea seven flame menorah flanked by olive branches. Ticket # MA-1635 together with another lamp Byzantine/Islamic ovoid shape in red clay concentric circles overall. acquired from Passage to Antiquity #CC- 1294. Provenance: The Estate Of Robert Onsted, acquired in The USA Market 1948-2011. LiveAuctioneers, Lot 0071, 2020. Source: Link 


3rd Century

Ancient Oil Lamp Menorah Alexandria 3rd century

3rd-4th century. Ancient Oil lamp carved with a Jewish menorah, clay, from Alexandria (?). Clay lamp, brown; surface damaged; plaster mould; two filling holes; shoulder: plain; notched, unpierced handle; discus - Menorah, flanked by ear of wheat and fruit; small volutes between wick-hole and discus-rim; raised base. Credit: Trustees of the British Museum. Source:  Link1,  Link2,  Link3

Ancient Artifact oil Lamp menorah Israel Beit Shemesh

3rd-4th century. An ancient artifact (oil lamp) with a Jewish menorah is displayed during a press tour in the National Treasures Storerooms of the Israel Antiquity Authority in Beit Shemesh, Israel, March 19, 2017. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI. Source: Link

Menorah Oil Lamp Antioch Ancient Tubas Palestine

3rd-4th century. Oil-lamp with menorah motif. Geography: Possibly from Antioch, Syria, found near Tubas, Palestine. Medium: Ceramic (earthenware, moulded), moulded-relief decoration. Dimensions: 3 x 10 x 8.5 cm. Current Location: Wirth Gallery of the Middle East. Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto. Source: Link

Menorah, ancient oil Lamp Jewish motifs shofar, 3rd century

3rd-4th century. This ancient oil lamp is decorated with two Jewish motifs. The elaborate menorah has flames at the tip of its branches while the shofar is executed in a schematic style. Photo © The Israel Museum, by Dr. Jean-Luc Pilon, Canadian Museum of Civilization. Source: Link

Roman Terracotta Oil Lamp seven branched Menorah

3rd-4th century. Roman period Terracotta Oil Lamp with a seven branched Menorah by Photostock-israel. Fineartamerica. Source: Link

Ancient Oil Lamp Menorah Shofar palm branch Lulav

3rd-4th century. Ancient oil lamp. Menorah with bejeweled branches each with a candle, a twisted staff, and three legs; the foot is flanked on each side by a curved ram’s horn (shofar) and a citrus (etrog), and, on the right side only, a palm branch (lulav). Origin: Asia Minor. L: 8.5 cm; W: 6.0 cm; H: 2.1 cm. Source:  Link1,  Link2

 Oli lamp Menorah, Catacombe Ebraiche Vigna Randanini Rome

3rd-5th century. Oli lamp with Menorah, Catacombe Ebraiche Vigna Randanini, Rome. Catacombs of Rome’s Hebrew community, which has existed since the time of the late Republic. These catacombs are similar to the Christian in construction and decoration. Rather than actual figures, however, there are symbols such as the Ark of the Covenant, palms and the seven-branched candelabrum menorah. Inscriptions are mainly in Greek. Source:  Link1,  Link2

Roman Empire oil lamp with menorah decoration

3rd century. Roman Empire Oil lamp with menorah decoration. Orange terracotta with brown marks of use - spout was broken and sticked back, the handle is missing. Cross shape at the back. Dimensions: 12 X 8 cm. Source: Link  

Ancient Jewish menorah oil lamp, Princeton Art Museum

3rd-5th century. Fragment of a clay oil lamp with the representation of a Jewish menorah on the discus. From excavation Area 14 - R, trench 4 over burned stratum walls. Associated with one Late Roman C sherd, one Late Roman A sherd and several Late Roman B and earlier red varnished (slipped) sherds. Length = 47.1 mm, width = 42.4 mm, thickness = 3.3 mm and weight = 6.5 grams. Study collection of the Princeton Art Museum. Source: Link

Ancient Pottery sherd menorah shofar horn, Beit Nativ Israel

3rd-4th century. Pottery sherd decorated with menorah and shofar horn, from Beit-Natif. Location: Israel Museum (IDAM), Jerusalem, Israel. Source:  Link1,  Link2


4th Century

Ancient Byzantine oil lamp menorah cross

300-400 AD. Special oil lamp. Large rare molded buff color pottery oil lamp, late Roman to Early Byzantine. A large raised cross between the two spouts and the filling hole. Above the filling hole, a stylized cross thumb rest having, as extremely rare, two Menorahs attached at the base and opposite each other. On the shoulder, two raised lines on both sides of the cross. Source: Link 

Ancient bronze oil lamp decorated with menorah 4th Byzantine

4th-6th century. Ancient bronze oil lamp decorated with a menorah, shofar, lulav, and etrog. First photo © Israel Museum, Jerusalem, by David Harris. Source:  Link1,  Link2

Ancient Bronze Judaic Oil Lamp with Menorah

4th-6th century. Bronze Judaic Oil Lamp with Menorah. Dimensions: 19.2x17.9x12.4 cms. Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas, USA. Bridgeman Images. Source: Link

Ancient Copper Oil Lamp menorah Byzantine

4th-6th century (probably 5th century). Oil lamp with a menorah handle. Provenance unknown. Copper alloy; 11 x 16.5 in. (27.9 x 41.9 cm). Lent by the Judy and Michael Steinhardt Collection, New York. Metmuseum (to view the image, please click on the link in the lower text area on the website of the museum), Source: Link

Ancient Jewish cast bronze oil lamp menorah

4th-6th century. Exceptionally rare and genuine 1500+ year old Jewish cast bronze oil lamp, featuring an ancient menorah in relief between the filling hole and nozzle. Size: Length - 91 mm x Width - 60 mm ( approx. 3 1/2" x 2 3/8" ). Source: Link

Byzantine ceramic Jewish oil lamp menorah

4th-7th century. Byzantine ceramic oil lamp with Jewish menorah. Slipper-shaped with lug to the rear, volute scrolled nozzle and Jewish Menorah design. LiveAuctioneers, Lot 0496. Source: Link

Ancient Roman Jewish terracotta oil lamp seven branch menorah

300-400 AD. Ancient Roman Jewish terracotta oil lamp depicting the seven branch menorah. Size: 4.25ins long, 3ins wide. Possibly Haifa. LiveAuctioneers. Source: Link

Ancient Christian Oil Lamp Menorah Carthage Africa Roman

4th century. Christian Oil Lamp. A Roman Redware Lamp. Carthage, North Africa, Roman Empire. Large terracotta oil lamp with the Chi-Rho (Symbol for Christ) prominently featured on top, surrounded by menorahs along the side of lamp. Evidence of burning at lamp wick spout. 5-7/8”L. Liveauctioneers 2013, Lot 0098. Source: Link

Ancient Menorah from Motta San Giovanni-Lazzaro

4th-6th century. Menorah from Motta San Giovanni-Lazzaro (ital.: lucerna da Motta S.G.-Lazzaro; l’Antiquarium “Leucopetra” di Lazzaro"). Found in a Jewish-Christian cemetery area of ancient Leucopetra, now Lazzaro, in the town of Motta San Giovanni, in the Province of Reggio Calabria, Italy. Source:  Link1,  Link2,  Link3,  Link4,  Link5

Byzantine Christian terracotta oil lamp menorah Christian

4th-7th century. A Byzantine Christian terracotta oil lamp. Found in the Holy Land. To either side of the stylized palm tree are two devices which Loffreda considers symbols representing flights of steps descending into and ascending out of a baptismal pool. The inscription runs clockwise around the lamp. It begins facing the shoulders, then switches to facing the center of the lamp, and reads: “The Light of Christ Enlightens All”. 8.9 cm long x 6.3 cm wide x 3.0 cm high. Biblicalartifacts.com. Source: Link 

Byzantine Terracotta oil lamp menorah Christian

4th-5th century. Byzantine Terracotta oil lamp with Christian inscription. An excellent example of Byzantine oil lamp depicting a seven branched menorah candelabrum which is a Jewish symbol of "divine light". The shoulders are also decorated with a Greek inscription which translates to: "The light of Christ shines to all". Size: 100mm length. Source: Link

Christian Byzantine period Oil Lamp menorah

4th-5th century. A Byzantine period Oil Lamp, ‘Ein Yabrud’ type; with Christian Greek inscription on the shoulders "the light of Christ shines to all." Terracotta slipper lamp, depicting a menorah tree design between the filling hole and the nozzle. Dimension: 9.5 cm. Source: Link 

Christian Byzantine period Oil Lamp menorah

4th-5th century. A Christian Byzantine period Oil Lamp, 'Ein Yabrud' type with Greek inscription and menorah image. Terracotta slipper lamp, with a Greek inscription on the shoulders, "the light of Christ shines to all" and depicting a menorah / tree design between the filling hole and the nozzle. For the corpus of types cf. Loffreda, S. Byzantine Lamps in the Holy Land with Greek inscriptions (Italian), Jerusalem 1989. VCoins. Source: Link

Ancient Christian oil-lamps menorah Jesus Iesoys

4th-5th century. Typical Christian oil-lamps of this period. Found in Israel. Left lamp: the "CIC" on the shoulder stand for "Soter Iesoys" or "Iesoys Christos Soter" (Jesus Christ Savior). Middle and left lamp: The decoration is the stylised tree of life, developed by the Jewish symbol of the Menora with the Greek incription: "fos christou feni pasin kali," "the light of Christ is shining to all nice." Source: Link

Byzantine period Christian oil lamp menorah Greek inscription

4th-5th century. A Byzantine period Christian oil lamp with menorah. 'Ein Yabrud' type (Ein Yabrud, central West Bank. It is located approximately 7 km northeast of the city of Ramallah). Terracotta slipper lamp, with a Greek inscription on the shoulders, "the light of Christ shines to all" and depicting a menorah and tree design between the filling hole and the nozzle. Source: Link

Ancient Terracotta Byzantine Christian oil lamp menorah

4th-5th century. A Byzantine period Christian oil lamp with menorah. Terracotta slipper lamp ('Ein Yabrud' type), with a Greek inscription on the shoulders, "the light of Christ shines to all" and depicting a menorah, tree design between the filling hole and the nozzle. Source: Link

Christian Byzantine Terracotta Oil Lamps Menorah

4th-6th century. Christian Byzantine Terracotta Oil Lamps decorated with a schematic Menorah and a handle in the form of a cross. Source: Link

Roman Holy Land Jewish candlestick menorah oil Lamp

350 - 500 A.D. Late Roman, Holyland (Syro-Palestinian), Jewish "Candlestick" Oil Lamp. Small Oil Lamp; cf. Schloessinger 477, Menzel 657, Adler 905; 7.9 cm (3 1/8") long, Choice, complete and intact, light earthen encrustations (visible in photos), small earlier variety; pink-buff light clay, tear drop shape from above, no handle, decorative radiating pattern around shoulder continues on the nozzle with six branches from a central ridge (palm-menorah), ring base. Source:  Link 

Early Jewish ceramic oil lamp Holy Land menorah

4th-6th century. Early Jewish ceramic oil lamp from the Holy Land. "The spout is decorated with a stylized menorah: six candles flanking central pole, the spout of the lamp acts as the 7th candle when lit! Because most Jewish families during this time could not afford an actual menorah in their home, these menorah oil lamps were the closest thing." Ancientresource.com. Source: Link

Early Jewish oil lamp Holy Land menorah Terracotta

4th-6th century. Early Jewish oil lamp from the Holy Land. Terra-cotta oil lamp, Menorah design. Stylized menorah on a tripod on spout: six candles flanking central pole, the spout of the lamp acts as the 7th candle when lit! Dimensions: 4" x 2 1/2" (10.1 x 6.3 cm). Ref: Cf. Bussiere & Rivel, La Collection Rivel. (2012). Ancientresource.com. Source: Link

ancient Jewish Palm Menorah lamp Holy Land

4th-6th century. An ancient Jewish 'Palm-Menorah' lamp, Holy Land, nicely molded with the 'Palm-Menorah' design: the spout is decorated with a stylized Menorah containing the six candles flanking a central pole; the spout acts as the 7th candle when lit. Because an actual Menorah was rare and expensive a lamp depicting a Menorah was a solution many Jewish families could afford. Size: L: 4 in (10 cm). LiveAuctioneers, 2017 Lot 0171. Source: Link

Byzantine oil lamp Palestine menorah ancient tripod

4th-6th century. Byzantine oil lamp from Palestine decorated with a menorah on tripod. Source: Link 

Ancient pottery oil lamp depicting menorah tree

4th-5th century. Ancient pottery oil lamp depicting menorah / tree motif, with secondary decoration of chevrons. 10 x 7.5 cm. Source: Link

Ancient small clay lamp menorah tripod Africa

4th century. Ancient small clay lamp (5,2 cm x 5,8 cm) with menorah over a tripod but without other symbols. Found 1901 in Trier (street name: Judengasse), Germany. The lamp was an import from pottery around Carthage in North Africa. Rheinisches Landesmuseum, Germany. Source:  Link1Link2 

Ancient oil lamp menorah clay Spain Museo Mallorca

301-400 AD. Ancient oil lamp. Two semicircular plants surrounding a menorah. Material: Support Clay a sa Calatrava (Palma), Baleares, Spain, Pain. Dimensions Height = 2.50 cm; Width = 6.50 cm; Length = 9.10 cm. Museo de Mallorca. Source:  Link1,  Link2

Ancient oil lamp seven-armed candelabrum menorah

4th-5th century. Ancient oil lamp with seven-armed candelabrum menorah. Source:  Link

Jewish African terracotta Oil Lamp Menorah

4th-5th century AD. A Jewish north-African red terracotta oil lamp with seven-branched menorah and tripod base. The menorah is flanged by two filling holes and two palm branches decorate the shoulders. The base is incised with a + makers mark. 8.8 cm. For a similar lamp, see: Noam Adler, 2004, Oil Lamps of the Holy Land, The Adler Collection p. 158, no 976; and Joan Goodnick Westenholz, 2004, Let There Be Light, Oil-Lamps from the Holy Land, p. 50, no. 45. Ex S.M. collection, Herzliya Pituah. Source: Link 

Ancient African Oil Lamp menorah Necropolis del Molino, Aguilas, Murcia

4th-5th century. Ancient African oil lamp with seven-armed menorah. Necropolis del Molino (Aguilas, Murcia, SPAIN). Museo Arqueologico Municipal de Aguilas. Source:  Link1  Link2

Ancient African Menorah clay oil lamp Carthage

4th-5th century. Clay oil lamp, red clay and slip; plaster mould; two filling holes; shoulder-branch pattern; discus - Menorah; base - concave, encircled by groove, three grooves extending towards handle, three impressed circles within. Findspot: Carthage (Africa, Tunisia). Dimensions: Length: 7.2 cm, Width: 6.2 cm. The British Museum, number 1860,1002.47. Source: Link

Ancient Fragment oil lamp menorah found in Cástulo Spain

4th-5th century. Fragment of an oil lamp with menorah found in Cástulo (Linares, Jaén) in Spain. This oil lamp made of ceramic (Roman lucerne) was found in its original place under a collapse of a caused by a fire at the site building, and is decorated with the menorah, the candelabrum seven Jewish arms, lined with spikes. Lamps of this kind were manufactured in North Africa. esTRESd Patrimonio Virtual. Archaeological Museum of Linares. Source:  Link1,  Link2,  Link3

Ancient oil lamps menorah Cástulo Spain chandelliers

4th-5th century. 3D models of ancient oil lamps with menorah. Archaeological excavations in the center of the city of Cástulo have revealed the existence of three chandeliers decorated with the menorah, the seven-branched candelabrum that represents one of the most important ritual elements of Judaism. Conjunto Arqueológico de Cástulo, Spain. Source: Link

Ancient North African Menorah Oil Lamp discus Roman

4th-5th century. Ancient North African Red-Ware Menorah Oil Lamp. Featured in the discus is an ornate menorah and wreath band around shoulders; knob handle and two filling holes. Cf. Alder Collection 976. Goldbergcoins.com, Sale 82, Lot 1381. Source:  Link1,  Link2

Jewish monarchial funeral lamps menorah Aquileia  Italy

4th-5th century. Jewish monarchial funeral lamps from Aquileia, nothern Italy. Aquileia Museo Archeologico Nazionale, inventario 7824, 7893 and 3rd lamp: Trieste, Civico Museum of History and Art, inventario 11026. The images are from a PDF document from Fondazione Museo Nazionale dell’Ebraismo Italiano e della Shoah. Copyright @ 2016 Casa Editrice Giuntina. Source: Link

Ancient Jewish monarchial funeral lamps Aquileia. Trieste, Civico Museum Italy

4th-5th century. Jewish monarchial funeral lamps from Aquileia. Trieste, Civico Museum of History and Art (Trieste, Civico Museo di Storia ed Arte), inventario 32200, 11096 and 3rd lamp: Asolo, Museo Civico, inventario 174. The images are from a PDF document from Fondazione Museo Nazionale dell’Ebraismo Italiano e della Shoah. Copyright @ 2016 Casa Editrice Giuntina. Source: Link

Terracotta oil lamp menorah ancient candlestick

4th-6th century. Terracotta oil lamp. A lamp of red earthenware with an oval-shaped body on a round base. The round mirror is surrounded by a relief edge and decorated with a candlestick with a filling hole on both sides. The shoulder is decorated with rosettes and hearts. The short, round-closed, broad spout has a large fire hole. Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Netherlands. Source: Link

Ancient North African Terracotta Oil Lamp Menorah

4th century.  Ancient North African Terracotta Oil Lamp with Menorah. Dimensions: Length: 11.8cm. Source: Link

Ancient clay oil lamp menorah Roman Spain

4th-6th century. Clay Oil Lamp. Circular body lance, massive beak and beak with subtraction of a sutia. It presents two holes of food in the disc. Decoration, from inside to inside, two semicircular spikes surrounding a menorah. The plant motif in spite of it is repeated in the lower part. The lamp comes from the recess of the wall of a Roman room. Dimensions: Height = 2.50 cm; Width = 6.50 cm; Length = 9.10 cm. Museo de Mallorca, Spain. Source: Link

Egypt-Naples menorah ancient oil lamp

4th-5th century. Ancient oil-lamp with representation of the seven armed menorah. "Egypt-Naples. From the Orient" - Exhibition at Archaeological Museum of Naples. Source:  Link1  Link2

Ancient clay oil lamp shofar lulab Carthage Africa

4th-5th century. Ancient clay oil lamp, orange-brown; 2 filling holes; shoulder - 2 rows of large raised points; base-ring; discus - Menorah, 'shofar' to one side, 'lulab' probably, on other; written on base: 'Carthage'. Findspot: Carthage (Africa, Tunisia). Dimensions: Length: 11.6 cm, Width: 8.6 cm. The British Museum. Source: Link

Ancient clay lamp Egypt Africa

4th century. Ancient clay lamp from Egypt (?), orange-brown; plaster mould; two filling holes; shoulder: plain; notched, unpierced handle; discus - Menorah, flanked by ear of wheat and fruit; small volutes between wick-hole and discus-rim; raised base. The British Museum, number 1877,0515.16. Source: Link

Ancient oil lamp Menorah. Museum: Cologne Germany

300-400 AD. Fourth-century oil lamp with a Menorah. Museum: Cologne (Germany), Römisch-Germanisches Museum. Source: Link

Late Roman Terracotta oil lamp menorah Jewish Africa

4th-5th century. Late Roman terracotta lamp with Jewish symbols: bust of a bearded man, below menorah, sidewise two birds with grapes. North Africa. Ex Shlomo Moussaieff Collection, 1948-2000. Exported from Israel with the export authorization from the Israeli antiquities authority. Source: Link

Early Jewish menorah oil Lamp fire

4th century. An early Jewish red slip ware oil lamp. With a tapering handle and short rounded nozzle, the discus molded with a menorah, with an incense burner and fire above, a fill-hole on either side of the discus, encircled by a border of three concentric rings. Size: 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm) long. Christie's, Sale 1163, Lot 320. Source: Link

Late Roman period oil lamps seven-branched menorah

4th-5th century. Late Roman period oil lamps with seven-branched menorah. Christie's. Source: Link 

Ancient oil lamp from Nazareth, Galilee, Israel Museum

4th-5th century. Ancient oil lamp from Nazareth, Galilee. The handle of this oil lamp is decorated with menorah. The spout is adorned with the Basket of first fruits, brought as an offering to the Temple, as the commandment in Deuteronomy 26:1-11 states. The Reifenberg collection. Photo ©The Israel Museum, by Dr. Jean-Luc Pilon, Canadian Museum of Civilization. Source: Link

Oil Lamp menorah Jewish Catacomb Via Portuense Monteverde Rome

4th-5th century. Oil lamp with a disk entirely occupied by a 5-armed menorah and two small holes to fill. Terracotta; found in the Jewish Catacomb of Via Portuense (Monteverde); Hebrew Lapidary (Lapidario Ebraico); Inv 17054. Source: Link

Ancient oil lamp found in Egypt menorah Africa Jewish

350–450. Ancient oil lamp found in Egypt. This is one of the few surviving lamps decorated with Jewish symbols. It displays a menorah flanked by an etrog (citron) and a lulav (palm branch), both indistinct. Dimensions: H. 1 3/8 in. W. 3 1/4 in. D. 2 3/8 in. Metmuseum. Source: Link

Fragment clay Oil lamp Lucerna menorah Merida Spain

A fragment of a clay Oil lamp (Lucerna) with menorah was found in the Temple of Diana in Merida. The Jewish community of Mérida (Spain; ancient Emerita Augusta) is the first of which there is a documentary knowledge in the Iberian Peninsula and, consequently, the most lasting Jewish settlement in Spain.Image from the PDF "Judíos en Mérida (siglos II al XVII)" by José Antonio Ballesteros Díez. Source: Link

Terracotta lamp. seven branched menorah. North African Carthage

4th-5th century. Terracotta lamp. Depicting seven branched menorah. North African (Carthage) Red Slip Ware. Small break at nozzle, Cracked between the top and bottom halves. 9.5 x 6.7 cm. winners-auctions, No. 091. Source:  Link1,  Link2 

 4th century. Oil lamp menorah Jewish Clay Hebron West Bank

4th century. Oil lamp with representation of a menorah. Jewish. Clay, length 11,2 cm. Place of discovery: Grave near Hebron (West Bank). Source: Link

Ancient clay oil lamp seven-branched menorah Pottery

4th century. Ancient clay oil lamp decorated with seven-branched menorah and incense shovel. Material: Pottery. Dimensions: Length 11.2 cm, Height 3 cm, Width 7.9 cm. Source:  Link1,  Link2

4th century. Ancient Jewish oil lamp depicting menorah

4th century. Ancient Jewish oil lamp depicting a menorah. Dimensions: Length: 8.0 cm. Source: Link

Temple Mount clay Menorah Israel Byzantine archaelogists

324-640 AD. Old potsherd found on the Temple Mount (Israel) depicting a menorah. According to archaeologists, based on the type of clay and texture of the potsherd, the find dates back to the Byzantine rule over Jerusalem (324-640 CE). Photo: The Temple Mount Sifting Project. Source:  Link1,  Link2

Ancient Terracotta Oil Lamp Menorah. 4th century

4th century. An Ancient Terracotta Oil Lamp with a Menorah. Dimensions: Length: 7.5cm. The Menorah in the upper part of the lamp is only weak to see. Source: Link

4th century. Ancient Terracotta Oil Lamp menorah

4th century. Ancient Terracotta Oil Lamp with menorah. Dimensions: Length: 9.1cm. Source: Link

Samarian Clay Oil Lamp with Menorah ancient

4th century. A Samarian Clay Oil Lamp with Menorah. Dimensions: Length: 8.2cm. Source: Link

Ancient Samaritan terracotta oil lamp nine-branched menorah

4th century (ca.). A Samaritan terracotta oil lamp with nine-branched menorah. The Menorah has stepped base, and is flanked by a shovel and a shofar. On the shoulders there are a fluted jug with a long handle and a table with fruits? The filling hole is sealed. The nozzle is slightly damaged but the lamp is in very good condition and very rare. 8.2 cm. Ex S.M. collection, Herzliya Pituah. Archaeological Center. Source: Link

Ancient Samaritan oil Lamp Menorah Jewish Symbol

4th-6th century (?). A Samaritan oil lamp decorated with the Jewish symbol of the menorah. Decorated with a shofar. Samaria (terracotta). Photo © Zev Radovan; Bridgeman Images, number: BLP2973977. Source:  Link1Link2 

ancient Samaritan Terracotta Oil Lamp, 4th century

4th century. An ancient Samaritan Terracotta Oil Lamp. The top is decorated with a table ?, a pair of combs and several small unidentified objects. On the bottom a double menorah is depicted with a stepped base (see next lot from the same mould). Dimensions: Length: 8.6cm. Source: Link

anciant Samaritan Oil Lamp Menorah oil amphorae

4th century. An ancient Samaritan Oil Lamp with Menorah and two oil amphorae. Dimensions: Length: 9.4cm. Source: Link

ancient Samaritan Clay Oil Lamp Nozzle menorah

4th century. An ancient Samaritan Clay Oil Lamp Nozzle. On the bottom a double menorah is depicted. Length: 3.1cm. Source: Link

Two ancient oil lamp fragments with menorah Israel

4th-5th century. Two ancient oil lamp fragments with menorah.  Dimensions: Lengths: 3.8, 3.6cm. Source: Link


5th Century

Egypt oil lamp menorah chandelier ancient

5th century. This ancient oil lamp with the menorah has its origin in Egypt. The artisan made a mistake. He moved the middle part of the menorah a little too far to the right, and consequently could no longer completely execute the outermost right chandelier arm. Source (Website no more online): Link

Ancient Holy Land menorah clay oil Lamp

5th-8th century. Holy Land clay oil lamp menorah with earth Patina. Circa 400-800 AD. Size: 9 CM x 7.5 CM. Source: Link

Byzantine period Bronze oil Lamp menorah ancient

450-500. Judea. Byzantine period. Bronze multi-spouted menorah oil lamp. A hollow-cast bronze lamp with D-shaped body 4.5 inches (12 cm) in length, with a flat bottom, loop handle to the rear; the upper face depicts seven nozzles to the forward edge and a stylized seven-branched menorah behind, forward of the filling hole, with a raised bracket for suspension. Imaged by Heritage Auctions, HA.com. Source: Link

Judaica Menorah Oil Lamp Bronze Menorah

5th-6th century? Judaica Menorah Oil Lamp Bronze Set. Dimension: 5 1/2 by 4 inches. LiveAuctioneers; Antique Reader Inc. Source:  Link1,  Link2

Byzantine Bronze Jewish Menorah Oil Lamp Menorah

5th century or later. Byzantine Bronze Jewish Menorah Multi-Spouted Oil Lamp. A hollow-cast polilychnos lamp with D-shaped body, flat bottom; the upper face with seven nozzles to the forward edge and high-relief menorah behind with flanking amphorae. 381 grams, 16cm (6 1/4"). Source: Link

Byzantine Bronze Oil Lamp ancient menorah

5th-7th century. A Byzantine Bronze Oil Lamp. with long nozzle and swivel lid attached by an iron pin, a square mortise underneath the foot ring for attachment to a stand, the handle in the form of a menorah flanked by a lulav, etrog, and shofar. Size: Length 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm). Sothebys. Source: Link

Ancient Christian candlestick type oil lamp, menorah

5th-8th century. Christian Byzantine oil lamp, belongs to the so-called "candlestick" type. The nose is decorated with a seven-branched menorah, which connects to the groove surrounding the filler hole. On the shoulders Greek inscription [WCXP "PHI" ENXACIN "PHI"], mirrored, which translates to "The light of Christ shines for all". Locality: Levante, Syria / Palaestina. Dimensions: length 90mm, width 62mm, height 30mm. Diameter fill hole 28mm, wick opening 8mm. AlteRömer.de.   Link

Ancient Christian Clay oil lamp menorah Museum

450-600. Christian Clay oil lamp; oval, pointed; pale buff clay; raised rim round, wide filling-hole; shoulder: inscription, unread; nozzle-top: Menorah?; double base-ring. Findspot: Hauran (?) (Asia, Middle East, Levant, South Syria). Dimensions: Length: 10.4 cm, Width: 6.8 cm. The British Museum, number 1913,1014.3. Source: Link

Christian Oil Lamps Greek inscription Holy Land

5th-8th century. Christian oil lamps. Made in a two-part mold, one of the most common and emblematic of the Byzantine period. Right: The shoulders of the lamp bear Greek inscription “The light of Christ enlightens us all”. Bibliography: Stanislao Loffreda, “Light and Life: Ancient Christian Oil Lamps of the Holy Land” (Jerusalem: 2001). Noam Adler, “A Comprehensive Catalog of Oil Lamps of the Holy Land from the Adler Collection”, (Old City Press: Israel, 2004.). Biblicalartifacts.com.  Link1,  Link2

Byzantine oil lamp with a Menorah, ancient Terracotta

5th-6th century. Byzantine oil lamp with a Menorah. Origin: Mediterranean. Dimensions: 3.85" (9.8cm) high x 2.65" (6.7cm) wide. Style: Byzantine. Medium: Terracotta. Source: Link

Ancient pottery oil lamp menorah Jerusalem

450-600. Mould-made pottery pointed oval oil lamp with a wide filling-hole and a triple raised rim. The shoulder is decorated with raised oblique lines. The nozzle top is decorated with a Menorah (?). The lamp stands on a base-ring; the underbody is restored. Made in Jerusalem. Dimensions: Length: 10.3 cm, Width: 6.7 cm. The British Museum, number 1983,0728.3. Source: Link

Jewish oil Lamp menorah 5th-7th century AD CE

5th-7th century. Intact 1400+ year old Jewish oil lamp with menorah. Material: Fired Clay. This lamp features an ancient seven branch Menorah between the nozzle and filling hole. In addition, this lamp has seven nozzles to produce seven individual flames. It has survived the ravages of time in excellent condition with only minor encrustation and residual excavation soil on the outer and inner surface. Size: Length 105 mm x Width 76 mm ( approx. 4 1/8" x 3"). Source: Link 

 Ancient Jewish terracotta oil lamp festival Hanukkah

5th-6th century. Ancient Jewish terracotta oil lamp likely for the festival of Hanukkah. Bell shaped with eight wick holes along the flat nozzle, a large fill hole at the center, molded along the upper surface with linear decoration, including vertical lines, a lulav on a tripod base on either side of the fill hole, a nine-branched Hanukah menorah on a tripod base near the handle, with an inverted Greek inscription below the arms reading, translated as, "Yahweh, God save us". 5¼ in. (13.3 cm.) long. Christie's. Link

Ancient Menorah oil lamp Sefardi Spain

5th-6th century. Ancient oil lamp (please see also info of the lamp above). Linear and geometric decoration on the upper surface three rosettes stand out, two Iulav (palm leaves) that flank the central hole on the left and right and a menorah with nine arms on whose base appears an inscription in Greek. Dimensions: Height = 3.30 cm; Length = 13.30 cm; Width = 11 cm. Museo Sefardi, Spain, Inventory 1239/001. Foto: Rebeca García Merino. Source: Link 

Ancient terracotta lamp seven-branched candelabrum menorah

5th century. Ancient terracotta lamp with seven-branched candelabrum (menorah) on tripod, rim decorated with palm branches. Egypt. © Photograph Benaki Museum Athens. Source: Link

Pottery oil lamp menorah discus British Museum

5th century. Mould-made pottery oil lamp with a ridged shoulder and an unpierced grooved handle. The discus is decorated with a stylized Menorah; there are two filling-holes. The base is undefined. The nozzle is broken. Made in: Italy. Dimensions: Length: 9.9 cm, Width: 6.2 cm. The British Museum, number: 1982,0302.9. Source: Link

Byzantine terracotta oil lamp menorah terracotta

5th-8th century. Byzantine terracotta oil lamp. Often called slipper lamps due to their form, this lamps sits on a ring base and its handle is demarcated by a small dot. The shoulders are decorated with radiating lines and the nozzle depicts a stylized palm tree, sometimes called the tree of life. Bibliography: Stanislao Loffreda, “Light and Life: Ancient Christian Oil Lamps of the Holy Land” (Jerusalem: 2001). Noam Adler, “A Comprehensive Catalog of Oil Lamps of the Holy Land from the Adler Collection” (Old City Press: Israel, 2004). Link

5th-7th century. Ancient Terracotta Oil Lamp menorah

5th-7th century. An ancient Terracotta Oil Lamp with a menorah. Dimensions: Length: 9.2cm. Source: Link

Ancient Byzantine terracotta oil lamp decorated Menorah

5th-7th century. Ancient Byzantine terracotta oil lamp decorated with a Menorah. Dimensions: Length 10cm. Source: Link

Byzantine Period Ancient Jewish Ceramic Oil Lamp Menorah

5th-6th century, Byzantine Period. Ancient Jewish Ceramic Oil Lamp with Menorah. Dimensions: Length: 10.0cm. Source: Link

Jewish Oil Lamp Fragment 9-branch Menorah Archaeological Center, Israel

5th-7th century. Jewish Oil Lamp Fragment with a 9-branch Menorah. Archaeological Center, Israel. Source: Link

Byzantine Samaritan-type Oil lamp menorah

5-7th century. A Byzantine Period, Late Samaritan-type Oil lamp. Pear Shaped, round filling hole with menorah design on both sides of the spout. Intact, in very good condition. Size: (approx)10 x 7cm. Found in excavation site in or around Jerusalem. Includes Certificate of Authenticity issued by the Hamedian Gallery as authorized by the Israeli Antiquities Authority. Source: Link

Ancient Samartian Terracotta Oil Lamps with Menorah

5th century. Lot of 2 Ancient Samartian Terracotta Oil Lamps with Menorah. Size 3 7/8 - 3 5/8 inches length. Palm fronds and Menorah on shoulder # MA-1905 together with another lamp with long palm fronds from nozzle to handle high profle-plain channel, acquired from Passage to Antiquity #SA- 1542. Provenance: The Estate Of Robert Onsted, acquired in The USA Market 1948-2011. LiveAuctioneers, Lot 0066, 2020. Source: Link 

Ancient Bet Shean Menorah Oil Lamp Samaritan

5th-6th century. Ancient Bet Shean Menorah Oil Lamp, Late Samaritan. Dimensions: 9.6cm length, 6.1cm width, 3.4cm height. Source: Link

Samaritan Oil Lamp candelabra Menorah ancient

5th century. Samaritan, oil lamp depicting the candelabra (menorah) the insence shovel and other sacred objects from the temple. Photo © Zev Radovan / Bridgeman Images, image number BLP2973943. Source:  Link1Link2 


 

 

Various Illustrations of the Menorah from all Centuries:

1st,   2nd,   3rd,   4th,   5th,   6th-10th,   11th-13th,   14th,   15th,   16th,   17th,   18th,   19th,   20th,   21st   Century

 

Menorah coins,      WW2 Menorahs    

 



 

 

 

Note: It's nice to see the menorah pictures. However, according to the Bible Jesus (Hebrew Yeshua) is the true spiritual meaning behind the physical Menorah. He is the true and eternal spiritual light: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). The menorah also symbolizes the Tree of Life, because Jesus is the way to life: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Jesus' Word and the Bible are the light in this world. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Ps 119:105 and John 1:1-17).

 

Copyright info and disclaimer: All content and all photos from ancient and new menorahs provided on this website is for informational purposes only. It is not allowed to publish photos from this website on other websites or printed literature. Please always use only the original sources of the photos. We make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this website or found by following any link on this website. We will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information. We will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information. We can not guarantee the validity and accuracy of the information, please always check the original source. The opinions expressed from other website owners and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of us.