The Limes Illuminated: The role of the lamp on the northern Roman frontier

Abstract

The oil lamp sits at a crossroads of human activity, and studying their function yields a wealth of information about the cultures that used them. The lamp fulfils a utilitarian purpose as a means of lighting darkened spaces, but there is more to them than meets the eye. From its shape, color, material, and decoration, to the context of its discovery, every aspect of its form tells a story. Although lamps are a frequent find in excavations of Roman settlements in the Netherlands, a dynamic analysis of their literal and symbolic roles on the northern frontier zone has yet to be conducted. This thesis aims to fill that niche. Excavation records, project publications, museum catalogues, stone inscriptions, and Roman era writings are consulted in concert with one another to create a better understanding of the lamp on the northern frontier. Along the upper reach of the Roman Empire, delineated by the fortifications that comprise the Lower Germanic Limes, the oil lamp appears in military, burial, and sanctuary contexts. This study evaluates the distribution of certain lamp types according to these three established contexts.