A buff terracotta Samaritan oil lamp, decorated with floral patterns and motifs, standing on a ring base.
 
Ancient Holy Land: Circa 4th Century AD.
 
Very Fine condition; complete and intact.
Length 8 cms (3.1 ins).
 
Provenance: Ex Judge Steve Adler collection Jerusalem, acquired since the 1960's. Exported with export approval licence of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
 
The Samaritans occupied the region of modern-day Tel Aviv to Haifa. The Samaritans are not Jewish, Muslim, or Christian. They are a distinct religious group descended from the northern tribes of biblical Israel, specifically the tribes of Ephraim, Menashe, and Levi. They developed a unique culture, including special symbols, art, and oil lamps. The Samaritan lamps are characterized by their shape and decorations and appear from the end of the Roman period to the early Islamic period.