(See  the  right-hand  lamp  in  Fig.  127.)  As  time  went  on  this  rest-
ing-place for  the  wick  developed  more  and  more  into  a  spout.  (See
Fig.  126  and  the  left-hand  lamp  in  Fig.  127.)

This  form  of  lamp  was  known  as  early  as  the  first  Semitic  period,
and  persisted  with  slight  development  down  through  the  Israelitish
time;  (see  Fig.  128).  Its  development  was  not,  however,  uni-
form in  all  parts  of  the  country.  Israelitish  lamps  found  at  Jericho
appear  to  be  simply  saucers  with  two  or  more  indentations  in  the
rim;  (see  Fig.  132).  Perhaps  in  these  more  than  one  wick  was
used.  In  the  Hellenistic  period  two  improvements  in  the  making
of  lamps  occurred.  The  first  consisted  in  a  still  further  devel-
opment of  the  spout  until  its  sides  almost  met  and  formed  nearly
a  closed  vessel.    The  second  improvement  was,  perhaps,  due  to

iSeeSellm,/mdb>,  p.  156.
148  ARCHiEOLOGY  AND  THE  BIBLE

outside  influences.  It  consisted  in  making  the  saucer  small  and
covered.  In  the  middle  of  the  cover  was  a  small  round  hole  into
which  the  oil  was  poured;  at  one  side  a  spout  protruded  and  the
wick  came  out  through  this;  (see  Fig.  131).  The  top  of  such
lamps  was  ornamented  with  various  designs.
In  the  Byzantine  and  Arabic  periods  the  same  general  style  of
lamp  was  used,  but  the  shape  and  ornamentation  of  each  period  were
different,  so  that  they  can  easily  be  distinguished;  (see  Fig.  129).
After  the  country  became  Christian  the  ornamentation  on  the
lamps  was  often  made  with  Greek  letters.  These  were  miade  in
ornamental  forms  and  usually  expressed  some  Christian  sentiment
One  of  the  most  popular  legends  for  these  Christian  lamps  was:
"The  light  of  Christ  shines  for  all";  (see  Fig.  130).
