Description

Juglet for Filling Herodian Oil Lamps

Olive oil was a widely-used commodity during the time of Jesus. Olive trees grow well in the Mediterranean climate of the Holy Land, and the production of olive oil was a major industry.  The daily uses of olive oil included cooking, skin treatment, and fuel for oil lamps. It also functioned in more special occasions such as anointing a priest or a king.

This juglet likely held olive oil during the time of Jesus. It would have been used as a filler juglet for small oil lamps. Since oil lamps didn’t hold very much oil, they would burn out if they were not re-filled from time to time. This small juglet held enough oil to re-fill a lamp when it burned low. This concept comes to life in Jesus’ parable of the wise and foolish virgins. These women were waiting to attend a wedding, but the groom delayed his coming.

“Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps…And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough fro us and you; but rather go to those who sell and buy for yourselves.” (Matthew 25:2–9)

Details:

This Herodian-style filler juglet is made of clay. It belongs to the class of vessels known as unguentara. It has an ovoid body shape with a flattened base. The neck is tall and narrow, and it flares slightly at the top in a funnel-like shape.

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Antiquities from the land of the Bible are great investments and teaching tools. They bring the Bible to life in a tangible way, connecting the stories of the Bible with real artifacts that illuminate the text.

Comes with a certificate of authenticity and all required documents for export approval.

Shipped direct from Jerusalem.

Zak’s Antiquities is the website of Zak’s fine art and antiquities located on the Christian Quarter road in Jerusalem’s Old City. The shop began in 1964 and has remained as a family owned and operated business till this day. For the past 50 years Zak’s Antiquities has sold ancient coins, antiquities and art authentic to Israel and Jerusalem.