The "Jerash" lamps (figs. 1-2)

Typological and stylistic characteristics of fragments nos. 1-4 suggest they belong to either the tongue- or zoomorphic-handle variants of the Jerash lamps as discussed by Kehrberg (1989: 88-89). Because each fragment represents only a small portion of its complete lamp, it is not possible to determine with certainty to which variant it belongs. The shoulders of all four examples are decorated with consecutive radial lines, a common feature of both the tongue- (see Smith 1973: Pl. 67, no. 254; Kehrberg 1989: Fig. 5, no. 24) and zoomorphic-handle types (see Iliffe 1933: Fig. 2; Kennedy 1963: Pl. 28, no. 758; Rosenthal and Sivan 1978: 139, fig. 574; 'Oweiss 1985: Pl. 7, nos. 7-12; Kehrberg 1989: Fig. 5, nos. 25-26). The scallop pattern found on no. 1 occurs on both forms of the Jerash lamp (see Smith 1973: Pl. 44, no. 1329; Rosenthal and Sivan 1978: 139, fig. 574; Kehrberg 1989: Fig. 5, no. 24). The remnants of Greek crosses whose quadrants contain circle devices rendered on nos. 1-3 are commonly depicted between the central filling hole and handle of the Jerash lamps of the zoomorphic-handle variety (see Kennedy 1963: Pl. 28, no. 758; Rosenthal and Sivan 1978: 139, fig. 574; 'Oweiss 1985: Pl. 7, nos. 7-12). The more-or-less circular outline produced by the missing handle of no. 1 in top view is akin to the rounded shaft of the zoomorphic handle, as opposed to the elliptical-shaped outline one would expect in the tongue-handle form in cross-section. The curved line on fragment no. 4 could represents the remnant of a volute or a cross. As pointed out by Kehrberg, the tongue- and zoomorphic-handle types of the Jerash lamp were contemporary and date to between the second half of the 6th and the second half of the 8th c. A.D. (1989: 89). The unusually small body size and filling hole of no. 2 suggests it may have been a toy or votive lamp. None of fragments 1-4 bear inscriptions, particularly of the type referring to Jerash as the place of manufacture (see Clermont -Ganneau 1898: 47-51: Rosenthal and Sivan 1978: 139, fig. 574; 'Amr 1986: 163-164, figs 1, 3, 4; Khouly 1994). Parallels of the Jerash lamp type are known from Amman, el-Bassa, Jerash, el-Lejjun, Mt. Nebo and Pella.

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The "Hauranian" lamps (figs. 3-6)

Hauranian (the term was first used by P.-M. Blanc at the 1994 Ceramics Colloquium in Amman) lamp fragments were recovered from the ash and soil lenses of a dump created from the Umayyad cleanup of the Byzantine occupation debris of house 119. As noted by Blanc, the outstanding feature of this lamp type is the standing pentagonal-shaped handle upon whose surface geometric patterns or human figures are often depicted (1994).

Because of their similar decorative theme and stylistic execution, fragments nos. 5 and 6 could possibly belong to the same lamp. The shoulders of both sherds are decorated with a continuous vine pattern with attached stylized grape clusters and leaves. The flat surface of the pentagonal-shaped handle (no. 5 is ornamented with a simple geometric pattern not inconsistent with the decorative theme rendered on handles of the same type found in the Hauran (Blanc 1994). Its face is decorated with an inverted V-shaped ladder pattern enclosed in a series of rounded nodules rendered in high relief, below the lowest series of which a plain, cone-like device is centered. Two stylized fowls with teacup-shaped bodies are depicted below (and contacting) the remnants of the wick hole on the upper surface of the lamp body. An overall symmetrical motif is achieved by having each bird nibble from a single grape cluster positioned between them (for a parallel from Bostra, see Blanc 1994). Ceramic lamps with pentagonal-shaped handles and flat, decorated surfaces have been recovered at Bostra, Si'a, Suweida, Qanawat and Dera'a. They date from the 5th and possibly the early 6th c. A.D. (Blanc 1994).

The pentagonal-shaped standing handle of fragment no. 7 is rendered in the form of a stylized human head with a face consisting of two large, circular eyes positioned below curved eyebrows, an elongated nose, an elliptical mouth and vertical lines for hair and beard. Semi-circular devices on each side of the head represent either stylized ears or earrings. The shoulder of the lamp is decorated with two consecutive and prominent vertebrae-like bands, below which a series of evenly-spaced circle devices with a single rounded nodule in each are placed. All these decorative features are executed in high relief. Because the slight outward protrusion of the face suggests a later-evolved style than the flat-surfaced type (Blanc 1994), no. 7 can be dated to the mid-6th c. as is a parallel from Bostra cited by Blanc.

A stylized human-like form riding a horse with grossly elongated neck and body decorates the narrow, slightly-sloping shoulder fragment of no. 8. The body of the human figure is composed of two parts, a bulbous head and buttocks. Its long, disproportionately-thin legs extend below the horse's belly. In addition to the peculiar body shape two triangular tufts of hair (?) rising from the head may suggest that this is a representation of an anthropomorphic deity. Stick-like outstretched arms with attached hands extend from the mid-section, and the right hand grips reins depicted as lines inscribed around and extending from the animal's neck, in a manner similar to an instance of a human pictured riding a camel (Jobling 1985: Fig. 5, pl. 47). Two sets of closely-spaced parallel lines delineate faintly a stylized saddle on which the rider sits. The stylistic features (elongated body parts of the horse and the stick-figure qualities of the human form) and the subject matter of this motif (a possible hunting scene) compares favorably to human and animal forms portrayed on the rock art of Thamudic and Safaitic inscriptions (Harding and Littmann 1952: 251, pl. 10; Jobling 1985: Fig. 2, pl. 43; fig. 3, pl. 44-47). Because of its small size it is difficult to date this fragment, but because of stylistic affinities to the Hauranian lamps, a 5th/6th c. date seems plausible.

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Bibliography

'Amr, A.-J.

1986 More Islamic Inscribed Pottery Lamps from Jordan. Berytus 34: 161-168.

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