Lucerne; Rome, 3rd century AD.

Lucerne; Rome, 3rd century AD.
Terracotta.
Measurements: 4 x 11 x 7 cm.
Roman Lucerna in terracotta decorated in the discus with a relief in which is represented the bust of Serapis, Greek-Egyptian syncretic god, named patron of Alexandria and official god of Egypt and Greece by Ptolemy I (367-283 B.C.), with the purpose of culturally linking both countries. The word lucerna comes from the Greek "lukno". Its basic function was to provide light, but it was also used as a votive and funerary element. The first skylights were made by hand, then by lathe, and from the 3rd century B.C. onwards by mold. The mold consisted of two dies, one for the upper part and one for the lower part. The mold manufacturing technique consisted of pressing the clay into the dies and then joining the two parts together. Finally, the handle was added.