This Roman lamp from the 1st century AD, possibly from Naples in Italy, is typical of many of the time. They were used to provide light for people to see their way home, read, write or carry out other activities, and could be either hung or placed on a flat surface. Each lamp would have a chamber filled with olive or vegetable oil, a nozzle and a rope or cloth wick to light. Some had handles and most were made of pottery, but some were also made in bronze. The flat filled in area above the oil chamber is known as the 'discus' and was often highly decorated showing various aspects of daily life. Many also had letters, known as an 'inscription', on the base which could often indicate the workshop or potter who had made the lamp. Torches and candles were also used.