This ancient lamp might have burned in the Holy Land at the height of the Roman Empire. Formed in molds, such lamps might originally have been decorated with mythological scenes. These graven images have been pushed out with a thumb to make the lamp acceptable to the orthodox. A metaphor for joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have shed light on mundane and extraordinary events alike, guiding great thoughts through the night, and standing vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object,we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the rooms and shrines once warmed by its glow, with the people who drew comfort from its light. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness.