Lamps such as these might have lit homes in the Egypt of the Ptolemies. 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 these simple objects, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the rooms and temples once warmed by their glow, with the people who drew comfort from their light. Today they remain as enduring symbols of man's desire to conquer the darkness.