**Originally Listed At $1750**

Roman North Africa, Carthage, Imperial to Byzantine Period, ca. 4th to 6th century CE. A remarkable find, this richly ornamented and fantastically preserved gypsum tool served as the mold for the top half of an ancient oil lamp bearing a depiction of Daniel in the Lion's Den. Enveloped by a repeated pattern of alternating square and circle motifs, the beardless Daniel wears a mandye, or a pleated, belted tunic with a short cape, as he bends both arms at his elbows and holds out his hands. At his feet lie two defeated lions, while an angel flies towards him on his left and the prophet Habakkuk proffers a loaf of bread to his right. These are both direct references to the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament, in which Daniel is thrown into a lion's den for praying to the God of Abraham and is then saved by an angel who closes the jaws of the lion. Habakkuk, who is in Judea making a stew, is instructed by an angel to bring food to Daniel and transported by the angel to the den in Babylon to give Daniel the food. A wonderful utilitarian example from Roman North Africa, rich with religious iconography! Size: 7.25" L x 5.125" W x 2" H (18.4 cm x 13 cm x 5.1 cm); 8.75" H (22.2 cm) on included custom stand.

A terracotta oil lamp made from this mold or one identical to it was published in "A Mosaic of Daniel in the Lions’ Den from Borj el Youdi (Furnos Minus) Tunisia: The Iconography of Martyrdom and the Arena in Roman North Africa" by Angela Kalinowski in "Antiquites africaines" 53 (2017): 115-128, figure 4.

Provenance: private Vero Beach, Florida, USA collection since about 1980

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#163783

Chips to peripheries of stone and another to spout area. Some abrasions, nicks, and softening of detail throughout. Otherwise, excellent with light earthen deposits in recessed areas.