Roman simple pale blue glass bottle with original light iridescent patina, ca. 50 ce. Size : 12 cm Perfect example found in Samaria. These simple local Roman glass perfume bottles were found even in the most humble tombs dating from the Second Temple Period. Often called “candlestick” bottles after their shape, the long neck slowed the evaporation of perfume. They are also known as "tear" bottles because of their prevalence in tombs and an early association with this ancient passage: “And now, like a child that is weaned from it’s mother, even so shall be our separation…and let us weep each with the other and lay our tears in one vessel and commit the vessel to the earth, and it shall be a testimony unto us” (Psuedo-Philo’s Biblical Antiquities LXII, 10:3 ). Perfume was one of Israel’s most important products; local craftsmen produced both simple and elaborate vessels for perfumes. The Israeli ‘re-invention’ of glass (invention of blown glass) in the 1st cen bce was first recorded by the ancient Roman historian Pliny. Other ingenious Israeli products: monotheism, the bible and the alphabet.
Materials:  Glass
Item Type:  Glass Vessel
Region:  Israel
Cultural Origin:  Roman
Era:  Roman-Late Roman Period, ca.
63 bce-330 ce
Condition:  Extremely Fine
Repairs:  Intact

    

Tags: 63 bce-330 ce, Era: Roman-Late Roman Period, Materials: Glass, Region: Israel