Monuments of the early church . o for the water with which the priestwashed his hands. In the Lateran there were 2 amas of pur-est gold, weighing each 50 pounds and holding 3 medemni(about 35 gallons) ; and 20 silver amas, each weighing 10pounds and holding a single medemnus^^ (about 11^ gallons). LAMPS No class of Christian antiquities is represented by such anabundance of examples as the cheap clay lamps ornamentedwith the Constantinian monogram, or by some distinctively 348 MIX OB A UTS Christian symbol or scene. The ordinary shape of the claylamp is shown in Figs. 150, 151. It was simply t
Monuments of the early church . o for the water with which the priestwashed his hands. In the Lateran there were 2 amas of pur-est gold, weighing each 50 pounds and holding 3 medemni(about 35 gallons) ; and 20 silver amas, each weighing 10pounds and holding a single medemnus^^ (about 11^ gallons). LAMPS No class of Christian antiquities is represented by such anabundance of examples as the cheap clay lamps ornamentedwith the Constantinian monogram, or by some distinctively 348 MIX OB A UTS Christian symbol or scene. The ordinary shape of the claylamp is shown in Figs. 150, 151. It was simply the commonClassical lamp, and it is distinguished as Christian solely bythe themes which decorate it; the great majority of the lampsfound in the catacombs are distinguished by no such were objects of the meanest value and consequently pro-duced in the greatest abundance; the stamped designs whichdecorated them hardly added to their expense. Their preserva-tion in such number is therefore readily accounted for, given a. Fig. 150. — Terra-cotta lamps with Christian sj-mbols. material which was at once valueless and incorruptible. Theirchief interest lies in the ocular proof which they furnish of theprevalent custom of ornamenting the commonest householdutensils with Christian devices. Ornamental boxes, which fromthe religious character of their decoration have been supposedto be intended for the reservation of the host or for the con-servation of relics, are quite as likely intended for a ladysjewels or some other domestic use. It is recognized that scrip-tural scenes embroidered upon garments do not prove a sacreduse. One of the wine jars found in the cellar of the house ofSS. John and Paul on the Caelian is marked by the Christianmanufacturer with the Constantinian monogram. This is LAMPS 349 merely by way of example, to draw attention to a marked traitof early Christian life; people did not show shyness abouttheir religion. Christian devices do not, however, appear
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectchristi, bookyear1901
