Roman Oil Lamp

Karak Museum, Jordan

A small museum displays various objects found in the vicinity, including this bronze Roman oil lamp. Incorrectly described as a duck, the shape of its beak and length of its neck make this bird a swan. Two small children, one on either side, are folded within its wing. Of each child, only the head and one arm are visible. The lamp depicts Castor and Pollux (or perhaps, Helen and Pollux), whose father, Zeus, took the form of a swan to impregnate their mother Leda.