Why Are the Beith Shemesh Oil Lamps Important?
The Beit Shemesh oil lamps reveal important historical details about remote times, when Eastern Roman Empire authorities ruled Palestine with a relatively tolerant hand. The diverse designs and manufacturing styles used to make the lamps, their molds, and the figurines reveal a 4th century society that was a true melting pot: A place where Jews, Christians, and pagans intermingled culturally and socially and apparently maintained a peaceful co-existence.
The Jewish population in the area was lower than it had been in the past, as a consequence of the failed Bar Kokhba revolt against Roman rule in the second century AD, and the reprisals that resulted from that uprising. Nevertheless, some of the oil lamps found at Beit Shemesh were decorated with distinctive Jewish symbols, including the iconic seven-branched menorah in two instances. This shows that at least some of the lamp makers were Jewish, and that they were willing to openly celebrate their culture.