The combination of a peacock and pomegranates, as depicted on this fine oil lamp, can be referred to the Roman goddess Juno, know in Greek culture as Hera. In Roman culture and religion, Juno was the wife of Jupiter and the queen of the gods, usually depicted on a chariot drawn by peacocks, her sacred animal, and holding a sceptre capped with a pomegranate, symbol of fertility and marital love. Terracotta statuettes depicting Juno, sitting on a throne while holding a pomegranate, have been recovered across South Italy.
To discover more about the ancient origins of oil lamps, visit our relevant post: Oil Lamps in Antiquity.
