Featured in this lot is a Rare Byzantine Empire Marble Oil Lamp, circa 6th - 7th century AD., Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan. Provenance: the Owen D. Mort, Jr. Collection. Owen David Mort was an American engineer who amassed an impressive collection throughout his worldwide travels. His collection has included art, artifacts and other historical items from which he has donated to museums at the University of Utah and Snite Museum of Art, the University of Notre Dame, including African, Afghan, Indian, Mughal, Persian and Far East Asian artifacts. The city of Lashkar Gah, once historically called Bost or Boost, was once the site of a Ghaznavid palace and soldiers' bazaar near the confluence of the Helmand and Arghandab rivers in southeastern Afghanistan. Between the 6th and 7th centuries, the area today known as Afghanistan, was part of the Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire, the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during the Middle Ages. This marble oil lamp has a circular design similar to a bullseye. The "bullseye" is the only symbol universally found by archaeologists and anthropologists. Found the world over, it has been variously interpreted as a map of labyrinthine sepulchres, the sun, the secret of life, and, even in past ages, as an occult form of target. The symbol is clearly visible on the the upper two thirds of the lamp, though may also have covered the entire lamp, the lower third faded from constant use. Outer rim of reservoir and spout edge have remnants of scalloped edges. Spout is deep well and sloped towards the reservoir. Most of the original polished marble has faded with a sliver of polished stone still visible on the upper left side. Chipping observed throughout with a noticeable fragment missing along the upper left rim. Measures 6"L x 3.5" diameter x 4.25"H, base 2.75" diameter, weight 2lb, 6oz.