This is an ancient lamp used in antiquity, including during the times described in the scenes of Jerusalem in the novel *The Master and Margarita*. Such a lamp was usually made of clay or bronze, filled with oil (most often olive oil), and the wick was inserted into the spout. The wick was lit, and the lamp burned, giving a warm, yellowish light. It was these "festive lights" that could illuminate the city and houses in that era.