Zev Radovan, courtesy of the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums

In Iron Age II (1000–587 B.C.), after Solomon’s reign ended in 920 B.C., the kingdom divided between Israel in the north and Judah in the south. Lamp design reflected this split by the development of a distinct southern form with a high disc base. “Northern” lamps, with a flat base, continued to be very similar to the earlier Iron I lamps (see photograph).