Above: Roman open oil lamp, with an open reservoir, made of clay, Raedts collection, object number 004106
Below: Roman open oil lamp, with a closed reservoir, made of terracotta, Raedts collection, object number 004114
© Nederlands Mijnmuseum |
Above: Roman open oil lamp, with an open reservoir, made of clay, Raedts collection, object number 004106 Below: Roman open oil lamp, with a closed reservoir, made of terracotta, Raedts collection, object number 004114 © Nederlands Mijnmuseum |
There are no clear historical sources about the origin of the term “Frosch” in connection with mining lamps. However, over time, several attempts have been made to explain its origin.
A common theory about the derivation of the term is the comparison of the lamp’s shape to the silhouette of a frog or toad when viewed from above. Hence the name (“Frosch” is the German word for frog).
The meaning of the toad as a “guardian of treasures” and as a symbol of vigilance in folklore is also sometimes linked to the naming of the Frosch lamp used in mining.
(Büttner/Spier, 2022, blz. 11-16; Porezag, 1982, blz. 17)