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Not just for tourists. Neither of these clay slipper lamps bears an inscription associating it with a particular Jerusalem shrine, which may indicate that these were utilitarian lamps, rather than pilgrim souvenirs. A small Greek cross adorns the smaller lamp, which dates from the late fourth to early sixth century; the larger lamp, embellished with either a palm branch or a menorah motif, dates from the mid-sixth to the late eighth century.

To use the lamps, oil was poured into the larger hole; the lamp would burn for hours as a lit wick, resting in the smaller hole, gradually soaked up the oil.