The body usually took the shape of an inverted truncated cone or a rectangle. The top of the lamp is called the discus . This fit over the body and is not a part of very early clay lamps. Some lamps have an ornamented rim known as a margo . A reliefed cordon is a raised ridge like a cord around the lamp.
Most lamps have a nozzle called the rostum, nasus, or myxus .
The hole for the wick is also an important part and called the ellychnium . Many of the lamps were decorated. The picture below is a typical clay lamp with its parts labeled. Hand lamps usually had handles, whereas, hanging lamps did not. Hanging lamps had projections containing holes through which chains could be passed.