oil lamps
From time immemorial, oil lamps have been used as a source of illumination
since fire was discovered. Historians suggest that the original oil lamps
made an appearance in the Stone Age. Probably, it was a fuel container that
was fashioned out of rock and lined with absorbent moss as the wick while it
soaked in animal fat to set it alit.
History states that the lucerna is an oil lamp, which was widely used, in
ancient times. A mention of this use is found in Homers odyssey and also in
Crete at the age of the Mycenaean civilization. The Phoenicians and Greeks
also used oil lamps and their use was handed down to the Romans.
Made with an oil container, the lamps had one or more wick spouts. The very
ancient had no covers; instead they came as a small flat case and a wick
spout on the rim. This shape was replaced by practical ones with covers in
the form of a flat box with a spout on the rim, which protected the oil from
getting contaminated. Later, handles were added to it, besides one or more
spouts and holes for ventilation.
The most frequently used materials for oil lamps were clay and bronze and
more rarely gold, silver, glass or stone. They could be set on any flat
surface or hung by a chain. Previously oil lamps came in circular or
flattened form, which later took on an oval form. Besides, these primary
forms, oil lamps took on more decorative shapes e.g. Incense boats, animals,
horns, acorns, heads, feet, human forms. The bronze lamps had embellishments
on the burners, sides or handles. The theme for the decoration ranged from
nature, mythology to human life (games, fights etc). Later, Christian icons
with religious motifs gained popularity.
Oil Lamps have been used in rituals of many ancient religions like Judaism,
Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity among others. It has been a symbol
of joy, prosperity, hope and life itself. Oil Lamps are still bought & used
in homes to compliment antique furniture decor styles.
oil lamps . Author F. Peris. copyright data 2004 Indianchild.com
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