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Subject: Re: lighting on deck aboard ship.
From: Brian Whatcott (inet@XXX.XXX)
Date: Sat Nov 17 2001 - 22:01:54 EST
I consulted an early Enc Brit article on the candle, and it evidently
held that the candle and lamp existed in early times.
There is a certain blurring of the distinction between candle and lamp there.
The lamp is a reservoir of oil with a wick of twisted cotton or flax.
Rush pith
once served as wicks.
The candle was dipped or later cast from one of three materials: tallow, wax
or spermaceti. It mentions Candlemas as a continuance of an ancient
Christian custom of lighting their churches and processions on a
particular day. But it describes a candlestick as made
by Moses, having seven lamps with oil and wicks.
A later Enc Brit article notes that a 4th century pilgrim,Silvia
wrote about the lighted processions.
There are still oil navigation lamps aboard sailing ships and I dare say,
hurricane or storm lamps. So the concept of a binnacle with an oil lamp
or candle could certainly have survived from early periods.
The Grecian oil lamp was, I think, of 'Genie' form (a tureen with a
handle on one side, and a spout carrying a wick on the other.)
The Greeks were commemorated for the Olympic torch in their competitions,
as now revived. The Romans too used ornate candlesticks.
I conclude that marine lighting existed from such an early time, a certain
date
for its introduction is unlikely to be found.
Reference:
Enc. Brit. "Candle", "Candlemas", "Candlestick" 1771 First ed.
Enc. Brit. "Candle", "Candlemas" 1957 14th Ed.
Brian Whatcott
Altus OK Eureka!
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