ACAPNA
ACAPNA sc. ligna (
ξύλα
ἄκαπνα), firewood specially prepared in order to burn without
smoke. Owing to the primitive simplicity of ancient chimneys, smokeless fuel
was in great request. At least three different processes are mentioned in
ancient writers. 1. The wood might be simply dried and scorched over a fire,
without however being converted into charcoal; these were also called
ligna cocta,
Dig. 32,
55,
7, and
coctilia, Trebell.
Claud. 14. 2. After peeling off the bark, it might be
soaked in water and then well dried before being used (Theophr.
Hist.
Plant. 15.10). 3. It might be smeared with oil-lees (
amurca), and afterwards exposed to the sun (Cato,
Cat. Agr. 130;
Plin. Nat. 15.33). In Martial,
Mart. 13.15, the lemma has
ligna acapna, but the epigram itself throws no light on the mode
of preparation. ACAPNON MEL, honey taken from the
hive without smoking the bees, which was preferred, as usually there was a
slight taste of smoke. (
Col. 6.33.2;
Plin. Nat. 11.45.)
[
W.W]
