previous next

CANDE´LA

CANDE´LA a candle, made either of wax (cerea) or tallow (sebacea), was used universally by the Romans before the invention of oil lamps (lucernae). (Varr. L. L. 5.119; Serv. ad Verg. A. 1.727; Mart. 14.43; Athen. 15. 700.) They used for a wick the pith of a kind of rush called scirpus (Plin. Nat. 16.178). They [p. 1.352]were used in funeral processions (Pers. 3.103). In Livy (40.29fasces candelis involuti appear to be packets wrapped up in a kind of wax cloth. In later times candelae were only used by the poorer classes; the houses of the more wealthy were always lighted by lucernae (Juv. Sat. 3.287; cf. Plin. Nat. 34.11. Becker-Göll, Gallus, ii. p. 390).

[W.S]

hide References (4 total)
  • Cross-references from this page (4):
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 1.727
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 34.11
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 40, 29
    • Martial, Epigrammata, 14.43
hide Display Preferences
Greek Display:
Arabic Display:
View by Default:
Browse Bar: