DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.898#0125
34 LAMPS.
from the ancestors of the Hebrews. Their use in ancient
Egypt was carried to a considerable extent, for there was
no rejoicing, no festival, of any consideration at all, unac-
companied with illumination. At the sacrifice solemnised
at Sais, the assembly was held by night; they suspended
before their houses in the open air lamps which were filled
with oil mixed with salt,- a wick floated on the top, which
burnt all night; this solemnity was called the feast of lamps.
Such of the Egyptians as could not attend to the ceremony
thought themselves obliged to observe the evening of the
festival, and in like manner burnt lamps before their houses:
thus, on this night, not Sais only but all Egypt was illumi-
nated*. In the heroic ages public rejoicings were cele^
brated with illuminations f. The Romans on their public
festivals adorned the front of their houses with branches of
laurel and rows of lighted lamps. Cresar, to give greater
splendour to his triumph over the Gauls, went to the Capi-
tol with elephants carrying lamps on candelabra J. Indivi-
duals illuminated their houses with lamps upon their appoint-
ment to some public office in the state, or upon their nup-
tials. Lamps were usually placed in the tombs of the an-
cients. Sometimes, in the sepulchres of princes, men were
employed to watch the flame, and keep it perpetually burn-
ing. Instances are upon record in which the opulent at
their death released by will some of their slaves from ser-
vitude, provided they occasionally attended to the tes-
* Herod. Eut. 62. f iEsch. Agam. 92. J Suetonius.
from the ancestors of the Hebrews. Their use in ancient
Egypt was carried to a considerable extent, for there was
no rejoicing, no festival, of any consideration at all, unac-
companied with illumination. At the sacrifice solemnised
at Sais, the assembly was held by night; they suspended
before their houses in the open air lamps which were filled
with oil mixed with salt,- a wick floated on the top, which
burnt all night; this solemnity was called the feast of lamps.
Such of the Egyptians as could not attend to the ceremony
thought themselves obliged to observe the evening of the
festival, and in like manner burnt lamps before their houses:
thus, on this night, not Sais only but all Egypt was illumi-
nated*. In the heroic ages public rejoicings were cele^
brated with illuminations f. The Romans on their public
festivals adorned the front of their houses with branches of
laurel and rows of lighted lamps. Cresar, to give greater
splendour to his triumph over the Gauls, went to the Capi-
tol with elephants carrying lamps on candelabra J. Indivi-
duals illuminated their houses with lamps upon their appoint-
ment to some public office in the state, or upon their nup-
tials. Lamps were usually placed in the tombs of the an-
cients. Sometimes, in the sepulchres of princes, men were
employed to watch the flame, and keep it perpetually burn-
ing. Instances are upon record in which the opulent at
their death released by will some of their slaves from ser-
vitude, provided they occasionally attended to the tes-
* Herod. Eut. 62. f iEsch. Agam. 92. J Suetonius.