DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.898#0137
CANDELABRA. 41
Adytum, of antechamber to the sanctuary, and served to
illuminate the altar of perfume and the table of shewbread,
which stood in the same place. When the Romans under
Titus destroyed the hallowed temple at Jerusalem, the
golden candelabrum with the other treasures were removed
to Rome. Upon a triumphal arch erected at the foot of
Mount Palatine in honour of Titus there may be seen at
this day, in a most interesting bas-relief, a faithful repre-
sentation of this candelabrum, which is exhibited as borne
in procession among the spoils which were carried from Je-
rusalem in triumph to Rome. A copy of this piece of sculp-
ture forms the subject of the vignette placed at the head of
this essay.
In the earliest history of the manners and customs of
mankind, as related by Homer *, we read that the flame
which blazed upon the humble hearth answered the double
purpose of conveying the comforts of warmth and light.
The first improvement upon this mode of illuminating an
apartment was to burn dry or resinous woods upon an al-
tar; and when the use of oil was known, and lamps began
to be invented, candelabra assumed their appropriate and
characteristic form.
The form of some of the candelabra which have been
discovered in Herculaneum and Pompeii have given rise to
a conjecture conserning their origin. Among those which
* Odyssey, xix. 633.
Adytum, of antechamber to the sanctuary, and served to
illuminate the altar of perfume and the table of shewbread,
which stood in the same place. When the Romans under
Titus destroyed the hallowed temple at Jerusalem, the
golden candelabrum with the other treasures were removed
to Rome. Upon a triumphal arch erected at the foot of
Mount Palatine in honour of Titus there may be seen at
this day, in a most interesting bas-relief, a faithful repre-
sentation of this candelabrum, which is exhibited as borne
in procession among the spoils which were carried from Je-
rusalem in triumph to Rome. A copy of this piece of sculp-
ture forms the subject of the vignette placed at the head of
this essay.
In the earliest history of the manners and customs of
mankind, as related by Homer *, we read that the flame
which blazed upon the humble hearth answered the double
purpose of conveying the comforts of warmth and light.
The first improvement upon this mode of illuminating an
apartment was to burn dry or resinous woods upon an al-
tar; and when the use of oil was known, and lamps began
to be invented, candelabra assumed their appropriate and
characteristic form.
The form of some of the candelabra which have been
discovered in Herculaneum and Pompeii have given rise to
a conjecture conserning their origin. Among those which
* Odyssey, xix. 633.