NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: lighting on deck aboard ship.
From: Brian Whatcott
Date: 2001 Nov 17, 8:02 PM
From: Brian Whatcott
Date: 2001 Nov 17, 8:02 PM
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!