FIRE AS AN AGENT IN HUMAN CULTTJBE 239 



The practical use of the float lamp in most countries is correlated 

 with cult, the idea being the preservation of light, its continuance 

 beheved to have a magical effect, much as that attributed to perpetual 

 fire. Thus the unsanctified floats of commerce, sometimes called 

 holy crosses, are taken to the proper authorities to recieve a benedic- 

 tion. The use of the float lamps before altars in many countries has 

 been remarked. The Jewish synagogue lamp is a shallow dish con- 

 taining oil, on the surface of which floated a piece of cork with a 

 wick. The sUght light wassuflScient to give the course. At Tetuan, 

 Morocco, the float lamp consists of a green glaze pottery saucer hung 

 in a shng of four brass chains depending from a brass disk, which is 

 in turn hung to a flat plate of perforated brass in form of a bird, the 

 design also resembling a hand. In the mosque at Kairwan there 

 hung "between the arches of the roof small and feeble lamps, mere 

 lighted wicks floating on dingy oil in cups of colored glass. From 

 the cupola in the center hung a dilapidated chandelier in which flick- 

 ered a few miserable candles" ^^ (pi. 39, fig. 2). 



LAMPS OF ANTIQUITY 



It is endeavored here to briefly recapitulate rather incomplete data 

 on ancient lamps and to point out some of the relationships of these 

 illuminating devices to those of subsequent periods. 



EGYPT 



Traditionally lamps were invented in Egypt, but it is probable that 

 lamps were more generally used in ancient Egypt than in other 

 countries, thus giving rise to the impression. Naturally, on account 

 of the incompleteness of investigations, the methods of lighting in 

 Egypt are little known. 



No pictorial representations show the night side of Egyptian life. 

 Dr. James Grant (Bey) in 1890, in answer to an inquiry as to the 

 light which the Egyptians must have required in decorating dark 

 chambers, collected hieroglyphs meaning light, lamps, etc., which he 

 sent to the writer. From these can be distinguished eight forms of 

 lighting apparatus, as follows (fig. 4, a-h) : 



a. In word for white, brilliant. Kind of illuminator not deter- 

 mined, but may be a mass of wax formed on a rod, as the Chinese 

 candle. 



&, Same form in word for splendid. 



c. Same, with base. 



d. Same, with cross marks, in expression to make to shine. 



e Principal hieroglyph in a group meaning to penetrate, to inspect, 

 to excite, to make ardent, to make brilliant. 

 /. A torch, a torch stand, or lamp and torch stand.^^ 



•• George N. Curzon. Salvation by Torture at Kairwan, Fortnightly Review. 

 M See Howard Carter and A. C. Mace, The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, New York, 1923, pi. 75 and p . 

 164. 



