ONE of the imperfections in the domestic economy of the ancients was the universal use of oil-lamps. Had they provided against their uncleanliness by having glass cylinders to consume the smoke (fuligo), we should not be so much surprised at the preference given to oil over tallow and wax. But they had no invention of the sort, and in spite of all the elegance and ingenuity displayed in their lamps of bronze and precious metals, the ancients could not prevent their ornamented cielings from being blackened, and their breathing oppressed, by smoke. The nature of the country doubtless led them to use oil, but its cheapness does not appear a sufficient reason for their having continued to bear its discomforts, and we must therefore rather suppose that at that time wax and tallow candles were not made skilfully enough to afford a good light: hence we find that the lucerna was used by the poor, whilst the smoky oil-lamp was burned in the palaces of the wealthy.

The whole apparatus for lighting is mentioned by Apul. Met. iv. The tœdœ, properly slips of pine, were not intended for the usual house-lighting, so that only the lucernœ and candelœ, which latter are partly cerœ, and partly sebaceœ, remain to be noticed. We learn that these only were in use at a more ancient period, the lamp being of later invention.