Lamps of the Bible: What Were They Like?

Lamps of the Bible: What Were They Like?

Did you ever wonder how life was like while Biblical times? There was no electricity, and there were no candles. Lanterns did not exist and neither did kerosene or propane or batteries. Just what did our Biblical ancestors use to light their way?

They used lamps. Small, palm sized lamps that burned oil. Not heavy petroleum based oil that we think of today but pure sweet smelling olive oil. Olive oil that came from the very trees nearby them was their source of light. The very same olive oil that was used for cooking was used to chase the darkness away.

Lamps & Light Fixtures Flower Switch Plates

The lamps did not look like Aladdin's lamp and despite what the King James Translation says, there were no candles at this time. The translators used the English word candle because at the time of King James translations, population were using candles and not lamps.

These small lamps less than 4 inches long could light up a room for a few hours with just an ounce or so of olive oil. While the invent changed from the time of Abraham to David to Jesus to the early Christians, they were all made from clay and they all had a wick and they were assuredly carried from room to room. As long as the wick is kept trimmed and the lamp has oil, the lamp base itself does not heat up. It stays cool and the olive oil is warm to the touch.

Below are some examples of the coarse designs of the lamps. The Old Testament lamps were merely clay that was pinched in one area to allow a wick to rest.

At the time of Herod, the lamps were made on a potter's wheel and had a spout applied by hand.

Round lamps were unabridged in Samaria by both Jews and early Christians about 200 Ad.

There are many styles of these lamps but they all share the same characteristics. They are palm sized, they are made from clay, and they use olive oil.

Lamps of the Bible: What Were They Like?

Check Price on - Lamps & Light Fixtures Flower Switch Plates Products

Portable Microcassette Recorders - Voice-Activated - Portable Cassette Recorder - Digital Recorders