Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Candela

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

CANDE'LA. A candle made of pitch, wax, or tallow, with the pith of a bull-rush for the wick (Plin. H. N. xvi. 70.), which was used in early times before the invention of the oil lamp. Mart. Ep. xiv. 43.

2. A sort of torch, made of the fibres of the papyrus twisted together like a rope, or of a rope itself coated with wax (Serv. ad Virg. Aen. xi. 143. Varro, L. L. v. 119.), which was anciently carried in funeral processions; and is represented in the illustration (Candela/2.1), from a sepulchral marble at Padua, which, according to the tradition there preserved, is believed to contain the remains of St. Luke.

3. A mere rope coated with wax to preserve it from decay. Liv. xl. 29.

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  Candela/2.1