Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Lucerna

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

LUCER'NA (λύχνος). An oil-lamp, as contradistinct from candela, a candle; generally made of terra-cotta or bronze, with a handle at one end, a nozzle (myxa) for the wick (ellychnium) at the other, and an orifice in the centre for pouring in the oil; and when in use intended to be placed upon some other piece of furniture, or on a tall upright stem (CANDELABRUM 2.), or suspended by chains from a lampholder (LYCHNUCHUS), or from the ceiling. Of course they were made in a great variety of shapes and patterns, according to the nature of the materials and the taste of the artist who designed them; but however much ornamented, or enriched by fanciful adjuncts and details, they generally preserve more or less of the characteristic form of a boat-shaped vessel, exhibited by the annexed example (Lucerna/1.1).

2. Lucerna bilychnis (δίμυξος). A lamp provided with two wicks, and consequently with two nozzles, from each of which a separate flame would issue, as in the annexed illustration (Lucerna/2.1) from an original of bronze. Pet. Sat. xxx. 2.

3. Lucerna polymixos (πολύμυξος). A lamp with several nozzles or wicks. (Mart. xiv. 41.) The annexed example (Lucerna/3.1) from an original of terra-cotta contains four; but others with five, six, seven, eight, and even twelve and fourteen, have been found in the excavations of Herculaneum and Pompeii.

4. Lucerna pensilis. A lamp suspended by a chain (instead of being placed upon a stand, candelabrum, like the example No. 2.) from a supporter with branches, or from the ceiling. Pet. Sat. 30. 3. and illustrations s. LYCHNUCHUS and LYCHNUS.

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  Lucerna/1.1
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  Lucerna/2.1
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  Lucerna/3.1