Lamps were often mentioned in writing as well. There is much less evidence about candles. Candles were depicted in an Etruscan tomb at Orvieto. Despite these artifacts, it is believed that candles were rare and primarily by the rich. Obviously, the evidence is not complete.
Many questions remain unanswered.
Many questions can be listed but only so many of them can be answered with the evidence. It is difficult to transcend the existence of objects for a better understanding of how they worked. There is little information on torches but it is known they were the one of the very first forms of artificial light. However, apparatuses believed to have held candles survive, and may provide evidence that they were used. Back to Menu Introduction to Lamps Ancient Roman lamps were very different from the lamps used today.