Artificial Light Sources in Roman, Byzantine, and Post- Byzantine Eras: An Evaluation of their Performance

Abstract

The assessment of the performance of ancient lighting devices may provide scholars with valuable information on the lighting conditions that existed in ancient houses, and on the level of optical comfort created by the use of those devices. Consequently, it also provides scholars with valuable information on the feasibility of activities performed during night time. This paper focuses on the investigation of the performance of lighting devices, namely lamps and candles, used in Greece during the Roman, Byzantine, and Post-Byzantine eras. At the same time, we provide non-lighting specialists (e.g. archaeologists) with the tool to assess the performance of the lighting devices they study, as well as to estimate the amount of light emitted on a surface of interest.