History of Candles
For the first time ever the candles were noticed even in the ancient times, in the beginning of the 1-st millenium BC. Those ancient candles were more like a fuse put into a container that was filled with lard or any other inflammable substance.
The first and the real candles were invented by the Romans in the middle of the first millennium BC. Those candles were made of hard lard, for example, of mutton lard. Those candles were quite cheap and affordable, which was the main reason why they have entered people’s lives for the long centuries to follow.
Origin of candles if unknown, although there are writings that prove usage of candles made of beewax in Egypt and Crete back in 3000 BC. Other ancient candles were looking like long tubes made of a fibrous material, for example cane, and were filled with pitch.
Only around 15-th century appeared the first candles made of wax.
Wax candles burn longer and brighter, produce less smoke and smell better. Fuses were made of different kinds of vegetable fibres. However, wax was always more expensive than lard, and thus only rich people or church could use them.